Senior Development Officer

WorldFish Bangladesh will implement the GIZ-funded “Strengthening Inclusive Marine Protected Area Management and Community-Based Blue-Economy Livelihoods in Coastal Bangladesh” project across the Nijhum Dwip, St. Martin’s, and Naf MPAs. The project contributes to the broader objectives of the CONNECT (Better Protection of Mangroves, Swamp Forests and Marine Areas) project in Bangladesh by strengthening evidence-based MPA management, inclusive governance, community participation, and sustainable blue-economy livelihoods.

The CONNECT project is commissioned and financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The position focuses on strengthening Marine Protected Area (MPA) management through fisheries co-management, EAFM and community stewardship, while promoting inclusive, and climate-resilient blue-economy livelihoods for MPA-dependent communities.

Under the supervision of the Lead Scientist, the Senior Development Officer is responsible for conducting and guiding development activities, including data collection, collation, and database entry, while implementing stakeholder mapping and needs assessments to establish baseline conditions. The role involves engaging with field staff, organizing meetings with stakeholders and partners, developing and implementing capacity building activities, and facilitating multistakeholder discussions to drive knowledge dissemination and promote technology adoption. The Senior Development Officer ensures timely completion of development activities, verifies data accuracy, maintains up-to-date databases, and contributes to quarterly and annual reports for informed decision-making.

Duties and Responsibilities
Main Purpose of Job:

• Conduct practical demonstrations and field days to transfer technical knowledge and promote technology adoption.
• Conduct and guide development activities, including data collection, collation, and database entry on MPA management, fisheries governance, livelihoods, and socio-economic and ecological conditions of coastal communities.
• Collaborate with partners and stakeholders to promote ecosystem-based fisheries management (EAFM) through effective fisheries co-management, and climate-resilient blue-economy livelihood approaches.
• Conduct practical demonstrations / field days, (informal) trainings for stakeholders here to transfer knowledge.
• Conduct focus group discussions and meetings with stakeholders to identify community priorities, assess livelihood opportunities, strengthen MPA governance, and inform fisheries and livelihood interventions.
• Implement needs assessments, stakeholder mapping to identify baseline conditions.

Main engagement, collaboration and communication responsibilities:

• Engage with and guide field staff to implement daily activities, providing guidance to ensure adherence to quality and timeline standards.
• Report to supervisors and project leaders to keep them informed about progress and challenges in implementation.
• Organize meetings stakeholders and partners to discuss, plan, and streamline activities.
• Develop and maintain networks of partners to collaborate, share knowledge and build capacity.
• Organize multistakeholder discussions to generate buy-in for innovations and/or development interventions.

Main responsibilities in the delivery of timely and quality services:

• Monitor project / development activities to ensure timely completion of development activities and data collection.
• Provide content to quarterly and annual progress reports based on development activities.
• Review and verify data to ensure the accuracy and reliability of results for analysis and reporting purposes.
• Maintain up-to-date databases and records to ensure easy access and high-quality information for decision-making.

Requirements

Education/ Certifications / Training

Bachelor’s degree in Fisheries, Marine Science, Environmental Science, Conservation Biology, Anthropology, Social Science, Humanities or similar discipline.

Experience

• Experience in natural resource management, fisheries co-management, livelihood development, environmental monitoring, wildlife conservation, MPA management, or related socio-ecological fields.

• Experience conducting and guiding data collection, collation, and database entry to support development projects.
• Practical experience tracking development activities.
• Practical experience conducting needs assessments, stakeholder mapping, and facilitating structured discussions with community groups.
• Hands-on experience organizing and conducting field days, demonstrations, and informal training sessions to transfer technical knowledge.
• Experience providing information for presentations and reports.
• Experience working in an international not-for-profit organization is an advantage.
  

Competencies (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)
Core competencies

• Accountability- Collaborates with team members, taking responsibility for both individual and team success and seeks feedback to improve performance. Meets deadlines consistently and follows ethical guidelines.

• Collaboration and Communication- Conveys information clearly and ensures the recipient understands the message. Fully engages in conversations and shares relevant information to support informed decision-making.
• Respect and Inclusion- Acknowledges team members' contributions and collaborates effectively with diverse colleagues. Demonstrates flexibility and openness, supporting inclusive approaches that encourage full participation.
• Results and Impact Orientation- Proactively identifies challenges and demonstrates effective problem-solving; Consistently fulfills commitments and respects the organization’s mission and values. Adapts to new processes, emerging technologies and evolving requirements to maintain efficiency
• Functional and Technical Competencies
• Analytical, Critical and Systems Thinking- Analyzes information from multiple sources to identify trends, draw conclusions, and provide actionable recommendations.
• Data Analysis, Management and Visualization- Verifies data accuracy and consistency, addresses simple errors, summarizes and organizes data, and interprets basic trends using available systems and evolving data methodologies to support decisions or activities.
• Capacity Building- Adapts capacity building styles to audience needs, customizing capacity building methods based on objectives, and seeking feedback to improve the quality and relevance of capacity building activities
• Planning and Organizing- Plans and manages multiple priorities and deadlines independently, using time management tools to stay on track, and effectively balances competing tasks while adjusting as needed.
• Problem Solving- Analyzes information to identify root causes, collaborates with colleagues to gather information, and prioritizes critical factors to propose effective solutions
• Additional Technical Competencies:

i) Marine Protected Area and Fisheries Management – Applies knowledge of fisheries management, MPAs, and co-management to support sustainable coastal and marine resource conservation.

ii) Community-Based Blue-Economy and Livelihood Development – Applies knowledge of sustainable livelihoods and blue-economy enterprises to improve community resilience and economic wellbeing.

iii) Stakeholder Engagement – Applies inclusive and participatory approaches to strengthen co-management, community stewardship, and stakeholder collaboration.

Benefits

This is a Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS) position with salary commensurate to the position level. WorldFish NRS shall receive comprehensive benefits including (but not limited to) insurance coverage for staff and eligible dependents, and pension / provident fund contribution.

Eligibility, Location and Duration
WorldFish are hiring two (02) positions and one of the incumbent will be based in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar while another one will be based in Charfassion, Bhola. Interviews are expected to be held in October 2026 and only shortlisted candidates will be notified and expected to attend the interview. The successful candidate should be available to commence in October 2026 for an initial one (1) year and four (4) months fixed term contract, with the possibility of contract renewal depending on performance and funding availability.

How to Apply

Interested applicants are invited to submit the following information online latest by 5 October 2026:

• A cover letter including a 2-page (max) description of why you are an ideal candidate and what you would bring to the role.
• A current curriculum vitae.
• Names and contacts (telephone and e-mail addresses) of three professional referees who are familiar with your qualifications and work experience. Your nominated referees ideally should have persons from each of the following category: direct supervisor, head of HR and peer.

The screening will start immediately, and will continue until the position is filled. Due to the high volume of applicants for WorldFish positions, we appreciate all interest, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Our Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

WorldFish has seven offices across Asia, Africa and the Pacific, with more than 400 staff and 27 nationalities who contribute to a dynamic multicultural work environment.

WorldFish is committed to promoting a work environment where diversity and inclusion is valued and we seek to have gender balance in the organization. We aim to also seek balance across other diversity dimensions.

People in WorldFish are treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnicity/race, national or social origin, disability, religion, political affiliation, age, family size, marital status or any other form of personal identity.

We are an equal opportunities employer and strongly encourage qualified women and men from developing nations to apply