(closed) CCB is looking for a Marine Policy Officer to join our team at the CCB International Secretariat

CCB • August 15, 2024

ROLE

CCB (*) is now recruiting an experienced Marine Policy Officer to join its team and play a central role in its advocacy and conservation work, with focus on the Baltic Sea. The Policy Officer will work on implementation of marine policy (particularly the EU MSFD and HELCOM BSAP) and its interaction with other relevant global, EU and regional environmental and sectorial (e.g. EU CFP) policies and frameworks, taking into account and promoting ecosystem-based management. You will work closely with the team in Uppsala on respective topic-wise issues to ensure effective implementation of CCB’s projects and initiatives. You will also support development and coordination of CCB’s strategic and thematic plans and ensure their effective implementation.


Main responsibilities

- Support the CCB’s Multiannual Plan of Action with regards to marine policy, mostly within Working Area Biodiversity and in coordination with other WAs

  • Contribute to implementation of the Plan of Action
  • Contribute to advocacy and take part in discussions and meetings at EU and Baltic regional level in support of

o  MSFD implementation and anticipated revision

o  Nature Restoration Law

o  Helsinki Convention (1992) and HELCOM BSAP

o  spatial conservation measures

o  ensuring ecosystem-based management in fisheries and minimising its impacts on the marine environment

  • Coordinate with CCB members’ respective marine policy work
  • Monitor relevant global, EU and regional policy developments
  • Support CCB’s communication activities
  • Support the drafting of position papers, policy briefings and reports.
  • Organise workshops and events
  • Contribute to the effective management, including budgeting and fundraising

- Coordinate activities with other environmental NGOs and CSOs

- Promote CCB positions within the EU institutions and internationally, among stakeholders and in relevant meetings and conferences

- Support fundraising, write grant proposals, report to funders

- Contribute to other CCB working areas, if needed.



Required skills

We are seeking candidates with:

- Significant experience in marine policy, knowledge of the EU MSFD, EU Biodiversity strategy, the CFP, preferably within the NGO sector

- Post-graduate qualification in marine science; biology, ecology, conservation, or water science/management with substantial marine content.

- EU citizenship or at least residence and work permit in order to travel for work purposes

- Excellent proficiency in spoken and written English


We would also welcome interest from candidates who have been working in wider/non-marine environmental policy areas if they can demonstrate skills and knowledge of marine science and law.


Desirable skills

Working knowledge of any other language common in the Baltic Sea catchment area, including Swedish, Danish, Finnish, German, Polish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Estonian and Ukrainian.


If you are an adaptable, solutions-focused, marine policy professional with advocacy or campaigning expertise, a positive disposition, a passion for the ocean and environmental conservation, good sense of humor, vibrant team spirit and a can-do attitude, we’d love to hear from you!


Salary

Salary comparable to NGO staff in Sweden and in accordance with the Collective Agreements of the respective unions. Subject to adjustment depending on experience and annual increase.


Location

Flexible. Work from the office in Uppsala, as well as residence in Sweden is appreciated, but not mandatory. Several joint offline events for the whole staff expected per year in Sweden.


Travel

Candidates should be flexible to travel as required for meetings and events – mostly within the Baltic Sea Region, as well as Brussels. You need to be able to participate in occasional meetings on weekends.


Contract type

Intended permanent position with 6-month probation period.

It is expected that the new employee would start preferably ASAP, depending on availability.


APPLICATION & DEADLINE

Should you be interested in applying for this position please send you CV (max. 2 pages) with a personal letter (max. 1 page) before 15 September 2024 to secretariat@ccb.se.

Being an international organization, CCB’s work is carried out in English. Applications submitted in any other language or incomplete will not be considered.


Likewise any inquiries related to this vacancy announcement should be forwarded to the above email or by phone to Executive Secretary Mikhail Durkin at mikhail.durkin@ccb.se and +46 739 770 793.


Please note that due to limited staff resources and numbers of CVs anticipated, only shortlisted candidates for interviews will receive a reply. Thank you for your understanding.


***
In the application and hiring process, CCB will not discriminate against any individual based on race, colour, sex, language, religion, national or social origin, property, disability, age, family status, sexual orientation and gender identity, economic and social situation.


(*)Coalition Clean Baltic – CCB is a politically independent, non-profit association and unites Member and Observer organizations, as well as partners and individual experts in all countries of the Baltic Sea Region. Combined, the 26 CCB member and observer organizations have almost 1 500 000 members in all countries surrounding the Baltic Sea. The main goal of CCB is to promote the protection and improvement of the environment and natural resources of the Baltic Sea region for present and future generations. Common objectives for the CCB network include seeking opportunities to encourage new and constructive approaches and engaging people to become part of the solution instead of part of the problem. Being an international network organization, CCB has the advantage of being able to work both at the international and national policy levels as well as with concrete field projects. Four ways to reach our goal are: (1) Advocacy, (2) Information, environmental education and other activities, (3) Concrete co-operation projects in the field and (4) Support to Member Organizations. In order to strengthen its efforts and promote joint action to restore the environment of the Baltic Sea, CCB has 4 main Working Areas that are important for all its members: Eutrophication, Biodiversity, Hazardous Substances and Maritime.


CCB is Member of IUCN, BSAС; GWP Partner; Observer at HELCOM, NASCO, IWC.


To read more about CCB’s engagement in marine policy implementation, please visit our recent Annual Reports.


Further information about CCB’s policies and main documents is available here.


By CCB May 7, 2025
7 May 2025 - Yesterday the European Commission took a strong decision to deduct Finland´s 2025 Atlantic Salmon quota due to unjustified overfishing last year. This action is a clear application of the EU fisheries rules - aiming to ensure sustainable fishing practices and compliance with established quotas - and an important precedent for the consistent enforcement of fisheries law. In 2024, Finland was allocated a strict by-catch quota for Atlantic salmon, with direct fishing prohibited, except for some specific, minor exceptions. Despite this, Finland reported catching 3,162 salmon in a targeted fishery, under a claimed derogation stating the fishery was for scientific research purposes. Upon review, the European Commission concluded that these activities did not meet the legal standards for such an exemption and therefore found this claim unjustified. The number of vessels participating, 32, the number of salmon caught as well as the fact that Finland refused to re-release the salmon after conducting the “scientific research” are all reasons why the fishery cannot be considered to have been carried out for scientific research purposes. As a result, the same number of salmon caught beyond the legal limit in 2024 is now being deducted from Finland’s 2025 quota, from the same stock. “ We welcome the Commission's decision to take enforcement action and apply the law as intended. It sends a clear message to Member States that exceeding quotas will have consequences. However, more consistent enforcement is urgently needed across EU waters, especially in the Baltic Sea, where many fish stocks are collapsing and the ecosystem is in a poor state ” said Aimi Hamberg, CCB Marine Policy Officer. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland has already responded to the Commission´s quota reduction for Atlantic salmon by stating that this decision “is not legally justified” and they will consider taking legal action against it. As this matter continues to evolve, it is highlighting the importance of collective responsibility in managing fish stocks sustainably. Species like salmon, herring and cod , are under increasing pressure due to overfishing, climate change and habitat loss. In this context, rule enforcement is not just a bureaucratic step but a necessary action to ensure the long-term sustainability of marine life in the Baltic Sea.
By CCB April 9, 2025
Coalition Clean Baltic – CCB is a politically independent network, uniting 27 environmental non-profit organizations, as well as partners and experts from 11 countries surrounding the Baltic Sea. The main goal of CCB is to promote the protection and improvement of the environment and natural resources of the Baltic Sea region by encouraging new and constructive approaches and engaging people to become part of the solution instead of part of the problem. CCB Secretariat is based in Uppsala, Sweden.