Pacific Community
Description
The Pacific Community (SPC) is the principal scientific and technical organisation in the Pacific region, supporting development since 1947. We are an international development organisation owned and governed by our 27 country and territory members. In pursuit of sustainable development to benefit Pacific people, our organisation works across more than 25 sectors. We are known for our knowledge and innovation in such areas as fisheries science, public health, geoscience, and conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.
The Public Health Division (PHD) is dedicated to improving the health, and therefore the future, of all Pacific Islanders. PHD strives to promote and protect the health of Pacific Island peoples. It advocates a holistic approach to health, supports sustainable capacity development, and facilitates and promotes collaboration with partners. The Public Health Division has 5 priority areas: NCD prevention and control, Communicable Disease Surveillance and Reporting, Laboratory Strengthening Program, Clinical Services Program and Health system strengthening.
The role – Human Resources for Health (HRH) Adviser will provide technical and strategic advice and support to PICTs and SPC Divisions with regard to human resources for health activities. This includes strengthening PICTs health Ministries/departments/divisions/units national workforce policy stewardship, leadership, and governance of HRH actions. The successful candidate will provide evidence based, practical, relevant advice and recommendations for PICTs HRH policy and planning development, data management and reporting including supporting the coordination and development of PHD’s efforts to ensure regional and national priority HRH development activities are aligned with global strategies in collaboration with WHO and other key partners.
The key responsibilities of the role include:
Lead the provision of technical advice and support to PICTs to assess, build and strengthen country capacities for effective human resources for health policy, planning and governance, data management and reporting
- Lead role in terms of supporting countries with the review, formulation, drafting and implementation of national HRH strategic plans aimed at improving performance and quality of health workforce.
- Lead the HRH development by conducting country surveys, assessments and performance using standard HR and workforce guidance monitoring tool, in collaboration with national experts and regional technical partners.
- In partnership with PHD programmes and technical partners, collaborate on strengthening systems for resource tracking, analysis of workforce mobility data to monitor and evaluate HRH interventions and trends.
Lead the provision of technical advice and support to programmes and activities in PICTs and/or PHD regarding strategies, tools, and platforms used for the compilation, analysis and synthesis of workforce data, labour mobility and monitoring HRH interventions and trends
- Lead support in collaboration with other development partners to inform PICTs of working conditions, policy setting on regulations, service provision and education pathways for health workers.
- Support the establishment of HR systems to regularly update HRH availability that lead to short and long terms improved health workforce planning and development.
- Lead support to PICTs with advisories to improve the use of digital health solutions to generate consistent and meaningful health information for HRH interventions and tracking.
Support PICTs with health workforce management development information sharing, dissemination, communication and translating evidence into policies for national health planning and decision making
- Support and guide the PICTs in using HRH information for policy development and national health planning.
- Facilitate the development of a comprehensive, yet pragmatic, information delivery practice that can be used by PICTs.
- Collaborate with academic institutions, partner agencies, public and private sectors, and PICT in matters related to human resources for health.
Facilitate and support PICTs capacity building and in country mentorship to enable national practitioners to implement the national HRH plans as well as regional commitments
- Assess national HRH plans and develop specific country capacity building plans (training, placements, mentorships etc.)
- Promote and advocate for a forward-looking national health workforce planning and development plan across the PICTs.
- Support the PICTs in the development of their national HRH plan by providing resources, guidance, and advisory support as requested.
Contribute as an active member of the OOD/HSS programme regarding programme planning, budgeting, reporting and publication
- Contribute to the annual work plan development, budget management and funding application.
- Monitor and meet work plan target indicators and evaluate outcomes when required.
- Contribute to the development of PHD resources, conducting operational research, producing technical reports and publications.
For a more detailed account of the key responsibilities, please refer to the online job description.
Key selection criteria
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in human resource management, health services management, public administration, public health, or related discipline.
Technical Expertise
- Extensive knowledge of human resources for health in health sector settings.
- Minimum of 7 years’ experience implementing HRH management and development.
- Ability to extract, analyze health workforce information and present visual presentations and written reports.
- Experience in the provision of capacity building or on the job training in health workforce development management analysis
- Willingness to travel frequently (up to 30% of the time) in the Pacific region and internationally.
- Ability to advise and implement a sector- wide response to public health issues and international relations.
- Excellent research skills and ability to analyze findings to make appropriate use.
- Practical exposure to the technical design, administration, and implementation of HR systems/digitization of health systems and services.
- Ability to coalesce and collaborate with various donors and NGOs on various joint initiatives.
Language skills
- Excellent English communication skills (oral and written).
Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness
- Cross-cultural skills with an ability to work with colleagues from different cultural backgrounds.
Salary, terms and conditions
Contract Duration –This vacant position is budgeted until 31 December 2026 – subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.
Remuneration – The Human Resources for Health (HRH) Adviser is a Band 11 position in SPC’s 2023 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 3,091 ‒ 3,864 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 9,118–11,397 (USD 4,142–5,177; EUR 3,923–4,904). An offer of appointment for an initial contract will normally be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration given to experience and qualifications. Progression within the salary scale will be based on annual performance reviews. Remuneration of expatriate SPC staff members is not subject to income tax in Fiji; Fiji nationals employed by SPC in Fiji will be subject to income tax.
Benefits for international employees based in Fiji – SPC provides a housing allowance of FJD 1,350–3,000 per month. Establishment and repatriation grant, removal expenses, airfares, home leave travel, health and life and disability insurances and education allowances are available for eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Employees are entitled to 25 working days of annual leave per annum and other types of leave, and access to SPC’s Provident Fund (contributing 8% of salary, to which SPC adds a matching contribution).
Languages – SPC’s working languages are English and French.
Recruitment principles – SPC’s recruitment is based on merit and fairness, and candidates are competing in a selection process that is fair, transparent and non-discriminatory. SPC is an equal-opportunity employer, and is committed to cultural and gender diversity, including bilingualism, and will seek to attract and appoint candidates who respect these values. Due attention is given to gender equity and the maintenance of strong representation from Pacific Island professionals. If two interviewed candidates are ranked equal by the selection panel, preference will be given to the Pacific Islander. Applicants will be assured of complete confidentiality in line with SPC’s Privacy Policy.
How to apply
Closing Date: 5 November 2023 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)
Job Reference: JM000500
Applicants must apply online at http://careers.spc.int/
Hard copies of applications will not be accepted.
For your application to be considered, you must provide us with:
- an updated resume with contact details for three professional referees
- a cover letter detailing your skills, experience and interest in this position
- responses to all screening questions
Your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed at shortlisting stage if all the above documents are not provided. Applicants should not attach copies of qualifications or letters of reference. Please ensure your documents are in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format.
For international staff in Fiji, only one foreign national per family can be employed with an entity operating in Fiji at any one given time. SPC may assist on a case-by-case basis with submissions to Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their consideration and final approval. SPC cannot and does not make any guarantee whatsoever of approval for such applications to Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs and where an application is approved, the spouse or partner will subject to such terms and conditions as may be set from time to time by the Ministry.
SPC does not charge a fee to consider your application and will never ask for your banking or financial information during the recruitment process.
Screening Questions (maximum of 2,000 characters per question):
- Outline your experience in providing HRH related capacity building initiatives at a country or regional level.
- What lessons have you learned in pursuing health workforce planning when multiple stakeholders with different interests are involved?
- What advice would you give a member country wishing to renew or develop plans for human resource for health development?
To apply for this job please visit reliefweb.int.