Programme Officer – Environment Programme, Marine Food Systems and Livelihoods

Location: Oak Foundation’s London office
Reporting to: Environment Programme Director
Type of contract: Full-time, permanent
Application deadline: Monday 2 November, 09:00 CET

About Oak Foundation
Oak Foundation’s mission (www.oakfnd.org) is to contribute to a safer, fairer, and more sustainable world. With offices in Europe, Africa, and North America, Oak Foundation makes grants to organisations around the world.

 About the Environment Programme  
The Environment Programme places people at the heart of our grant-making to safeguard our future and restore our connection to nature. The Environment Programme has three sub-programmes: Marine food systems and livelihoods, Nature and people, and Regenerative landscapes. We take a systems change approach by aiming to address the sources of the challenges we face as a society to improve the health and strength of communities and our natural environment. This approach allows us to see inter-connections and envision solutions across sectors to achieve multiple social and biodiversity benefits. 

Purpose of the role
This is a great opportunity to join a diverse, international team within Oak Foundation’s Environment Programme. The programme officer will contribute to transforming small-scale fisheries governance by helping to build a stronger and more diverse global coalition of organisations.

We believe that lasting change depends on supporting both marine ecosystems and the people whose lives and livelihoods depend on them. Our grant-making focuses on helping community-based and small-scale fisheries organisations in coastal developing nations manage marine resources more effectively and equitably. We also support efforts to ensure that communities have a voice in the development of marine protected areas, and to improve accountability across the global seafood supply chain. Together, this work aims to protect food security, strengthen climate resilience, conserve marine habitats, and advance transparency and labour rights in fisheries.

The ideal candidate will have a strong scientific background, ideally in biology or a closely related biological science such as fisheries science, ecology, or conservation, alongside relevant experience working in the Global South, and bring an entrepreneurial, interdisciplinary, and collaborative approach. They will have a background in marine conservation, fisheries law and policy, small-scale fisheries, human rights, and accountability frameworks.

Main responsibilities include:

• Helping to shape the strategy for the grant portfolio, in consultation with the Environment director and the lead Trustee.
• Managing Oak’s Marine Food Systems and Livelihoods portfolio across the full grant cycle, including identifying and assessing high-impact, innovative and entrepreneurial grant-making opportunities.
• Capturing and sharing insights from grantees and groups of grants to guide the programme’s work and contribute to learning across the wider field.
• Building and maintaining relationships across marine conservation, food systems, civil society, science, philanthropy, government and the private sector, and representing Oak Foundation externally.

Position requirements

• A university degree in biology or a closely related biological science, such as fisheries science, ecology or conservation.
• At least seven years’ relevant professional experience and a track record of significant achievement in a field related to marine conservation and/or small-scale fisheries, alongside experience working with grantees and/or partners in the Global South.
• Strong research, analytical, interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment.

To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter, detailing how you fulfil the role description and personal specification to Perrett Laver Vacancies quoting reference 8649. The deadline for applications is 09:00 GMT on Monday 2^nd November 2026.

The roles are based in London and the salary is competitive.

Applications should consist of a full curriculum vitae detailing professional qualifications and experience, accompanied by a covering letter describing how candidates meet the person specification outlined in the document, why the appointment is of interest, and what they believe they can bring to the role.

Perrett Laver will conduct an executive search process in parallel with the public advertisement of the role. Longlisted candidates will be invited to interview with Perrett Laver in early or mid-

November, and the selection panel will subsequently meet to decide upon a final shortlist for the post at the end of November, following which, formal interviews with Oak Foundation will take place early December and into January. If you require any reasonable adjustments to assist you in the selection process, please advise us of these so that we can make appropriate arrangements.

Oak Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, as detailed in our child safeguarding policy. We expect all staff to share this commitment. Please note that the successful candidate will undergo reference checks and be required to provide a police record prior to starting employment.

To confidentially get in touch about this role, or to request advice on your application please contact Nikki Tye, Research Associate, nikki.tye@perrettlaver.com for a confidential conversation. Should you require access to these documents in alternative formats, please contact Freya Coombes, freya.coombes@perrettlaver.com

If you have comments that would support us to improve access to documentation, or our application processes more generally, please do not hesitate to contact us via accessibility@perrettlaver.com.

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