Description

The Pacific Community is the principal scientific and technical organisation in the Pacific region, proudly 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 unique organisation works across more than 25 sectors. We are renowned for our knowledge and innovation in such areas as fisheries science, public health surveillance, geoscience, and conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

The Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (FAME) Division includes the Oceanic Fisheries Programme (OFP) and Coastal Fisheries Programme (CFP). CFP’s goal is to ensure that inshore fisheries, nearshore fisheries and aquaculture in Pacific Island countries and territories are managed and developed sustainably. The programme assists governments and administrations to develop scientifically informed and socially achievable coastal fisheries management policies and systems (national and community-based). It provides a regional framework for sustainable aquaculture, including planning, research and development and trade, for Pacific Island governments, the private sector and other stakeholders. It assists in developing sustainable nearshore fisheries in Pacific Island countries and territories to provide food security, sustain livelihoods, promote economic growth and assist climate change adaptation.

The role – The Pacific Island Fisheries Professional (Fisheries Management & Policy) will provide support and advice to governments, stakeholders and the private sector in planning and implementing coastal fisheries and aquaculture management and planning activities, focusing on developing and reviewing coastal fisheries and aquaculture policies, management, planning.

The key responsibilities of the role include the following:

Assisting national and sub-national governments to develop, review and/or update coastal fisheries and aquaculture management plans and policies

  • Assist fisheries agency staff to develop management plans and arrangements for species and/or areas as identified as national or sub-national priorities.
  • Assists in stakeholder consultations or provides input to the development of national or sub-national fishery and aquaculture management plans and policies.
  • Ensures an assessment of gender and social inclusion issues are undertaken.
  • Assists with training of local staff in the process for reviewing and updating fishery and aquaculture management plans and policies.
  • Ensure that the REEFLEX (Pacific Law & Policy Database on Coastal Fisheries & Aquaculture) is up to date with fisheries policies, strategies and management plans.

Collaborate with other work areas within and across SPC sections, programmes and divisions, and other regional organisations

  • Liaise and work with the various coastal fisheries aquaculture units and the FAME Information and PMEL units and other section staff to integrate the work of these different areas into fisheries policies and plans.
  • Liaises with the aquaculture section on incorporation of aquaculture into national or subnational resource management policies.

Section administration and communication

  • Assists the Policy Specialist, to develop annual work plans and work plan reports for the Section, consistent with the FAME Business Plan and CFAP 5-Year Plan.
  • Acquits any cash advances that are used for fieldwork with receipts for all expenditure.
  • Produces reports for all activities undertaken in the appropriate format for the activity including technical reports and trip reports.

For a more detailed account of the key responsibilities, please refer to the online job description.

Key selection criteria

Pacific Islands

  • Only applicants from Pacific Island countries are eligible to apply.
  • Applicants must be employed in a Pacific Island fisheries or conservation / environment department or a recognised NGO working in the field of coastal fisheries science, management or monitoring in a Pacific Island country.

Qualifications

  • University degree or equivalent in a discipline relevant to fisheries and/or aquaculture management/policy, or related field.

Technical expertise

  • At least 2 years of direct relevant experience in Pacific Island coastal fisheries and aquaculture management.
  • Demonstrated experience in developing, reviewing, or implementing fisheries policies or management plans or the process in developing, review and implementation of policies and plans.
  • Experience working with PC systems and MS Word and Excel software.
  • Willingness to travel and undertake overseas assignments in SPC member countries, sometimes under difficult physical conditions

Language skills

  • Excellent communication skills (oral and written) in English.
  • Demonstrated experience in report writing in English.

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

  • Understanding of current Pacific Islands regional coastal fisheries and aquaculture management and science issues, and experience in working with gender issues relating to fisheries
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work in a team as well as undertake unsupervised work, and communicate with people from various ethnic, cultural and educational backgrounds.

Salary, terms and conditions

Requirements: Only applicants who are nationals and residents of Pacific Island countries are eligible to apply. Applicants must be employed in or contracted by a Pacific Island fisheries or conservation / environment agency, or a recognized NGO working in the field of coastal fisheries science, management or monitoring in a Pacific Island country.

Letter of endorsement –A signed letter from the employer, stating they agree to release the applicant for the attachment and that the position will be held for the applicant to return to at the end of the attachment with SPC must be provided before an appointment can be finalized.

Required start date – The position is to be filled from January 2023 and appointment is not renewable beyond 364 days. ** Regional and national regulations related to the COVID-19 pandemic will ultimately determine when and if the appointee can start employment in Noumea, New Caledonia, as per the job requirements. 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 Pacific Island Fisheries Professional (Fisheries Management & Policy) is a Band 8 position in SPC’s 2022 salary scale, with a salary of SDR (special drawing rights) 2,850 per month, which currently converts to approximately XPF 408,167 (USD 4,076; EUR 3,420). SPC salaries are not presently subject to income tax in New Caledonia.

Benefits – SPC provides subsidized housing in Noumea, an establishment grant, return airfare, and will reimburse excess accompanied luggage of up to two additional bags. Employees are entitled to: 25 days annual leave and 30 days sick leave per annum; medical and life insurance; and access to SPC’s Provident Fund (contributing 8% of salary to which SPC adds a matching contribution).

We encourage all eligible candidates to apply but please note that as this is a special short-term contract, the full list of benefits included in other international contract types are not available. Appointees may bring their families, but all extra costs for travel, insurance, education, housing and other additional expenses will be their own responsibility.

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 bilinguism, 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. Applicants will be assured of complete confidentiality in line with SPC’s private policy.

 

Application procedure

Closing date: 16 October 2022 – 11:00 pm Noumea Time

Job Reference: AL000495

Applicants must apply online here.

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.

Screening questions (maximum of 2.000 characters per question):

Briefly describe (in 400 words or less) your understanding of, and experience and demonstrated ability in:

  • Coastal fisheries and/or aquaculture management issues being faced in the Pacific island region.
  • Provide an example of when you were part of a team that was working exceptionally well [resulting in a positive management or planning outcome]. What do you think were the reasons for its success? What was your role and how did you contribute to the team?
  • Do you think that gender and social inclusion is important for coastal fisheries management and aquaculture? Explain why?

Click here to find out more about the position.