Pacific Community
The Pacific Community (SPC) invites applications for the position of Project Manager, Building Safety and Resilience in the Pacific (BSRP) II within its GEM division. This position will be located at its regional office in Suva, Fiji.
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 Manager, Building Safety and Resilience in the Pacific (BSRP) II will be responsible for the overall implementation of the BSRP II project. This involves providing high-level strategic and technical advice on the Project; day-to-day management, coordination, and oversight of operations and finances; performance and quality control; supporting monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning; and reporting to the Pacific Community (SPC), DCRP, GEM Division, European Union and the Governments of the Pacific and partners. Stakeholder engagement, relationship management and staff management are critical to success in the role. The key responsibilities of the role include:
Overall management and delivery of the BSRP II project
- Provide strategic and participatory project leadership and management, including from the inception and detailed design phase, to providing day-to-day, results-orientated, and adaptive management, implementation, and coordination of all project activities implemented regionally and in-country
Providing high-level strategic and technical expert advice on BSRP II and resilience approaches and actions
- Facilitate multi-stakeholder consultative forums to increase stakeholder awareness and knowledge of strengthening disaster risk reduction and resilience and develop, negotiate, and later evaluate and reflect on BSRP II project activities
- Ensure technical quality of deliverables and provide expert advice to inform risk-informed resilience activities
Managing, mentoring, and supporting team members
- Oversee the recruitment, direct supervision, and performance management of the BSRP II project management unit (PMU), technical and in-country coordination staff and contractors in accordance with SPC policies and procedures
- Ensure all project personnel receive adequate induction, mentoring and support to assist them to fulfil their obligations to the project whilst also developing professionally as individuals
Facilitating effective advocacy, communications, and engagement within and between Pacific Islands Countries, SPC, the European Union/OACPS, other collaborating entities, and stakeholders
- Establish and maintain effective communications with Pacific Island Countries concerning their needs and the implementation of the BSRP II project, including establish high-level government participation and project oversight and ensuring appropriate communications, engagement and visibility activities are undertaken for the project
- Strengthen regional cooperation and coordination on disaster risk management and climate change adaptation and lead effective liaison and promotion of networking between key stakeholders
Supporting the capacity, efficacy, and impact of SPC’s DCRP
- Provide expert advice and support to strategic planning and Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) within DCRP, the GEM Division and SPC more broadly, promoting collaborations and relationships across SPC
- Support implementation of the SPC Post Disaster Support Framework as required
For a more detailed account of the key responsibilities, please refer to the online job description.
Key selection criteria
Qualifications
- A Masters degree from a recognised institution (or equivalent work experience) in a discipline relevant to project management, international development, natural resources management, climate resilience or disaster risk management
Technical expertise
- At least 12 years in a similar project management position with complex multi-donor, multi-beneficiary projects ideally in the Pacific Islands region
- Experience of managing projects being simultaneously implemented at multiple levels – regional, national, sub-national and community (including in remote island locations)
- Thorough understanding of adaptive and results-orientated project management, including: project-cycles; log-frames; financial forecasting and reporting; procurement and contract management; MERL; and risk management
- Understanding of applying gender and social inclusion approaches to development and mitigating adverse environmental impacts
- Demonstrable experience in leading and motivating culturally and disciplinary diverse and dispersed teams
- Sound knowledge of organisational affairs and systems and processes
- Experience in managing and mentoring staff and their performance to achieve high productivity and ensure staff wellbeing
- Thorough understanding of the disaster risk management and climate resilience history, challenges, solutions, priorities, and coordination in the Pacific region (science to policy)
Language skills
- Excellent English communication skills (oral and written) with the ability to write for and report to a variety of stakeholder hierarchies to a high standard
Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness
- Ability to work in a multicultural, inclusive and equitable environment
Salary, terms and conditions
Contract Duration – 3 years subject to renewal depending on funding and performance
Remuneration – The Project Manager, Building Safety and Resilience in the Pacific (BSRP) II is a Band 13 position in SPC’s 2022 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 3,987‒4,984 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 11,763–14,704 (USD 5,702–7,127; EUR 4,785–5,981). 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: 9 October 2022 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)
Job Reference: KK000035
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.
Screening Questions (maximum of 2,000 characters per question):
- Delivering on-the-ground climate change / disaster risk management actions in small remote Pacific Island countries brings many challenges. Based on your experience, identify the three most important challenges and how you would go about addressing them.
- Provide a recent example of how you led a project team to successfully implement a complex project across multiple sectors, and the most important factors you considered in your monitoring of its success.
- It is important that project activities are locally-owned and solutions are locally appropriate. Describe three approaches you can adopt to achieve this in a regionally coordinated initiative.
- What key actions, systems and processes can support effective project, contract and financial management and reporting in a project involving multiple collaborating entities?