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 Capacity Development Specialist – Pacific Island Emergency Management Alliance (PIEMA) will assist the Coordinator – PIEMA in the delivery of capacity development initiatives within the PIEMA program through direct implementation, support, and provision of strategic advice in line with the guidance provided in (but not limited to) the PIEMA Strategic Agenda 2020.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Strategic advice, support and implementation

• Review and develop implementation strategies for capacity development activities identified in national and regional Strategic Roadmaps for Emergency Management (SREMs).
• Provide advice and support the PIEMA team in maintaining the delivery of capacity development initiatives developed under the previous phase of PIEMA at regional, national, and sub-national levels.
• Conduct capacity assessments of PIEMA members to identify gaps and needs to inform the development and implementation of capacity development plans and strategies that address the identified gaps and needs, and align with PIEMA’s sustainable capacity development model.
Reporting and compliance

• Ensure compliance with relevant SPC policies, processes, and procedures when implementing capacity development initiatives within the PIEMA program.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and impact of capacity development interventions, and document and disseminate lessons learned and best practices.
• Contribute to the development of PIEMA program reporting in relation to capacity development interventions.
Develop and maintain working relationships with stakeholders

• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships internally within SPC and with external partners to support the delivery of PIEMA program capacity development initiatives.
• Develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with SPC staff, other SPC divisions/programmes/projects, external partners, PIEMA agencies in member countries and other stakeholders to ensure timely and effective delivery of program requirements.
For a more detailed account of the key responsibilities, please refer to the online job description.

Key selection criteria
Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree (and/or equivalent work experience) in a relevant field such as international development, public administration, education, social sciences, or a related discipline.
Technical expertise

• At least 5 years of practical experience in emergency management coordination; monitoring and evaluation; and developing and providing advice and support to PICTs.
• Experience in supporting regional projects and capacity building programmes, including the design, coordination, implementation, monitoring, reviewing, reporting and compliance.
• Understanding of issues related to emergency management and related issues in the Pacific region.
• Working knowledge of quality compliance for accredited training.
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 –This vacant position is budgeted until 31 December 2026 –subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.

Remuneration – The Capacity Development Specialist - PIEMA is a band 9 position in SPC’s 2023 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 2,284?2,856 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 6,739–8,424 (USD 3,061–3,826; EUR 2,900–3,625). 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: 29 October 2023 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)

Job Reference: JM000497

Applicants must apply online at https://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):

Can you provide an overview of your experience as a Capacity Development Specialist? What types of organizations and projects have you worked on in this capacity?
Capacity development often involves identifying gaps and designing strategies to address them. Can you describe a specific project where you successfully identified capacity gaps and implemented effective solutions?
How do you approach the sustainability of capacity development efforts? Can you share instances where you ensured that the impact of your work persisted beyond the duration of a project?