Manager, Science and Data for Decision Making

ABOUT RARE AND FISH FOREVER

Rare inspires change so people and nature thrive.  Our culture is results-oriented and entrepreneurial, committed to working towards ambitious goals and creating measurable results.  

  It’s never been a better time to join the Rare team!  Rare Brazil is a Brazilian non-profit organization established in the country in 2014 that holds an Affiliate Agreement with Rare Inc. The non-profit organization has worked in 8 Brazilian states: Santa Catarina, Bahia, Ceará, Piaui, Maranhão, Pernambuco, Alagoas, and Pará. In these 8 states, Rare’s behavior adoption campaigns have reached +6,000 small-scale fishers and +12,000 community members from +77 communities in 4 years. In 2019, Rare Brazil concentrated its efforts in the state of Para, reframing the strategic activities, and with the organizational objective to promote, (through a network of local, state, and national partners) the strengthening of governance structures for effective management of coastal fisheries through three interrelated pillars: 1) Establishing and strengthening community-based fisheries management; 2) Supporting access to rights for citizenship by supporting the definition/implementation of public policies and governance aimed at prioritizing access and use of fishing resources by artisanal marine-coastal fishermen; and 3) Enabling financial inclusion and a fair market for artisanal fishers. Due to the quality and breadth of actions needed to be addressed to improve the quality of life of communities and fisheries management, Rare Brazil seeks to engage and legitimize important local actors and strengthen their role in management, and to expand support, capacity, and resources from state and municipal governments directed towards this end. Currently, the organization operates in 12 coastal marine municipalities that are part of Marine Extractive Reserves (Resex), indirectly impacting +28,000 people through the program, including +960 women, and +70 young people.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Manager, Science and Data for Decision Making leads Rare Brazil’s monitoring, evaluation, and program data systems function. This is a strategic management role with primary responsibility for team management, budget oversight, and delivery of high-quality monitoring and reporting outputs.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Program Implementation, the Manager provides oversight and direction to a team of specialists and consultants, translating Rare’s strategic goals into operational plans aligned with grant requirements, institutional partnerships, and community-level outcomes.

This is a management role focused on people leadership, budget management, operational planning, and quality control of monitoring and data processes. The role supports the broader science and learning agenda of Rare Brasil, while broader institutional strategy, external representation, and highly specialized scientific leadership remain shared with senior leadership and technical partners.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Program and Scope Management (25%)

• Lead annual and multi-year workplan development for the science and data workstream, ensuring alignment with Rare’s strategic objectives and grant deliverables.
• Define, monitor, and adjust program scope, milestones, and KPIs in coordination with implementation and fundraising teams.
• Oversee planning cycles and ensure timely, quality delivery of science and data outputs across all program areas.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams (implementation, communications, fundraising, operations) to ensure integrated delivery and coherent reporting.
• Identify and manage risks to science and data delivery, proposing mitigation strategies and escalating issues as needed.
• Support the development of annual workplans, performance targets, and KPIs related to monitoring, evaluation, and learning.

People Management (30%)

• Manage and support a small team responsible for monitoring, data management, and reporting activities.
• Manage the team and Specialists, providing direction, performance feedback, and professional development support.
• Work collaboratively with implementation managers to jointly guide field data collection, aligning the territorial agenda with science and data priorities.
• Foster a collaborative and accountability-driven team culture, consistent with Rare’s values.
• Conduct performance reviews and support career development planning for direct reports.
• Coordinate team capacity needs and support recruitment or onboarding processes as required.
• Support the professional growth of team members through coaching, structured feedback, and identification of learning opportunities.
• Coordinate consultants or temporary technical support for specific monitoring and data activities when required.

Budget Management (15%)

• Manage assigned budgets across grants, ensuring expenditures align with approved plans and donor requirements.
• Review and approve financial transactions within the science and data workstream, monitoring burn rates and flagging variances.
• Support forecasting, budget revisions, and financial reporting in collaboration with the finance team.
• Ensure efficient use of financial resources, identifying efficiencies and reallocations where program needs evolve.
• Provide budget oversight across data-related consultancies, field monitoring activities, and university partnerships, ensuring compliance with Rare’s financial policies.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (15%)

• Support develop the design, manage, and continuously improve Rare Brasil’s M&E framework, integrating biological, socioeconomic, governance, and community wellbeing indicators.
• Lead the development and implementation of M&E plans across all program sites in consultation with implementation teams.
• Oversee data quality assurance processes, including routine checks for completeness, consistency, and timelines
• Manage data collection tools (household surveys, production data, ecological monitoring, governance assessments), ensuring protocols are adaptive.
• Coordinate with Rare/FF global teams to align data collection, entry, analysis, and visualization with global standards and protocols.
• Consolidate monitoring results and support analysis for internal learning, adaptive management, and donor reporting.
• Help ensure that baseline, follow-up, and end-of-cycle monitoring activities are implemented according to approved plans.

Fisheries Science, Socioeconomic Research & Data Systems (10%)

• Support the implementation of biophysical monitoring activities, including ecological surveys, species assessments, and fisheries productivity indicators within Marine Extractive Reserves (Resex). Manage the Rare and/or Consulted team in socioeconomic research cycles, including household surveys, livelihood assessments, gender and equity analysis, and governance indicators for artisanal fishing communities.
• Oversee the architecture and quality of Rare Brasil’s data systems, from field data entry platforms to analytical dashboards and impact reporting tools.
• Lead data governance: standardization, storage, security, and access protocols for all program data.
• Identify and implement technology solutions (e.g., ODK, KoBoToolbox, GIS, Power BI) to strengthen data infrastructure.
• Ensure integration with Rare global platforms and data systems.

Knowledge Management and Representation (5%)

• Support the documentation and dissemination of lessons learned and best practices in science and data for internal and external audiences.
• Represent Rare Brasil in scientific forums, technical committees, and policy dialogues related to fisheries science and coastal conservation.
• Collaborate with Rare’s Global M&E and Science teams to ensure consistent methodologies, metrics, and communications.
• Contribute to publications, technical reports, and communications products that translate scientific evidence for diverse audiences.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIRED

• Master’s degree in marine science, fisheries management, environmental science, ecology, or related field.
• Minimum 7–10 years of professional experience in conservation science, fisheries research, or program monitoring and evaluation, with at least 3 years in a management or team leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience designing and managing M&E frameworks for conservation or development programs.
• Experience managing partnerships with universities, research institutions, and government agencies.
• Proven track record in grant management, workplan development, and delivering measurable results with accountability.
• Fluency in written and spoken Portuguese; advanced English required.
• Experience in team leadership, performance management, and organizational coordination.
• Experience working with artisanal fishing communities or in coastal/marine conservation contexts in Brazil.

TARGETED COMPETENCIES

• PhD or postgraduate degree in fisheries science, environmental science, or related area.
• Experience in community-based fisheries management and co-management frameworks in coastal or Amazon contexts.
• Familiarity with artisanal fishing governance and coastal territory management in the states where Rare Brasil operates (Amapá, Pará).
• Experience working within or in partnership with international NGOs.
• Valid Category B driver’s license.
• Strategic leadership and systems thinking applied to people management, science delivery, and program outcomes.
• Deep understanding of Brazilian coastal conservation policy and fisheries governance, particularly in Amazonian states.
• Strong project management, organizational, and prioritization skills, with demonstrated ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously.
• Excellent facilitation, partnership-building, and stakeholder engagement capabilities.
• Analytical capacity for interpreting ecological and social data within political and community contexts.
• Commitment to inclusion, sustainability, and local empowerment.
• High emotional intelligence and adaptability in multicultural and field-based settings.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, data tracking systems, and online collaboration tools.
• Willingness to travel across coastal marine states where Rare Brasil operates (30–40% travel).

POSITION TYPE AND EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK

This is a full-time position; typical workdays and hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Occasional extended hours may be required. This position is eligible for Rare’s flexible work and telecommuting policy.

Rare is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic.