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 Geoscience Energy and Maritime Division provides advice, technical assistance, research and training support to Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs). There are three (3) areas of scientific programming and two areas of focus within this division:
- Oceans and Maritime Programme (OMP) – assists member countries with services that provide applied ocean science and knowledge for evidence-based policy-making and technical solutions for improved ocean and maritime governance, management and capacity development.
- Georesources and Energy Programme (GEP) – assists member countries by applying technical knowledge in the areas of geoscience and sustainable energy use.
- Disaster and Community Resilience Programme (DCRP) – assists member countries to demonstrate strengthened resilience through integrated action on disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, natural resource management and increased access to water and sanitation.
The Project Implementation Officer will assist countries in understanding and assessing technical and legal issues concerning the impact of climate change on vulnerable base points. The Officer will work with countries and expert contributors to assess and design management options for vulnerable features. The officer will support the project manager in tracking, implementing, and evaluating project activities.
The key responsibilities of the role include:
Project coordination and implementation
- Participate in and coordinate consultations with partners and in-country stakeholders to define and understand requirements and values
- Lead consultations to design, assess and develop legal options following the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and other international guidelines
- Assist country partners with national and sector consultations to strengthen measures and activities of the assessment
Risk assessment and analysis support
- Lead consultations to design and implement risk-based assessments following ISO standards and international guidelines
- Collaborate with experts and partners to design risk assessments and identify adaptation options
- Prepare terms of reference for technical assistance where required and provide up-to-date information to support work planning
Project monitoring, evaluation, learning, and reporting
- Assist with the recruitment of project staff and consultants and coordinate their activities and reporting.
- Track the delivery of project implementation, amend the schedules and budgets in project documents regularly
- Assist with the planning, design, delivery and reporting of steering committee and/or board meetings
For a more detailed account of the key responsibilities, please refer to the online job description.
Key selection criteria
Qualifications
- A bachelor’s degree in law of the sea, climate change, management, planning, monitoring and evaluation, or related fields
Knowledge and experience
- At least 8 years professional experience working with Pacific Island countries in areas relating to climate change, ocean management, or the law of the sea
- At least 4 years’ experience working in regional/international organisations to design and deliver donor-funded projects in the Pacific islands
- Demonstrated experience with the implementation of multi-sector projects in a cross-cutting field such as climate change
Essential skills
- Demonstrated organizational skills and project management experience
- Excellent computer skills working with Microsoft Office
- Proven record of accomplishment in the monitoring and evaluation of project outputs
- Experience with multi-stakeholder participatory and consultative approaches including gender sensitive and rights-based approaches
Language skills
- Excellent English communication skills (oral and written) with a working knowledge of French being an advantage
Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness
- Ability to work in a multicultural, inclusive and equitable environment
Salary, terms and conditions
Contract Duration – Until 30 June 2024
Due to the current travel restrictions caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, and the priority SPC places on its staff safety, health and well-being, please note that there may be delays in taking up the appointment. These matters will be discussed thoroughly with successful candidates. In most cases, any appointment and on-boarding would only commence when relocation to the duty station is permitted.
Remuneration – The Project Implementation Officer is a Band 9 position in SPC’s 2022 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 2,229‒2,786 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 6,575–8,218 (USD 3,187–3,984; EUR 2,675–3,343). 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
Application procedure
Closing Date: 11 January 2023 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)
Job Reference: JM000373
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
- 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):
- What legal discourse is currently underway internationally to examine the impact of sea-level rise on maritime boundaries, and how can countries interact with this process?
- What legal matters need to be considered when developing a risk-based methodology on the impact of climate change on maritime zones?
- What challenges might you face in working on country engagement in relation to maritime boundary space and climate change and how would you address it.