Job Description

Are you a decisive, mission-driven leader ready to shape Africa's coastal future? Join Sustainable Seas Trust (SST), a science-based non-profit working to protect Africa's oceans and empower coastal communities through research, innovation, and collaboration.

As Research, Development and Monitoring Manager, you'll lead continent-wide research initiatives and design robust systems that track, demonstrate, and grow SST's impact. This is a strategic leadership position at the heart of our mission: advancing marine conservation and sustainable waste management for a thriving African blue economy. We're looking for a results-oriented professional with:

A strong background in environmental research and monitoring Proven leadership experience A passion for translating science into action.
You'll oversee high-quality research, develop monitoring frameworks, and shape interventions that deliver tangible change across Africa.

Why join SST?

Lead transformative, cross-border research that safeguards Africa's seas. Collaborate with leading scientists, partners, and policy influencers. Enjoy a coastal lifestyle in vibrant Gqeberha -- affordable living, ocean views, and a close-knit, passionate team. Competitive NGO package (Paterson Grade D), opportunities for growth, and relocation support.
If you thrive on challenge, accountability, and purpose, this is your chance to make a lasting impact. Apply now and help us create a future where the people of Africa and her seas flourish together. Send applications via email to melissa@phoenark.com by 7 November 2025 at 17:00 (SAST).

About the position

We are seeking a dynamic, high-performing leader to serve as the Research, Development and Monitoring Manager. In this mission-critical role, you will spearhead SST's research programmes and impact monitoring initiatives, ensuring they directly drive our strategy to protect marine and coastal environments. Using waste as the lens and marine pollution as the target issue, you will design and lead well-structured, high-quality research projects that deepen understanding of the challenges impeding sustainable waste management in Africa's coastal communities. Crucially, you will ensure that research outcomes inform strategic guidance and on-the-ground conservation interventions, from education and skills training to community upliftment and enterprise development.

As the RDM Manager, you will streamline and implement a robust Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) framework to track the impact of SST's interventions and report results to stakeholders. This is a strategic leadership position at the heart of SST's mission, with both local and Africa-wide scope. Success in this role is pivotal to SST's overall impact, and it demands exceptional accountability, ownership of outcomes, and an unwavering focus on results. The RDM Manager will report to the Head of Marine and Coastal Impact Programmes and will work onsite at our Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) offices. (Please note: this role cannot be performed remotely and requires full-time presence in Gqeberha.)

If you are a decisive, assertive, and results-driven professional who thrives on challenges and is deeply committed to a mission greater than yourself, this role offers the opportunity to make a tangible difference in Africa's fight against marine pollution.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:

Provide expert input into the development and continual improvement of departmental and organisational strategies. Translate high-level strategic objectives into practical, detailed, and achievable implementation plans for your team and ensure alignment with other departments.

Research Coordination:

Oversee and coordinate all research activities across SST's projects. Build organisational capacity in research techniques and methods (qualitative, quantitative, policy analysis, etc.). Initiate and guide research projects aligned with SST's Theory of Change and strategic goals, ensuring they are executed effectively.

Quality Assurance:

Ensure the scientific rigor and quality of all research outputs across various project portfolios. This includes guiding research design and methodology, data management strategies, data analysis, and the writing of reports and publications. Maintain high standards of research ethics and alignment with international best practices.

Stakeholder Engagement:

Initiate and maintain effective partnerships with key researchers, academic institutions, and research influencers. Leverage these relationships to advance SST's research agenda and influence broader policy and practice in marine conservation and waste management.

Knowledge Sharing:

Organise and champion knowledge-sharing initiatives (workshops, trainings, mentorship) to increase the organisation's research and monitoring expertise. Empower team members with skills and knowledge, elevating overall capacity.

Intervention Design:

Guide the design of SST's on-the-ground interventions (programmes in marine pollution mitigation, blue economy development, ocean conservation, etc.) so that they are informed by research and designed for maximum impact. Ensure each intervention aligns with our strategic objectives and Theory of Change.

Financial Management:

Take full ownership of the finances for the Research, Development and Monitoring portfolio. Prepare and manage budgets, track and report on expenditures (including dedicated training budgets), and ensure resources are allocated for optimal efficiency and impact.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning:

Drive the development and continual refinement of SST's internal MEL system. Analyse data from programmes and produce impact reports as required for donors, partners, and SST leadership. Support and guide internal departments in using MEL tools and data to improve their performance.

Collaboration and Teamwork:

Work closely with managers of other impact portfolios to ensure that all interventions are implemented coherently and that data and outcomes are reported correctly. Break down silos and foster teamwork across the organisation.

Leadership and Culture:

Lead by example in embodying SST's values and positive culture. Hold yourself and your team accountable to the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and performance. Foster an environment of trust, accountability, and continuous improvement, in line with SST's philosophies.

Key Organisational Responsibilities (Leadership within SST's "Coordinating System")

As a senior manager at SST, the RDM Manager plays a crucial role in our Coordinating System, ensuring that strategy and operations are in sync.

Key organisational leadership responsibilities include:

Translate Strategy:

Bridge the gap between strategy and execution. Take SST's strategic vision and give it personal meaning for your team. Break down broad objectives into clear, actionable plans and ensure your team (and collaborating teams) understand how their work advances SST's mission.

Allocate and Manage Resources:

Make smart, strategic decisions on the use of finite resources (budget, personnel, time). Prioritise projects and adjust resource allocations to maximise efficiency and effectiveness. You will need to continuously evaluate trade-offs to increase the probability of success across your portfolio.

Transfer Knowledge and Develop Talent:

Act as a mentor and capacity-builder within SST's broader team. Recommend and facilitate training programs, provide mentorship and guidance, and promote knowledge sharing. By elevating the skills of colleagues (especially in research and M&E), you amplify the impact of the entire organisation and help develop the next generation of leaders.

Reinforce Culture and Values:

Model the behaviour and work ethic you expect from others. Always uphold SST's values and behavioural standards and ensure your team does the same. Create an environment of accountability, integrity, and excellence by holding yourself and others to high standards and promptly addressing deviations from SST's operating philosophy.

Key Deliverables

Success in this role will be measured by the delivery of clear, high-impact outputs, including:

Ecological Priority Map:

A comprehensive map of ecologically important areas across African coastal countries (e.g. Hope Spots, Marine Protected Areas, critical conservation areas, key coastal cities intersecting rivers/estuaries). This map will be used to prioritise which coastal cities, towns, and villages should receive focused support and intervention from SST.

Stakeholder Maps:

Detailed stakeholder mapping for each priority location, identifying key target audiences, partners, community organisations, government bodies, and other players active in marine conservation, pollution control, and waste management. These maps should clarify existing initiatives on the ground and define SST's unique role in facilitating and supporting efforts in each location (in coordination with each SST department).

Waste Management Analysis:

An in-depth understanding and documentation of waste management activities in selected African countries within our scope. This should include, at minimum*:
The existence and status of Integrated Waste Management Plans (IWMPs) for relevant municipalities. The roles and responsibilities of different levels of government (local, regional, national) in waste management. Detailed waste management country profiles for each priority country (covering policies, infrastructure, challenges, and key statistics).

Information Repository:

An organised repository or database of all relevant information and data on waste management and pollution for each focus country. (This ensures SST has quick access to reliable data and references for decision-making and reporting.)*

Action Plans for Portfolios:

Clear, actionable plans of action and intervention designs for each of SST's department (Education and Capacity Building, Community Upliftment and Enterprise Development, etc.) tailored to the identified priority coastal areas. These plans should outline specific activities, timelines, responsible team members, and required workflows, along with clear delegations of authority within the organisation for execution.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Framework:

A robust organisational Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) framework that is fully implemented. This framework should enable effective tracking of outputs and outcomes for all projects, and feed into impact reporting for SST's donors, partners, and public communications. (It should allow SST to clearly demonstrate the results and impact of our work on a continuous basis.)*

Requirements

Candidates must meet the following minimum requirements:

Education:

A Master's degree (or higher) in one of the environmental sciences (or a closely related field) is required.

Professional Experience:

At least 7 years of relevant experience in environmental research, conservation, sustainable development or a related discipline, including a minimum of 3 years in a management and leadership role.

Leadership in Research:

Proven track record of successfully leading research teams and

innovating in research methods

. You should have experience initiating new research projects and driving them to completion with meaningful outcomes.

Research and Writing:

Demonstrated excellence in research and professional writing. This includes experience producing high-quality reports and publications for various audiences (beyond just academic papers, e.g., policy briefs, technical reports, or industry publications).

Analytical Skills:

Strong competence in statistics and data analysis. At least a working knowledge of data modelling techniques and familiarity with emerging tools (such as applications of Artificial Intelligence in data analysis or environmental monitoring) is expected.

Strategic Planning:

A proven history of developing and implementing strategic plans in a professional setting. You should be able to translate strategic objectives into operational plans and then execute and adapt those plans effectively.

Teamwork and Management:

Excellent ability to lead and work within a team. You should have experience building high-performance teams, as well as collaborating across departments or disciplines.

Driver's License:

A valid driver's license is essential. The role may involve travel to field sites, and the candidate must be comfortable driving alone when necessary.

The Ideal Candidate

Beyond the required technical skills and experience, we are looking for a particular type of leader who will thrive in SST's environment and drive our mission forward.

The ideal candidate will exemplify the following qualities:

Mission-Driven:

Has an authentic passion for environmental sustainability and conservation. You are deeply motivated by a mission bigger than yourself, and you measure success by the positive impact you create for communities and the planet.

Dominant and Decisive Leadership:

A natural leader with a dominant, assertive, and decisive style (think *"high-D" or 'Red' on the DISC profile). You take charge of situations, make clear decisions quickly, and confidently drive teams toward ambitious goals.

Results-Oriented:

Highly output-focused and results-driven. You set high targets for yourself and your team, and you have a track record of delivering on goals. You thrive under pressure and view challenges as opportunities to excel.

Accountable and Proactive:

You take full ownership of your projects and responsibilities. Rather than waiting for direction, you anticipate needs and take initiative. You hold yourself accountable to the highest standards and expect the same of others.

Organised and Detail-Oriented:

Exceptionally well-organised, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines. You pay attention to detail and ensure that nothing falls through the cracks, even while keeping the bigger strategic picture in mind.

Continuous Learner:

Stay well-informed on the latest global developments and best practices in relevant fields, whether it's the United Nations Global Plastics Treaty negotiations, innovations in marine pollution mitigation, climate change adaptation strategies, or advances in education for sustainability. You naturally update your knowledge and use it to inform SST's work.

Stakeholder Savvy:

Excellent understanding of stakeholder engagement and partnership strategies. You know how to identify, approach, and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders - from local community leaders and governmental officials to international researchers and donors - and you can align their interests with SST's mission.

Superior Communication:

Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills. In particular, you excel at public speaking and presenting research plans and results in a compelling way. You can distil complex information into clear messages for various audiences, and you inspire confidence when you speak.

Adaptable and Resilient:

Able to adapt to changing circumstances and handle setbacks with resilience. You maintain a positive attitude and solution-oriented approach, even when projects encounter obstacles.

Team Player:

While you are a strong leader, you also value collaboration. You work effectively as part of a team, respect diverse perspectives, and contribute to a supportive, high-performance team culture. If this profile does not sound like you, then this role may not be the right fit. We are intentionally seeking a high-calibre, mission-aligned individual who meets the above criteria.*

Compensation and Terms

Location:

Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa. This is an on-site position - candidates must be willing to relocate to or reside in Gqeberha. Remote work or telecommuting is not an option for this role.*

Employment Type and Duration:

Full-time 12-month fixed-term contract. The contract is renewable annually based on performance, with potential renewals up to February 2028 (aligned with the end of our current core funding cycle). Extension beyond that period is contingent on future funding.

Compensation:

Paterson Grade D level, reflecting the seniority and responsibility of the role.

Benefits:

SST offers a supportive leave policy (with extra leave days included in the CTC package) and the opportunity for performance-based bonuses. Being part of SST also means working in a passionate team committed to a meaningful cause, with opportunities for professional development and growth.

Start Date: As soon as possible

- we are looking to fill this position urgently with the right candidate.
Job Type: Contract
Contract length: 12 months

Pay: R800000,00 per year

Application Question(s):

Do you hold a completed Master's degree (or higher) in one of the environmental sciences (or a closely related field)? Do you have a valid driver's license?
Work Location: In person

Application Deadline: 2025/11/07