Board Member – Conservation Projects & Community Engagement

Volunteer Board Member – Conservation Projects & Community Engagement

Organization: R&E Ocean Community Conservation
Location: Remote
Position Type: Unpaid volunteer Board position
Application Deadline: September 9, 2026

About the Board Position

R&E Ocean Community Conservation is seeking committed professionals to join an engaged and hands-on volunteer Board of Directors. Our Board members do more than attend meetings and provide general advice: they actively contribute their expertise, oversee key working groups, and support the organization’s strategic development and long-term sustainability.

While Board members are not responsible for daily operations, they are expected to remain actively involved in their respective areas and collaborate with the Executive Director, volunteers, and fellow Board members.

Position Overview

The Board Member for Conservation Projects & Community Engagement will provide strategic guidance and oversight for R&E’s marine research, conservation, education, and community-based initiatives.

This individual will help ensure that projects are scientifically sound, ethically developed, responsive to community priorities, and aligned with R&E’s mission and strategic objectives.

General Board Responsibilities

All Board members are expected to:

• Support R&E’s mission, values, and strategic direction.
• Prepare for and participate actively in Board meetings.
• Review relevant plans, policies, budgets, reports, and major organizational decisions.
• Contribute professional expertise and provide objective strategic advice.
• Participate in and help oversee the working group related to their area of responsibility.
• Act as ambassadors for R&E and help identify relevant partnerships, funding opportunities, and organizational resources.
• Support ethical, transparent, and accountable decision-making.
• Disclose potential conflicts of interest and protect confidential organizational information.
• Assist with evaluating R&E’s progress, impact, and long-term sustainability.

Conservation Projects & Community Engagement Responsibilities

• Review and provide strategic advice on proposed and ongoing conservation projects.
• Help ensure that projects have clear objectives, activities, expected outcomes, indicators, and sustainability plans.
• Advise on scientific quality, feasibility, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.
• Help assess whether proposed projects align with R&E’s mission, capacity, and available resources.
• Promote meaningful participation by coastal communities and local partners.
• Support the respectful integration of scientific, community, Indigenous, and local knowledge where appropriate.
• Advise on community science, environmental education, responsible tourism, and marine-species conservation initiatives.
• Help identify research institutions, conservation organizations, government agencies, and community partners.
• Support the development of safeguards, ethical practices, and responsible data-management approaches.
• Participate in or help oversee the Conservation Projects and Community Engagement Working Group.
• Help evaluate project outcomes and recommend improvements or opportunities for continuity and expansion.

General Qualifications

All candidates should demonstrate:

• A genuine commitment to marine conservation, community participation, education, and evidence-based decision-making.
• Sound judgment, integrity, accountability, and a collaborative approach.
• Willingness to dedicate sufficient time to meetings, document review, working-group oversight, and agreed responsibilities.
• An understanding of the distinction between Board governance and daily organizational management.
• Ability to collaborate respectfully with people from different cultures, countries, communities, and professional backgrounds.
• Willingness to act in the best interests of R&E and its charitable mission.
• English proficiency; Spanish is a strong asset because of R&E’s work with communities and partners in Colombia.
• Previous Board or nonprofit experience is an asset but is not required.

Position-Specific Qualifications

• Experience in marine science, conservation, environmental management, community development, education, social science, or a related field.
• Understanding of community-based conservation and participatory approaches.
• Experience designing, implementing, monitoring, or evaluating environmental projects.
• Ability to assess scientific and community-based project information critically.
• Knowledge of marine and coastal ecosystems, environmental policy, responsible tourism, or community science is an asset.
• Experience collaborating with coastal, rural, Indigenous, or local communities is highly desirable.
• Strong ethical judgment and respect for different forms of knowledge and experience.

Time Commitment

Board members are expected to attend scheduled Board meetings, review relevant documents in advance, participate in the Conservation Projects and Community Engagement Working Group, and complete agreed responsibilities between meetings. The specific schedule and expected commitment will be discussed with shortlisted candidates.

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit:

• A résumé or curriculum vitae.
• A brief cover letter describing their interest in R&E’s mission.
• An explanation of the conservation, research, education, or community-engagement experience they would bring to the Board.
• Details of any previous Board, nonprofit, research, or community-based project experience.

Applications should be sent to info@oceancommunityconservation.org by September 9, 2026.

R&E Ocean Community Conservation welcomes candidates with diverse professional, cultural, and lived experiences. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.