About SOA

Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) is a global nonprofit on a mission to restore ocean health by unleashing the power of young leaders, bold ideas, and collective action. We work at the intersection of entrepreneurship, policy, and community, supporting early-stage ocean solutions and mobilizing a worldwide youth network to turn ideas into impact.

The Opportunity

Our flagship program, the Ocean Leaders Fellowship (OLF), is an annual fellowship for emerging civil society ocean leaders aged 18–35, gathering 40 Fellows from across the globe to develop their leadership, expand their networks, and advance the 30x30 campaign for marine protection. In 2026–2027, SOA is running a pilot for an Ocean Legal Fellowship that tests whether a legal profession-focused cohort model can complement our existing campaign-focused approach.

What You’ll do

The Program Manager is the operational anchor of the Ocean Leaders Fellowship, supporting the Senior Manager across two parallel projects: (1) the Ocean Leaders Fellowship and (2) a scoping pilot for an Ocean Legal Fellowship. Primary responsibilities include cross-cultural program management, curriculum design and delivery support, event planning and logistics, and operational coordination across a globally distributed Fellow cohort and partner network.

This is a role designed for someone who can operate autonomously within a clear strategic framework. The Program Manager will hold the day-to-day execution, planning, and coordination across both projects. You should be energized by complexity and direct ownership, comfortable in fast-paced environments, and excited to help shape an evolving program during a pivotal year.

Cross-cultural program management (~35%)

Hold primary day-to-day communications and operations across global Fellowship cohorts in multiple time zones, with a warm but professional voice that adapts tone and timing for cultural context.
Coordinate with regional representatives in Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, supporting their delivery of Fellow engagement, Legal scoping workshop facilitation, and Alumni regional liaison work.
Understand the objectives and motivations of different stakeholders (Fellows, mentors, partners, funders, and the internal team) and design solutions that work for the whole rather than optimizing through a single lens or for any one group's perspective.
Support maintaining partner relationships across geographies and disciplines, including with partner organizations and legal practitioners and academics.

Curriculum design and delivery (~25%)

Partner with the Senior Manager to deliver curriculum across topics such as marine governance, climate communication, campaign advocacy, and policy literacy, translating strategic priorities into facilitator-ready session designs.
Adapt OLF curriculum to lawyer audience for our pilot project for ocean lawyers, including learning objectives, mentor onboarding materials, and session structures for pilot participants.

Event planning and logistics (~25%)

Support end-to-end operational planning and on-site coordination for annual youth gathering at an international conference, including venue, travel, accommodation, agenda flow, registration, speaker logistics, and overall Fellow experience design.
Work with the Senior Manager and program leadership to build, track, and adhere to program and event budgets, flagging cost risks and trade-offs early and keeping spend within approved limits.
Support execution of three virtual regional Legal scoping design workshops (in Africa, SE Asia, Latin America)

Learning & Reporting (~15%)

Support funder reporting including quarterly progress and annual report documentation.
Create and ensure completion of baseline, midterm and endterm surveys from our Fellowship cohorts.
Support marketing team in creating and producing public-facing program content (Fellow spotlights, impact stories, toolkit materials).

What We’re Looking For

Required

5+ years of program or project management experience, including direct ownership of multi-stakeholder programs, events, or learning experiences.
Excellent cross-cultural communication skills, with proven experience working across multiple regions and time zones.
Comfort and skill in adapting communication style for different cultural and professional contexts.
Strong cross-functional collaborator who communicates proactively, builds trust across teams and disciplines, and keeps multiple stakeholders aligned toward shared goals.
Self-directed and autonomous; comfortable being the sole operational anchor for a workstream while collaborating closely with a peer team.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in fast-paced environments with shifting priorities, multiple workstreams, and tight deadlines.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including funder reporting, partner correspondence, and Fellow-facing communications.
Comfort building, tracking, and adhering to budgets, with strong attention to financial detail and cost discipline.
Comfort with virtual collaboration and program delivery tools: Airtable, Mighty Networks (or comparable platforms), Zoom, Google Workspace.

Nice to Have

Background or strong working knowledge of ocean conservation, climate, or environmental policy work.
Conversational fluency in Spanish, French, or another widely-used global working language.
Experience supporting or operating within legal, policy, or advocacy programs, particularly anything that touches international policy spaces (BBNJ, CBD, IUCN, RFMOs).
Lived experience as a member of an under-represented community in ocean leadership or conservation work.
Significant event planning and logistics experience; you have led complex events end-to-end, from agenda design and speaker management to travel logistics, on-site execution, and post-event synthesis.
Demonstrated curriculum design experience (i.e. fellowship programs, leadership development, professional training, or analogous educational design work).

What We Offer

A dynamic, collaborative, and mission-driven work environment
Flexible, remote work with a globally connected and passionate team
Opportunities for international collaboration and professional growth

Contract and Compensation

6-months independent contractor agreement, with possible extension based on program funding and performance
Seeking candidates available to work in CET timezone
Remote, with occasional international travel
Part-time, 25-40 hours per week
Hourly; pay band is determined by local purchasing power; pay bands will vary per market because of variable purchasing power; and pay rate within local band is determined by level of experience

How to Apply

Apply early as applications will be reviewed and interviews scheduled on a rolling basis.

Please submit the following to information@soalliance.org by July 1st:

Subject line should read: Your Full Name_OLF Program Manager
A resume, and
A brief cover letter outlining your interest and relevant experience

In your cover letter, please also address the following question: Describe a complex multi-stakeholder event or program you led end-to-end, ideally one where you were the primary operational anchor without significant support staff. What were the toughest logistical and cultural decisions you made, and what did you learn?

In your cover letter, please note if you have previously participated in any SOA programming.

SOA is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply.

Program Manager, Ocean Leadership Fellowship