2027 Marine Program Coordinator

2027 Marine Program Coordinator

Love The Oceans Conservation – Marine conservation charity (Charity no. 1184402, registered in England and Wales).

Job Details

• Location: Jangamo Bay, Mozambique.
• Start date: 6 January 2027, in Mozambique by 10th January 2027.
• Length: Minimum 2 year commitment, including 3 month probationary period.
• Reports to: Managing Director.
• Application closing date: 11th November 2026, 23:59 GMT.

About Love The Oceans

Love The Oceans Conservation is a grassroots marine charity dedicated to protecting Mozambique’s ocean ecosystems through innovative, community-led approaches. We believe healthy oceans are essential for both people and wildlife, and for over a decade we’ve combined science, education, and local partnerships to create measurable impact and scalable solutions for coastal communities around the world.

About the Role

We’re seeking a Marine Program Coordinator – an experienced, hands-on marine scientist and confident, emotionally intelligent leader who combines scientific rigour with independent decision-making, cultural humility, and a collaborative approach to conservation. You’ll coordinate and deliver field research projects, mentor students and staff, and take ownership of the day-to-day management of our marine science activities. You’ll be trusted to exercise sound judgement, solve problems independently, communicate proactively, and know when to seek guidance or escalate concerns.

Working within a close-knit, multicultural team in a remote coastal environment, you’ll need to balance initiative with collaboration, accountability with empathy, and leadership with a genuine willingness to learn from others. This role is ideal for someone who finds fulfilment in enabling others to succeed, thrives when given responsibility, and understands that effective conservation leadership is as much about people, relationships, and trust as it is about science.

This position includes an initial three-month probationary period, which forms part of the two-year contract. The probationary period provides an opportunity for both the successful candidate and Love The Oceans to assess whether the role, working environment, and organisational culture are a good mutual fit. During this period, we’ll provide structured onboarding, formal reviews at 30, 60 and 90 days, and regular feedback sessions to support the candidate’s development and assess their suitability for the position. Successful completion of probation will be subject to a formal review at the end of the three-month period.

Key Responsibilities

Program Coordination & Delivery

• Plan, coordinate, and oversee LTO’s research projects, including but not limited to coral reef surveys, fisheries assessments, megafauna monitoring, BRUVs, ocean-trash studies, socio-economic studies, marine capacity strengthening work and aquaculture initiatives.
• Ensure efficient daily operations and safe, high-quality fieldwork across all project activities.
• Independently prioritise competing demands, adapt plans when circumstances change, and make timely, proportionate decisions to keep projects progressing safely and effectively.
• Provide ad-hoc scientific and technical support to the Expedition Leader(s) during the five-week expeditions and 10 day expeditions, act as subject-matter expert for training, data quality assurance, and research integrity.

Leadership, Communication & Team Development

• Take ownership of day-to-day decisions within your area of responsibility, using sound judgement to solve problems independently while recognising when consultation or escalation is appropriate.
• Communicate proactively and transparently with colleagues and management, ensuring changes to plans, emerging challenges, and important decisions are shared promptly.
• Foster a supportive, inclusive team environment built on mutual respect, trust, accountability, and shared responsibility.
• Demonstrate reliability and professionalism by honouring commitments, meeting deadlines, and communicating early when circumstances affect delivery.
• Support the professional development of colleagues, actively sharing knowledge, building local capacity, and ensuring opportunities are distributed fairly and transparently.
• Approach challenges and disagreements with empathy, patience, curiosity, and a willingness to understand different perspectives.
• Contribute to a culture of continuous learning, constructive feedback, and reflective leadership.

Training & Mentorship

• Deliver lectures, workshops, and practical field training for students, interns, and inexperienced staff.
• Supervise student theses and placements, ensuring scientific and ethical standards.
• Coach expedition leaders in methodologies, safety, and leadership practices.

Data Management & Research Integrity

• Maintain robust data-management systems: data quality assurance and control, storage, and backups.
• Clean and prepare datasets for analysis and reporting.
• Contribute to publications, reports, and impact assessments.

Community & Public Engagement

• Represent LTO at public talks and stakeholder meetings.
• Host partners and stakeholders during site visits, ensuring LTO’s work and values are represented to the highest standard.
• Foster respectful, constructive relationships with local communities and all partners.

Operational & Administrative Support

• Complete monthly financial reconciliations and assist with donor or grant reports.
• Maintain equipment inventories, health-and-safety documentation, and impact reporting.
• Support content creation, fundraising, and development of new projects.
• Conduct LTO’s annual Health and Safety audits in Mozambique.

Required Skills & Experience

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Marine Science or a related subject area.
• PADI Divemaster (or higher) with a minimum of 50 logged dives, experience in scientific diving and proven dive-safety awareness.
• Full, valid driver’s licence (manual transmission).
• Valid First Aid Certificate.
• High proficiency in English (spoken and written).
• Field-research experience in tropical or coastal marine ecosystems, including data collection and analysis.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating and supporting small-to-medium teams or academic programs, including delegating responsibilities, resolving challenges, and maintaining team accountability.
• Strong organisational skills - able to manage logistics, reporting deadlines, and dataset systems simultaneously.
• Confident communicator and public speaker, capable of teaching and presenting to varied audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to make independent, well-reasoned decisions, prioritise competing demands, and take responsibility for outcomes.
• Strong interpersonal and conflict-resolution skills, with evidence of effective communication and collaboration within diverse teams.
• Proven reliability, accountability, and ability to work effectively with limited supervision.
• Demonstrated cultural awareness, humility, and sensitivity to power dynamics when working across different cultural and socioeconomic contexts.
• Physically able to meet the demands of fieldwork in a remote coastal environment.

Desirable

• Portuguese language skills or willingness to learn basic conversational Portuguese for community interaction and team cohesion.
• Previous experience working or living in remote field environments with limited infrastructure and amenities.
• Experience working collaboratively across cultures, particularly in community-led conservation or development initiatives.
• Experience designing and delivering marine projects.
• Familiarity with financial tracking or grant-reporting.
• Demonstrated initiative and problem-solving in field settings.

Personal Attributes

We’re looking for someone who:

• Is genuinely passionate about marine conservation and committed to community-led approaches.
• Enjoys working collaboratively within a small, multicultural team.
• Values diversity and inclusion and seeks to listen to different perspectives.
• Is comfortable taking responsibility and working independently in a dynamic field environment.
• Adapts positively to change and approaches challenges with a solutions mindset.
• Approaches people, challenges, and unfamiliar situations with curiosity, respect, and an open mind.
• Is adaptable, resourceful, and comfortable with the realities of remote living. Can maintain their wellbeing, motivation, and independence while living in a remote coastal community with limited social opportunities, occasional power outages, and unreliable communications.
• Balances friendliness with accountability in close-living team settings.
• Values continuous learning, personal development, and contributing to the growth of others.

Life In Jangamo Bay

Living and working in Jangamo Bay is an incredibly rewarding experience, but it’s not for everyone. Our base is located in a remote coastal community in southern Mozambique, where access to shops, healthcare, reliable electricity, and internet connectivity can be limited. Social opportunities are relatively few, and living and working alongside a small team requires independence, patience, adaptability, and consideration for others.

While the setting is beautiful and the work deeply meaningful, daily life can be unpredictable, and the role requires someone who is genuinely comfortable with simplicity, occasional isolation, and the challenges of remote living. We encourage applicants to reflect carefully on whether this lifestyle aligns with their personal needs and expectations before applying.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary, adjusted to local cost of living - salary and compensation package will be disclosed to shortlisted candidates before a further assessment and interview stage, allowing applicants to make an informed decision about proceeding.
• Year-round shared accommodation on-site covered.
• One annual return economy flight home covered.
• Required scuba dives and snorkels for work covered.
• Organised cultural and recreational activities.
• Full training in LTO’s holistic conservation strategy, policies, ways of work and tasks required for the role.
• Overland transfer from Inhambane Airport/Bus Station to base camp.

Note: You are responsible for your own dive, medical, and travel insurance, vaccinations, and malaria prophylaxis before arrival.

What You’ll Gain

• Applied conservation leadership experience.
• Opportunities to contribute to scientific publications and research outputs, subject to project needs, individual contributions, and appropriate authorship criteria.
• Immersive cross-cultural collaboration experience.
• Mentorship and professional development from LTO’s leadership team.
• Practical experience and skills valued in eco-tourism and resort-based marine roles.
• Confidence communicating science to diverse audiences.
• Experience developing inclusive leadership practices and supporting locally led conservation initiatives.
• Professional resilience and adaptability in a dynamic remote environment.
• The satisfaction of advancing sustainable ocean protection in Mozambique.

How to Apply

If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you! We’re looking for someone who shares our values and is excited by the opportunity to contribute to community-led marine conservation in Mozambique. Our recruitment process is as follows:

• Stage 1 – Initial Application: Complete our online application form, linked below.
• Stage 2 – Beyond the CV: Shortlisted applicants will receive details of the compensation package and an invitation to complete a short follow-up questionnaire. This gives us an opportunity to learn more about your experiences, perspectives, and approach.
• Stage 3 – Interview: Candidates progressing to the final stage will be invited to an online interview with a possible second interview involving another member of our leadership team.

We aim to make our recruitment process transparent and constructive, giving both applicants and Love The Oceans the opportunity to assess whether the role is the right fit.

Application deadline: 11th November 2026, 23:59 GMT. Online application form: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/CCPbE96eT6

Love The Oceans Conservation | lovetheoceans.org | info@lovetheoceans.org | @lovetheoceans