Fisheries Standard Director

Overview

Our vision is for the world’s oceans to be teeming with life, with seafood supplies safeguarded for this and future generations.

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an international, nonprofit organisation that operates the world’s most recognised certification and ecolabelling programme for sustainable fishing. At a time when overfishing and climate change pose increasing risks to ocean health and fish stocks, MSC plays a critical role in recognising and rewarding well managed, sustainable fisheries through the seafood supply chain. Today, more than 700 fisheries worldwide, representing over 20 percent of the annual global marine catch, are engaged in the MSC Program, with MSC certified and labelled seafood products available in more than 100 countries. Through partnerships and collective endeavour, MSC is working to end overfishing and drive lasting positive change in global fisheries.

Central to MSC’s work are its rigorous standards, including the Fisheries Standard and the Chain of Custody Standard, which underpin the credibility and impact of the MSC Program. We are now seeking a highly experienced and respected Fisheries Standard Director to provide strategic leadership of the MSC Fisheries Standard and to build on the significant scientific and technical progress made over the past two decades.

Responsibilities

• Reporting to the Chief Standards Officer and working closely with the Executive Committee, the Fisheries Standard Director is responsible for the overall stewardship, development and effective implementation of the MSC Fisheries Standard.
• This pivotal role ensures that the Standard reflects best practice in fisheries management, is grounded in widely accepted and available science, and is applied consistently and robustly across MSC’s global Programs.
• The Fisheries Standard Director leads the continued evolution of fishery certification and fishery improvement requirements, ensuring they are clear, credible, and widely respected.
• The role also oversees the quality and consistency of assessments against the Standard, supporting confidence among fisheries, assurance providers, supply chain partners and other stakeholders.
• A key focus of the role is ensuring that MSC’s certification and Improvement Programs remain globally accessible, while maintaining the integrity and effectiveness on which MSC’s reputation depends.
• As a senior organisational leader, the Fisheries Standard Director oversees the Fisheries Standard team, providing clear direction, support and leadership to deliver against MSC’s strategic objectives.
• The role also contributes actively to the broader strategic development and collective leadership of MSC, working collaboratively across the organisation to advance MSC’s mission and long term impact.

Qualifications

• The successful candidate will bring substantial senior level experience in fisheries science or fisheries management relevant to the MSC Fisheries Standard, together with deep operational knowledge of the fisheries sector.
• You will have a strong professional reputation in standard setting, policy development or scientific advisory roles, and the credibility to engage confidently with a wide range of external stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential.
• A postgraduate qualification, ideally at master’s or doctoral level, is preferred.
• Success in this role requires a highly capable and inclusive leader, able to operate effectively in a complex, fast paced and global environment.
• You will be comfortable managing multiple priorities, navigating technical and policy complexity, and fostering strong cross organisational collaboration.
• You will also demonstrate sound judgement, intellectual rigour, and the ability to balance scientific credibility with practical implementation.
• You will bring a clear commitment to MSC’s vision, mission and values, and a strong sense of purpose in contributing to the future of sustainable fishing and healthy oceans.

Application process

• How to apply
• Perrett Laver has been appointed by the Marine Stewardship Council to lead the search and recruitment for this role. For further details about the opportunity and the MSC, please visit the dedicated microsite and search using vacancy code 8408: Fisheries Standard Director (Perrett Laver - Leading Global Executive Search Firm)
• To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter, detailing how you fulfil the role description and personal specification. The deadline for applications is Thursday 7th May 2026 at 9:00am BST.
• Perrett Laver will conduct an executive search process in parallel with the public advertisement of the role.
• Longlisted candidates will be invited to interview with Perrett Laver in late-May, early-June.
• The Selection Panel will subsequently meet to decide upon a final shortlist for the post with formal interviews due to take place in late June.

Equality and accessibility

• We are committed to the principles of equality and fairness and do not discriminate on the grounds of age, ethnicity, race, colour, religion or belief, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability. If you consider yourself to have a disability and need reasonable adjustments made during the recruitment and selection process, please let us know how we can help you.
• To confidentially get in touch about this role, or for advice on your application please email, Valentina Serra on valentina.serra@perrettlaver.com
• Should you require access to these documents in alternative formats, please contact Freya Coombes on freya.coombes@perrettlaver.com
• If you have comments that would support us to improve access to documentation, or our application processes more generally, please do not hesitate to contact us via accessibility@perrettlaver.com

Data protection

• Protecting your personal data is of the utmost importance to Perrett Laver and we take this responsibility very seriously. Any information obtained by our trading divisions is held and processed in accordance with the relevant data protection legislation. The data you provide us with is securely stored on our computerised database and transferred to our clients for the purposes of presenting you as a candidate and/or considering your suitability for a role you have registered interest in.
• Perrett Laver is a Data Controller and a Data Processor, and our legal basis for processing your personal data is ‘Legitimate Interests’. You have the right to object to us processing your data in this way. For more information about this, your rights, and our approach to Data Protection and Privacy, please visit our website https://perrettlaver.com/privacy-statement/

Working at the MSC

The MSC’s vision is for the world’s oceans to be teeming with life, and seafood supplies safeguarded for this and future generations. Today, the impacts of overfishing and climate change pose an even greater threat to the ocean and fish stocks. Through our internationally recognised certification and ecolabeling program, well-managed sustainable fisheries are recognised and rewarded throughout the seafood supply chain. Over 700 fisheries around the world, representing 19% of the annual global marine catch, are now engaged in the MSC program and MSC certified and labelled seafood products are now available in over 66 countries. Through partnerships and collective endeavour, we are on a mission to end overfishing.

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