Social Marketing Specialist

Project Description

The Philippine Rise Ocean Conservation Area (PROCA) project presents an opportunity for ZSL-Philippines to partner with the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), Fishery Management Area 1 Management Board (FMA1 MB) and Blue Nature Alliance (BNA) to catalyse the creation of approximately 150,000 km² of new large scale MPA and measurably improve management of approximately 10,000 km² of existing coastal MPAs by June 2027, through the following key interventions:

1. EBSA to MPA Transition: Upgrade the Philippine Rise Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area (EBSA) to a LSMPA through a structured stakeholder engagement process, zoning, management planning, and legal designation by June 2027.
2. MPA Governance: Stand up an FMA1 Management Office by June 2027 and develop institutional and technical capacity in governing FMA1, including management of the existing coastal MPAs and the proposed LSMPA.
3. Monitoring and Surveillance: Develop monitoring, control, and surveillance capabilities for the FMA1 Management that will benefit existing coastal MPAs and new offshore LSMPA.
4. Sustainable Financing: Assess sustainable finance options for the long-term management of the offshore LSMPA by June 2025. A potential Phase 2 engagement will be developed upon legal designation of the Philippine Rise LSMPA focusing on advancing the implementation of the selected sustainable finance model.

Purpose of the role

The successful candidate will deliver the responsibilities and implement activities based on agreed upon strategies and approaches, following the approved workplan and budgets to ensure accomplishment of project goals, and objectives. His/her key responsibilities will focus mainly in leading the operational planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of social marketing campaigns, education and outreach in targeted communities and sectors to build positive behaviour in support of the establishment, declaration and management of the Philippine Rise LSMPA.

S/he will implement training and capacity building activities in the project sites using proven and tested ZSL Social Marketing tools to raise awareness of and develop champions from local stakeholders, i.e., people’s organizations, coastal communities, local governments, BFAR Regional and Provincial offices and other sectors on the importance of protecting and conserving the fisheries and underwater resources within the newly demarcated Philippine Rise LSMPA.

Key responsibilities

• University degree in mass/development/broadcast communication, journalism, social or behavioural sciences, marketing, advertising or other relevant field.
• Demonstrated experience in social marketing, behaviour change, training and capacity development, and/or marketing and advertising.
• With at least three (3) years in experience in running conservation education and outreach; behaviour change advocacy or campaigns and engaging local stakeholders, preferably, but not necessary, in the context of community-based marine resources or fisheries management in the Philippines.
• Proven ability to work effectively with teams and senior managers and independently and manage different priorities with remote and less supervision
• Should have prior knowledge and demonstrated experience on behavioural change campaigns, education and outreach, preferably, in coastal and marine environment, fisheries management or climate change adaptation projects, engaging with coastal communities, local governments and national government agencies (e.g, BFAR, DENR).
  • Knowledge in relevant behaviour change techniques as applied in conservation and mostly already used around the Philippines.
  • Knowledge in the Theory of Change as applied in the development of behaviour change campaigns.
• Effective training and facilitating skills are essential
• Proficient in oral and written English as well as the local dialect of the project area
• Demonstrated capacity in report-writing (training, activity, meeting, field documentation, news articles, etc.) and creating equivalent presentations
• Preferably:
  • Work experience in NGO setting is an advantage.
  • Preferably, but not necessary, with experience and general knowledge on MPA establishment and management, fisheries management areas, fisheries laws.
  • Good understanding of marine ecosystems, fisheries and principles and their application to marine protection, and community resource use.
  • With good layout skills using any software such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, MS Publisher, and MS PowerPoint.
  • Ability to speak and understand at least one local languages of Northern Luzon (Ilocano) is an advantage.
  • Experience in projects funded by bilateral or multilateral donor organizations (e.g., UKAid, USAID, IKI, EU, etc.) is an advantage..
• Skills in conducting qualitative and qualitative research and methodologies.

We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage. We are committed to ensuring our teams can bring their authentic selves to work without fear of discrimination. ZSL has active equality networks for our staff with lived experience and those who provide active allyship in Race and Culture, Team Pride, Disability Network, and Menopause Network, complemented by our strategic EDI Steering Group.  

We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.  

In 2010, the ZSL-Philippines Country Office was established as a duly accredited NGO registered under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a local branch of a foreign charitable institution registered in UK and holds its primary office in Iloilo City. Over the past 15 years ZSL-Philippines has gained ground in mangrove conservation ranging from in-situ rehabilitation projects, development of science-based planting protocols, reversion of abandoned, unproductive, and underutilized (AUU) fishponds, capacity building of local and national mangrove practitioners, and national policy advocacy on mangrove reversion and restoration of coastal greenbelts. Since 2013 ZSL-Philippines bolstered its work on seahorse conservation and locally managed marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Philippines especially in Danajon Bank, Bohol. MPA work expanded to other parts of the Visayas, and most recently in Siargao islands and Masinloc, Zambales. ZSL-Philippines implements freshwater conservation in northern Luzon particularly protecting the endangered Philippine eels from overexploitation. From 2018, ZSL-Philippines played an active role in the conservation of Palawan pangolins and its habitats, alongst side improvement of communities protecting them. The conservation of the endangered Mindoro tamaraw adds to its programme portfolio in 2023. To date, ZSL-Philippines has 36 staff based in its home and field offices and hubs: Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Tuguegarao, Siargao, and Masinloc with an annual budget of £200,000 per annum and supported with robust financial, human resources, and health and safety management systems.

What do we offer? 

At ZSL, we are proud of our approach to employee benefits. Our benefits include: 

• Our vision and purpose - you’ll work alongside colleagues who are passionate about science-led conservation, knowing that you will help us to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wildlife going extinct 
• Holidays – 15 days paid annual leave during each 12-month period worked, plus regular and local holidays as per proclamation in the Philippines. 
• Benefits- we cover all government mandated benefits from Philhealth, SSS, and HDMF as well as 13th month pay. Plus over 6 weeks of paid Sick Leave. 
  
• Wellbeing –we provide HMO coverage to all staffs and three dependents as well as full accident insurance coverage c/o UK Headquarters. 
• Communication and Meal Allowances subject to the needs of the project. 
• Maternity leave, solo-parent, and paternity leave available as per Labor Law in the Philippines.