Operations Manager - Palawan Based - #35319

Company Profile:

Our client is an international non-profit organization focused on restoring marine ecosystems while creating sustainable economic opportunities for coastal communities. Established a decade ago, the organization works in partnership with governments and local communities to manage several large marine protected areas across Southeast Asia and East Africa.

Alongside its conservation work, the organization operates a portfolio of reef-positive businesses across aquaculture, sustainable seafood, and ecotourism. Each business is strategically paired with a marine protected area, with the goal of generating sustainable commercial revenue that progressively helps finance long-term conservation efforts. The organization currently manages millions of hectares of marine areas and is continuing to expand its impact through a combination of conservation, community development, and commercially sustainable enterprises.

They are now looking for an Aquaculture Operations Manager to oversee the day-to-day farming and site operations of the company, working closely with the General Manager to ensure strong production performance, operational efficiency, and effective site management. This is a hands-on leadership role that combines technical aquaculture knowledge with responsibility for logistics, procurement, reporting, people management, and overall operational discipline across a remote site.

This is a great opportunity to join a purpose-driven organization where your operational leadership can contribute directly to both commercial performance and marine conservation. The role offers significant ownership, field-based leadership, and the opportunity to work at the intersection of aquaculture, community development, and environmental sustainability. It is particularly suited to an experienced aquaculture or operations professional who enjoys being close to the operation, making practical decisions on the ground, and helping build a sustainable business that supports both coastal communities and conservation efforts.

Overall purpose and responsibilities of the role:

The Aquaculture Operations Manager will take ownership of the day-to-day performance and operational management of the company’s farming site, ensuring that production activities, people, resources, and supporting functions are well coordinated and executed against agreed targets. Working closely with the General Manager, the role will translate aquaculture plans into practical field execution, monitor production and operational performance, identify issues early, and drive timely corrective action. The role combines hands-on aquaculture management with broader operational responsibility, covering farm performance, site operations, logistics, procurement, reporting, and people management. The Operations Manager will also help ensure that operational decisions are commercially sound, resource-efficient, and aligned with established SOPs, while maintaining strong relationships with the local community and other stakeholders connected to the site.

Please note that this role is open to Expat/Foreigner who is willing to work in Palawan and has work related experience.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Farming & Production Operations

· Take direct operational responsibility for running daily broodstock, nursery, and grow-out farming activities onsite

· Monitor and manage biological performance indicators - survival, growth, and biomass - and drive corrective action when performance drifts from target

· Enforce and continuously improve operational SOPs across stocking, transfers, grading, harvesting, and biosecurity

· Work in close technical coordination with the Nursery & Grow-Out Technical Coordinator and Hatchery, ensuring a reliable, well-planned production cycle

Field Team Leadership

· Lead, supervise, and develop field-based farming and support teams, setting clear standards for accountability, safety, and performance.

· Build technical competence within the team and ensure consistent application of SOPs and best practice on site.

Site Logistics & Procurement

· Oversee site logistics: vehicles, vessels, equipment, and the supply chain into a remote site (fuel, feed, spare parts, materials)

· Manage local procurement and supplier relationships, ensuring reliability and value for money

· Ensure preventive maintenance of farming infrastructure and equipment, escalating major capital needs to the General Manager

HR & Site Administration

· Manage site-level HR administration: attendance, leave, local recruitment logistics, onboarding, and first-line disciplinary matters

· Manage the site operating budget and petty cash, and maintain inventory, asset, and administrative records (permits, local authorizations, contracts)

· Prepare and submit financial and procurement documentation to the Finance team in a timely manner

Business Performance: Cost, Productivity & Risk

· Translate field and biological performance into cost, productivity, and risk terms - linking survival/growth/biomass outcomes to unit economics and operational efficiency

· Identify operational or production risks early (biological, logistical, financial) and propose mitigation options to the General Manager

· Contribute operational data and analysis to support production planning, budgeting, and investment decisions

Community & Social Enterprise Context

· Maintain constructive relationships with local government, community leaders, and other stakeholders, consistent with AQUAHUB’s community-based model

· Represent AQUAHUB locally on operational and community matters, supporting the General Manager on community engagement

· Balance production and commercial discipline with the social and conservation mission underpinning AQUAHUB’s operating model

Reporting & Coordination

· Provide regular (weekly/monthly) reports to the General Manager covering production performance, HR, budget, and operational risks.

· Coordinate cross-functionally with the Hatchery, Farm Support, Finance, and HR functions at head-office level

Act as the General Manager’s trusted operational counterpart across both production and site operations

Requirements

Must-have Skills/Qualification:

· 8 to 10 years of experience in aquaculture, fisheries, marine farming, or animal production, with direct field/farm operations exposure

· Strong technical grasp of survival, growth, and biomass management, and of operational SOPs in a farming or production environment

· Proven track record leading field teams and running daily farming or production operations

· Demonstrated ability to manage logistics, procurement, reporting, and HR alongside technical/production duties

· Business-minded: able to connect field and biological performance to cost, productivity, and risk

· Fluent in English, written and spoken.

· Comfortable and genuinely motivated to work within a social enterprise, community based operating model

Advantageous Skills/Experience:

· Formal qualification in aquaculture, marine sciences, animal production, or a related field

· Specific experience with broodstock, nursery, or grow-out systems (e.g. sea cucumber, fish, mud crab or similar species)

Valid driving licence; boat handling experience is an advantage