Senior Specialist, Whale Report Alert System

We need the ocean. The ocean needs us.

Role Summary

As the Senior Specialist for the Whale Report Alert System (WRAS), Ocean Wise’s flagship conservation technology, you will lead the delivery and ongoing advancement of the platform to reduce vessel strikes and disturbance to Whales. Working closely with the Director, Whales, the Whales team, Ocean Wise staff, and external partners, you will oversee WRAS operations, funding agreements, strategic partnerships, technology development, stakeholder engagement, and reporting to achieve measurable conservation outcomes and support the overall Whales Program goals. In collaboration with the Ocean Wise IT team, software developers, researchers, and conservation partners, you will guide the continued evolution of WRAS, ensuring it remains significantly robust, operationally effective, and responsive to the needs of industry, government, Indigenous communities, researchers, and other marine stakeholders while driving innovation that expands the adoption and conservation impact of Ocean Wise’s whale protection technologies.

*Please note this role requires the successful candidate to be located in either the Vancouver lower mainland area or Southern Vancouver island region with intended start date of November 2nd, 2026*

Who You Are

You are a marine conservation specialist passionate about advancing cetacean conservation through science, technology, and collaboration. You bring strong expertise in program and project delivery, stakeholder partnerships, and data-driven conservation, with the ability to connect diverse partners and translate complex information into practical solutions that strengthen the Whales Program and its conservation impact.

What You Will Be Doing

Program Leadership & Delivery

• Lead the implementation and continual improvement of the WRAS, ensuring activities align with the Whales Program’s strategic plan, annual goals, funding agreement requirements, and measurable conservation outcomes.


• Oversee the day-to-day delivery of the WRAS portfolio, ensuring projects, timelines, deliverables, budgets, funding and reporting requirements are completed on schedule and to a high standard.


• Work with the Whales Director and Senior Manager to develop annual work plans and priorities to monitor progress, while adapting activities to maximize conservation outcomes and operational effectiveness.


• Chair the WRAS Advisory Committee by establishing priorities, coordinating meetings, facilitating collaboration among partners, and ensuring recommendations are translated into WRAS improvements.


• Supporting cross-program initiatives within the Whales team and contributing to broader Ocean Wise conservation and education programs as required.

Technology & Product Management

• Serve as the project lead and product owner for the WRAS platform, working collaboratively with Ocean Wise's IT team, software developers, contractors, and external technology partners to maintain, enhance, and expand WRAS functionality.


• Collaborate with the Whales Director, WRAS Coordinator, and the Ocean Wise IT team to continuously evaluate the effectiveness of the digital reporting and alerting application for the WRAS, including using user feedback, project data, and emerging technologies to inform its continual improvement, usability, reliability, and scalability.


• Define WRAS user and data requirements, prioritize software enhancements, evaluate new features, oversee user acceptance testing, and support the implementation of system upgrades and maintenance activities.


• Oversee database governance, data quality standards, system documentation, and platform performance to ensure the WRAS remains a trusted conservation decision-support tool.

Partnerships, Stakeholder Engagement, & Outreach

• Develop, manage, and strengthen strategic relationships with industry, Indigenous communities, government agencies, researchers, NGOs, and marine organizations to increase participation in and conservation impact of the WRAS.


• Work with the Whales Director to establish and maintain strong strategic partnerships by developing, negotiating, and executing partner data-sharing agreements and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) that support the successful delivery and growth of the WRAS.


• Represent Ocean Wise at conferences, workshops, advisory committees, stakeholder meetings, media interviews, and public events to communicate conservation outcomes and promote the adoption of the WRAS.


• Oversee external communications for the WRAS in collaboration with the WRAS Coordinator, and Ocean Wise's Communications and Education teams, including educational resources, promotional materials, presentations, signage, website content, and stakeholder communications.


• Support the WRAS Coordinator with the development and delivery of stakeholder training that promote the effective use of the WRAS and improve participation in whale conservation initiatives.


• Support the expansion of WRAS data and users by identifying opportunities for integration with partner networks, new technologies, and stakeholder groups.

Research, Reporting, & Funding

• Lead or overseeing the preparation of high-quality reports for WRAS funders, partners, and external stakeholders, ensuring reporting requirements are met and impacts are clearly communicated.


• With support from the Director, Whales, develop WRAS metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness and impact of the tool, evaluate conservation outcomes, and support adaptive management.


• Lead the collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of WRAS metrics.


• Contribute to scientific publications, technical reports, conference presentations, and other knowledge products using WRAS data to advance marine conservation science.


• Support the Whales Director and Ocean Wise’s Philanthropy & Partnerships team in securing funding for the WRAS through the preparation and completion of grant proposals and funding pitches.

What You Bring

• Master’s Degree in Biology, Environmental Science, Resource Management, or related field; PhD considered an asset.


• Demonstrated experience in program and project management.


• Strong background in marine conservation, environmental science, resource management, and sustainability, or related field.


• Track record of stakeholder and partnership management


• Demonstrated experience working successfully with academic, government, industry, and/or NGO partners in Canada.


• Experience in grant and funding procurement and management.


• Excellent scientific and technical communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence diverse stakeholders and represent Ocean Wise externally.


• Well-versed in data analysis, monitoring, and program evaluation.


• Understanding of statistical analysis, ecological modelling, spatial analysis, quantitative data analysis, data visualization, and interpretation.


• High level of digital literacy ideally working with various platforms including Microsoft Office Suite, SharePoint, Salesforce, GIS, R, or equivalent programs.


• Assets include:
  
  
  
  • Experience with budget and operational planning.
  
  
  • Record of publishing scientific manuscripts in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
  
  
  • Experience with hydrophones, infrared cameras, AIS, or vessel navigation systems.
  
  

How You Will Be Measured

• Successfully delivers the WRAS program by meeting or exceeding annual work plan objectives, funding agreement deliverables, budgets, reporting requirements, and project timelines and contributing to the long-term success, reach, effectiveness, and conservation impact of the Whales Program.


• Demonstrates measurable growth in WRAS adoption, participation, and program reach through increases in active users, participating organizations, geographic coverage, whale sightings submitted, industry participation, and integration into new regions and stakeholder gorups


• Advances the development, reliability, and effectiveness of the WRAS through platform enhancements, expanded functionality, high system availability, timely issue resolution, positive user feedback, and successful geographic and programmatic growth.


• Strengthens strategic partnerships and program sustainability by developing and maintaining productive relationships with Indigenous communities, government agencies, industry, NGOs, researchers, and other stakeholders, while supporting grant applications, securing funding, and managing collaborative agreements.


• Successfully leads stakeholder engagement, outreach, training, and governance activities, including management of the WRAS Advisory Committee, delivery of workshops, presentations and training sessions, participant satisfaction, collaborative decision-making, and implementation of committee recommendations.


• Produces high-quality reports, evaluations, and knowledge products that effectively communicate WRAS performance, conservation outcomes, and impacts to funders, partners, and external audiences while advancing the scientific credibility and application of WRAS data in research, policy development, and evidence-based conservation initiatives.


• Uses WRAS metrics and stakeholder feedback to evaluate performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement adaptive management practices that enhance conservation outcomes and effectiveness, as well as program visibility, credibility and adoption.

What We Offer

This full-time, benefits-eligible position offers:

• A remote working environment, when not required for on-site training, meetings or events, with the opportunity to work at our Vancouver headquarters, if desired.


• A base salary, $67,500 – 75,000 , in line with market data for not-for-profit organizations


• Benefits coverage on a premium cost-shared basis, including
  
  
  
  • Extended health and dental coverage
  
  
  • Vision coverage
  
  
  • $300 Health spending account
  
  
  • Group term and supplemental life insurance
  
  
  • Short-term disability
  
  
  • Long-term disability
  
  
  • RRSP matching of up to 6% after one year of service
  
  


• 15 paid vacation days to start


• 10 paid sick days,


• 2 wellness days


• 12 paid Statutory and General Holidays each calendar year


• An annual all-staff retreat to allow in-person connections and team building


• The opportunity to be part of a team that’s helping to save the ocean!

Where and How You’ll Work

This is a remote-first position when not required on-site for training, meetings, events, etc., with the possibility to work at our headquarters in downtown Vancouver, if desired. The standard work week for this role is 37.5 hours, Monday through Friday, with rare exceptions for some evening or weekend work. Due to the nature of this role, the successful candidate must be located in or around the Vancouver lower mainland or Southern Vancouver Island region.

Who We Are

Ocean Wise is a global conversation organization on a mission to build communities that take meaningful action to protect and restore our ocean. Learn more about us at ocean.org.

Inclusion and Diversity

At Ocean Wise, we believe that a welcoming and diverse workplace fosters the inclusion of voices that have been historically underrepresented. We encourage applications from individuals belonging to equity-deserving groups and will work with applicants requesting accommodations at any stage of the hiring process. We value human connection and fairness in our recruitment process. We do not use AI, algorithms, or automated tools to screen or evaluate candidates. All applications are reviewed by our hiring team to ensure each candidate is considered thoughtfully and equitably.