Enforcement and Compliance Fellow in San Diego, California at Waitt Foundation - Waitt Institute

Enforcement and Compliance Fellow

Location: San Diego, CA

Hours: Full-time

Compensation: $70,000-80,000 USD

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The Waitt Institute is a team of international experts working around the globe to protect the world's oceans and support coastal communities in Blue Prosperity programs. The Waitt Institute is working with seven national and territorial governments to create and implement sustainable ocean plans that help improve local livelihoods and economies while safeguarding marine life and ecosystems.

This position will report to the Enforcement and Compliance Program Manager and work closely with internal teams, partner governments, and technical partners to help coordinate and advance enforcement and compliance initiatives that support marine spatial planning and related ocean governance efforts in Blue Prosperity programs. Over time, the Fellow is expected to develop subject matter expertise in topics such as marine enforcement and compliance systems, maritime monitoring and surveillance tools, adaptive management approaches, and related implementation strategies.

The ideal candidate enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, is highly organized, and has the flexibility to adapt to shifting priorities and international coordination across time zones. The position may include international travel up to 30% of the time to support in-country workshops, stakeholder engagement, assessments, and implementation activities.

As a global team, the Waitt Institute is committed to diversity, cultural competence, and inclusivity, and we recognize that these core values enable our success. We seek to employ talented advocates for the ocean and coastal communities, and we welcome all applicants.

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Responsibilities

• Assist in the coordination and management of internal and contractor-supported enforcement and compliance projects, such as tracking of timelines and deliverables, through program management, and tracking tools.
• Assist with development and refinement of programmatic tools, templates, and operational workflows to improve efficiency and consistency across projects.
• Support development of country-focused enforcement and compliance strategies, assessments, action plans, and related technical materials.
• Conduct research and synthesize information related to marine enforcement, maritime governance, monitoring and surveillance technologies, and other relevant topics, to help develop familiarity and expertise with enforcement technologies, monitoring platforms, and associated analytical tools.
• Support preparation of presentations, briefing materials, concept notes, reports, spreadsheets, meeting summaries, and workshop materials.
• Coordinate logistics and planning for workshops, meetings, trainings, conferences, and international travel.
• Support stakeholder engagement and coordination with government agencies, NGOs, technical experts, and international partners.
• Travel internationally to support in-country meetings, workshops, assessments, and implementation activities as needed.

Professional Qualifications

• 1-3 years of experience supporting environmental, marine conservation, MPAs, ocean governance and policy, maritime compliance, or related initiatives.
• Strong project management skills with exceptional attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to synthesize technical information into clear and actionable outputs
• Experience with project management and collaboration software such as Asana, Google Suite, Microsoft Office, and/or similar platforms.
• Bachelor’s degree required (Graduate degree preferred) in Environmental Studies, Marine Affairs, International Relations, Public Policy, Geography, Oceanography, Natural Resource Management, or a related field.
• Experience supporting workshops, stakeholder engagement, or international programs preferred.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally as needed.

Personal Attributes

• Highly organized and proactive with strong follow-through
• Adaptable and comfortable navigating shifting priorities and international coordination.
• Curious and motivated to learn complex environmental and enforcement topics.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively across cultures and disciplines.
• Strategic thinker with strong problem-solving skills.
• Able to work independently while also contributing effectively as part of a team.

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Company Benefits​

Unlimited Paid Time Off | Excellent Medical, Dental, Vision options | Health Savings Account | 401(k) match up to 6%