Professional Project Officer

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) is an intergovernmental organization that advances and shares scientific understanding of marine ecosystems and the services they provide and employs the resulting knowledge to generate state-of-the-art advice on meeting conservation, management and sustainability goals. ICES international network comprises ca. 6,000 scientists from over 800 marine institutes in 20-member countries and beyond.

The contributions of the Professional Project Officer will span our departments (advice, data and science). The successful candidate will have a thorough understanding of the European project landscape and will be competent in research administration and project management, having coordinated one or more large projects in the European Union framework programmes. They will be able to demonstrate a strong network of international project collaborators, particularly from ICES member countries.

Main Responsibilities

• Lead ICES Work Package within MarineGuardian, a major EU-funded project under the Mission Ocean addressing sustainable fisheries, gear innovation, and marine biodiversity
• Facilitate the flow of information between project partners, ICES expert groups, and relevant stakeholders to ensure effective collaboration and knowledge exchange
• Support the identification and analysis of Key Exploitable Results (KERs) using approaches such as Political, Economic, Sociological, Technological, Legal and Environmental (PESTEL) analysis and theory of change, helping to articulate clear pathways to impact
• Translate scientific results into communication, training, and engagement activities that foster stakeholder uptake and generate societal and science-policy impact
• Liaise with related EU and international initiatives to ensure project and ICES activities contribute to broader scientific, policy, and sustainability frameworks
• Prepare and contribute to project deliverables, reports, and presentations, ensuring quality, coherence, and relevance to target audiences
• Represent ICES at consortium meetings, workshops, and conferences, helping to shape project outcomes and strengthen ICES’s visibility and leadership
• Collaborate internally with ICES colleagues across science, advice, data, and communications to align project work with ICES wider goals and strategies
• Contribute to the development of future project proposals and strategic collaborations, building on MarineGuardian’s outputs and partnerships
• Perform additional tasks as directed by the Head of the Science Department

Qualifications and Experience

We seek a Professional Project Officer who is motivated, organised, collaborative and flexible.  Further requirements for this position are:

• A higher university degree, such as a PhD or a similar qualification or equivalent experience, in marine science, environmental sustainability, economics, social science, mathematics/statistics or related field
• At least five years of relevant professional experience in marine science, sustainability or international organisations, ideally with interdisciplinary or cross-sectoral settings
• Experience in project management, leading delivery, steering and coordinating within international and/or EU-funded project consortia
• Familiarity with key international maritime, environmental, ecosystem and fisheries policies, and an interest in science-policy processes and stakeholder engagement
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare high-quality reports and deliverables for diverse audiences
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a team; able to take initiative, support others and contribute to a positive team dynamic
• A high degree of flexibility, enthusiasm, and cultural awareness; comfortable working in a fast-paced, collaborative, and international environment
• An understanding of or experience with impact frameworks such as Theory of Change, impact pathways, or PESTEL analysis is an asset

Terms of Appointment

The appointment will be full-time (38 hours per week, including lunch breaks), for a four-year contract period starting as soon as possible but latest in September 2025. The salary will be at the “P1” grade, which is similar to the United Nations common salary system. 

ICES Secretariat staff enjoy privileges and immunities pursuant to the Host Agreement between the Government of Denmark and ICES. The salaries of ICES staff are exempt from Danish income tax and are based on, but not identical to, UN salary grade scales.  Benefits similar to those paid by the UN organization are also available for eligible staff members (e.g. installation/repatriation, dependents’ education, and home leave allowances). Furthermore, you will be enrolled in a tax-free pension scheme to which both the employee and ICES contribute. ICES Staff Rules set out the conditions of employment and the responsibilities of Secretariat staff.

ICES encourages a positive workplace culture by striving for inclusivity and diversity in the appointment of its staff. This includes family-friendly policies, flexible working arrangements and standards of conduct. We especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people from ICES Member States which are underrepresented in ICES Secretariat, and people with disabilities.  

Applications

If you feel you have the personal and professional qualities and potential we are looking for, please submit your application (CV and cover letter) via the APPLY NOW button.

Deadline for application submission is 23:59 Central European Time 21 May 2025. Interviews are expected to take place in the week beginning 26 May 2025.

Questions about the Professional Project Officer position can be directed to Jo Foden, Head of the Science Department.

For more information about us, please visit our ICES website.