Vice President, Chile

Founded in 2001, Oceana is the world’s largest international advocacy group working solely to protect the world’s oceans. Around the world, Oceana achieves policy change using strategic, science-based campaigns to achieve measurable outcomes to protect and help return our oceans to former levels of abundance.

Position Summary

Oceana seeks an innovative and highly motivated leader to lead our campaigns, our staff team and the organization’s operations in Chile. The Vice President (VP)/Executive Director for Chile is also an integral member of Oceana’s senior leadership team. This position reports to Senior Vice President Dr. Liesbeth van der Meer.

The VP will drive the strategic, programmatic, and financial operations of Oceana in Chile, providing oversight to the work of approximately 15 staff based in Santiago, Chile.

This is a highly visible role, internally with Oceana staff and Oceana’s Board of Directors, and externally as a key representative of Oceana and its work. The VP will be a dynamic leader with excellent relationship management and communications skills. It is expected that the VP is already or will become a prominent figure in Chile and in relevant international communities.

The VP will bring strong ambition, creativity, and determination to Oceana’s policy campaigns, and inspire and motivate campaign leaders and teams. H/she will be a relentless promoter of Oceana and its work. H/she will be a savvy marketer and fundraiser and successfully leverage ongoing financial resources for the organization.

The VP will receive technical and other support from the senior management team and other headquarters staff to ensure proper governance and accountability.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides overall leadership and management for aspects of Oceana’s operations in Chile, including campaigns, policy and science, marketing and communications, development, and finance and administration.
• Provides large-scale vision and direction to Oceana’s campaigns. Works with campaign directors to ensure that there are ambitious and effective goals and objectives, measurable outcomes, and a comprehensive strategy and plan for achieving results for each campaign.
• Ensures external communications, including social and traditional media engagement, events, publications, videos and web site, and other communications products, are high quality and effective in supporting campaign and organizational goals. Works with Oceana’s global communications teams on opportunities to leverage greater results through collaboration across regions or offices.
• Becomes a visible and credible face for Oceana, representing the organization externally and in the media, raising public awareness, and broadening the organization’s reputation with funders, decision makers, and other key constituencies.
• Develops and maintains effective relationships with international and local NGO communities. Fosters productive relations with all other relevant stakeholders, including elected officials and government, media, private companies, and other stakeholders.
• In partnership with the global development department, contributes to the financial sustainability of Oceana in Chile by helping fundraise and secure gifts from donors and foundations.
• Ensures that the organization’s operations are professionally and efficiently organized and administrated through effective management, supervision, and leadership.
• Oversees Oceana Chile’s financial operation, in partnership with headquarters staff at Oceana, including the annual budget process, and ensures that there is fiscal oversight and sound financial controls in place.
• Motivates and develops staff, ensures that there is regular evaluation and review, and identifies opportunities for improvement and growth. Determines goals and objectives for individuals and teams, and holds those responsible accountable to expected outcomes. Promotes and maintains a culture of high performance.
• Facilitates and encourages relevant communication and collaboration, at campaign, project, or information-sharing levels, by Oceana in Chile with other offices.
• Provides updates to the CEO and board of directors regarding Oceana in Chile performance against goals and budgets, including producing reports and presentations. Provides regular updates to Oceana’s leadership team on progress and achievements.

Requirements

• 10+ years of professional experience, including a solid track record of leadership, strategic planning, and management of an organization in a multicultural environment.
• A skilled manager of people and processes, with a strong record of accomplishing goals through team efforts. Broad experience in program management, financial management, and administration is preferred.
• Demonstrated success in organizational marketing and fundraising. A track record in fundraising from foundations and major individual donors is highly desirable.
• Experience in public affairs, communications or media is an asset.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including effective presentation and negotiation skills, and ability to make complex issues accessible for lay audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, presence and ability to build strong relationships internally and externally to the organization.
• Ability to effectively engage and motivate a wide range of audiences at the highest levels to take action, including government officials, major donors and funders, organizational leaders, media, and other stakeholders.
• Proven ability to lead, engage, and collaborate with individuals across various disciplines, cultures, and backgrounds to achieve shared goals.
• Ability to weigh a spectrum of viewpoints and interests, and synthesize into a sound, strategic plan of action.
• High energy and passion for Oceana’s mission is essential.
• Working knowledge of Chile’s government, public policy, and the political environment.
• Education in marine science, international or development policy, law, communications, social entrepreneurship, social justice or other relevant field; an advanced degree is preferred.
• Willingness to travel up to 30%percent, within Chile and internationally.
• Fluency in English is required. Proficiency in other languages is a strong plus.
• Additional responsibilities as assigned

Oceana values a diverse workforce and welcomes people different from each other in many ways, including characteristics such as race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, and national origin. Oceana considers all qualified candidates and seeks to recruit from a diverse candidate pool.

Oceana’s offices have operated on a hybrid schedule and staff have been required to work from their assigned office on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. With agreement between the employee and their supervisor, the employee may work from home on Monday and Friday.

Please apply by August 2, 2026.