Zonal Level - Lead (Fisheries)

Job Title:

Location:

About Palladium:

Palladium is a global leader in the design, development, and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world's most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies, and, most importantly, people's lives.

Project Overview:

This project supports sustainable aquaculture development in Bihar through innovations in seed systems, production technologies, market linkages, and institutional capacity building. It operates across multiple states and agro-ecological zones, targeting enhanced fish production, income security for smallholder farmers, and improved value chain integration. The Zonal Lead – Fisheries will play a critical role in coordinating and implementing fisheries and aquaculture interventions within the assigned zone.

Position Summary:

The Zonal Level – (Fisheries) will be responsible for leading and overseeing all fisheries and aquaculture-related activities within their designated zone. This includes technical guidance, coordination of field teams, support to hatcheries and producer groups, monitoring of progress, and liaison with local stakeholders. The role requires deep technical expertise in aquaculture systems, seed development, and production management, along with strong leadership and coordination skills

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan, coordinate, and supervise aquaculture and fisheries activities across the assigned zone in alignment with national project goals.
• Provide technical leadership to field teams on fish seed production, nursery and grow-out practices, biosecurity, feed and water management, and harvesting.
• Work closely with hatchery operators, fish farmers, fisheries departments, cooperatives, and private sector players.
• Ensure implementation of improved aquaculture practices and adoption of innovative technologies (e.g., RAS, biofloc, cage culture, pond aeration).
• Coordinate capacity-building programs, field demonstrations, and farmer trainings in collaboration with technical experts.
• Monitor field implementation, track performance indicators (e.g., survival rate, feed conversion, productivity), and address bottlenecks proactively.
• Support institutional strengthening of producer groups(e.g., FPOs, SHGs) and link them with government schemes (e.g., PMMSY) and credit institutions.
• Coordinate with zonal staff from other the matic areas (market linkages, digital systems, gender) for integrated implementation.
• Prepare technical reports, field updates, and documentation for submission to the regional and national teams.
• Represent the project in zonal-level coordination meetings with government officials, research institutions, and development partners.

Qualifications:

Education:-

• Master’s degree (or higher) in Fisheries Science, Aquaculture, Marine Biology, or a closely related field.

Experience:-

• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in aquaculture/fisheries, including hands-on fieldwork, hatchery and pond management, and team supervision.
• Experience working with government fisheries departments, donor-funded projects, or NGOs is desirable.
• Prior experience in a multi-state or zonal-level role is a strong advantage.

Technical Competencies:-

• Deep understanding of Bihar aquaculture systems and species(e.g., carp, catla, tilapia).
• Knowledge of fish breeding, seed production, water quality management, and disease control.
• Familiarity with smallholder production systems and inclusive value chain approaches.

Other Skills:

• Strong leadership, coordination, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficient in regional language(s) of the zone, with fluency in English and Hindi.
• Report writing and basic data analysis skills.
• Willingness to travel extensively within the zone.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion:

equity, diversity, and inclusion

Safeguarding:

We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.

Disclaimer:

Palladium operates a rigorous, multi-stage selection process for all vacancies. Submission of an application does not guarantee advancement at any stage, the receipt of an offer, or onboarding to the specified role.