Law and Policy Director

Law and Policy Director

Location: San Diego, CA (required)

Hours: Full-time 

Compensation: $145,000 - $160,000 (commensurate with experience)

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The Waitt Institute is a team of international experts working around the globe to protect the world’s oceans and support coastal communities.  The Institute works with committed governments to create sustainable ocean plans to help improve local livelihoods and economies while safeguarding marine life and ecosystems. 

The Law and Policy Director works across the Waitt Institute’s portfolio of programs to achieve ocean protection and sustainable ocean policies.  This position will work closely with internal teams as well as external partners, consultants, academia, and government partners. 

The Law and Policy Director reports directly to the Institute’s leadership and will require significant international travel (approximately 30%).  The Director is supported by a Law and Policy Manager, who reports to this role.

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Responsibilities and Tasks 

The Law and Policy Director will advance Blue Prosperity initiatives, including achieving legally binding frameworks that adopt 30% fully protected marine protected areas.  The Director will achieve this by leading the law, policy, and advocacy activities across all Waitt Institute programs, including scoping, analysis, training, and legal/policy drafting related to each country program. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Advising Waitt Institute, partner governments, and other collaborators on legal, policy, and advocacy approaches to achieve Blue Prosperity commitments, 
• Collaborating with Government lawyers to achieve appropriate legal, policy, and regulatory frameworks; 
• Drafting relevant legal, policy, advocacy strategies, work plans, and other documents;
• Selecting and managing legal, policy, and advocacy consultants;
• Coordinating and collaborating with program, communications, fisheries, marine spatial planning, science, and blue economy teams; 
• Supporting a comprehensive advocacy plan, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and local context; and
• Supporting the development and maintenance of relationships with key stakeholders and decision-makers engaged in Blue Prosperity programs.

Professional Qualifications

A successful Legal and Policy Director will have the following qualifications: 

• 10+ years of relevant work experience, including working internationally, and preferably experience working with island nations.
• Demonstrated legal and regulatory drafting experience.
• Demonstrated skills in managing/supporting complex projects.
• Experience working with and leading a diverse and geographically dispersed team.
• JD from an accredited college or university. Advanced certifications preferred but not required. 
• Experience navigating politically or socially sensitive conversations. 

• Demonstrated ability to work well on a team as well as independently.
• Experience hiring and supervising staff and consultants, creating budgets, and successfully achieving project goals in a timely manner.

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Personal Attributes

• Strategic, thoughtful, highly organized, and detail-oriented.
• Reliable, responsive, and comfortable working across time zones.
• Excellent communicator and presenter.
• Ability to advocate thoughtfully and effectively on sensitive issues.
• Ability to work collaboratively and efficiently in a team environment with tight deadlines.
• Ability to creatively solve problems while managing expectations.
• Ability to execute projects on budget.
• Excellent time management skills and ability to prioritize competing tasks.
• Culturally competent and able to execute projects in different cultural contexts.

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Company Benefits

Unlimited Paid Time Off | Excellent Medical, Dental, Vision options | Health Savings Account | 401(k) match up to 6%