Open Position: Projects Manager (Coastal Fisheries & Aquaculture) – Deadline 06 February 2022

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 unique organisation works across more than 25 sectors. We are known 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 and Aquaculture Programme (CFAP). CFAP’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 procedures (national and community-based). It provides support for sustainable aquaculture, including planning, research and development, aquatic biosecurity 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 for food security, sustainable livelihoods, economic growth and assist climate change adaptation.

The role – the Projects Manager (Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture) will support the FAME Deputy Director (Coastal Fisheries & Aquaculture) to project manage the NZ MFAT funded ‘Sustainable Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture for Pacific Livelihoods, Food and Economic Security (SCoFA)’ and the USAID funded ‘Pacific Coastal Fisheries Management and Compliance (PCFMC)’ projects, as well as assist with project managing other CFAP projects as required.  The position will also supervise the CFAP administrative support staff.

The key responsibilities of the role include the following:

1. Project management, coordination and communication

• Supports the FAME Deputy Director (CFA) to project manage the NZ MFAT funded SCoFA and the USAID funded PCFMC projects.
• Assists the FAME Deputy Director (CFA) and other senior CFAP staff, with CFAP annual work planning and workplan tracking consistent with the CFAP 5-Year Plan and the FAME Business Plan and available funding.
• Monitors overall implementation of the SCoFA and PCFMC projects to ensure planned results and milestones are being met.
• Tracks and adjusts projects’ budgets and expenditure.

2. Supervise CFAP administrative and support staff

• Supervise the CFAP administrative and support staff (3-4) to ensure efficient administrative services are provided to the CFAP. These may include overseeing or directing the:
  • Provision of efficient and effective administrative support
  • Management of the CFAP administrative and support staff time and work allocations
  • Support with organising in-person, virtual or hybrid conferences, meetings and workshops
  • Assist with all administrative, financial, procurement, and contract support to CFAP
• Ensure that all CFAP administrative and support services comply with SPC policies and procedures.

3. Coordinate all SPC and donor related project narrative and financial reporting

• Identify, plan and track all CFAP internal (SPC) and external (donors) reporting requirements (narrative and financial).
• Coordinates the annual project steering committee meetings with donors and partners.
• Manage project grant agreements and where required, prepare project variations with the FAME Deputy Director (CFA).
• Work closely with the FAME Deputy Director (CFA), CFAP senior staff, project staff, and the administrative and support staff to plan for, and ensure all donor narrative and financial reporting milestones are met.
• Ensure that all reporting complies with SPC policies and procedures and donor requirements.

4. Coordinate all project monitoring and evaluation

• Coordinates with the FAME PMEL team to ensure the SCoFA and PCFMC projects’ M&E requirements are being met.
• Tracks, adjusts and maintains the projects’ results frameworks, supported by the PMEL team.
• Works with the FAME Deputy Director (CFA) and CFAP section heads to ensure projects’ monitoring and evaluation tasks are undertaken and comply with SPC and donor requirements.
• Coordinates with FAME PMEL team on external mid-term and final project review to assess impacts of delivery.

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

Key selection criteria

1. Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree or equivalent in project or programme management, or a related discipline.

2. Technical expertise

• At least 10 years of direct experience in project or programme management.
• Demonstrated experience managing and reporting on NZ MFAT and/or USAID funded projects.
• Demonstrated experience in managing a small team of administrative and/or support staff.
• Demonstrated capability for managing integrated projects involving colleagues from several different countries and cultures.
• Excellent communication skills in English (oral and written) with the capacity to engage with professional and technical staff.
• Proven ability to plan and facilitate meetings, workshops and other trainings.
• Demonstrated commitment to gender equality and human rights-based approaches.
• Experience working with PC systems and MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint software, and software programmes for data entry and management.
• Willingness to travel and undertake overseas assignments in SPC member countries.

3. Language skills

• Excellent communication skills (oral and written) and demonstrated ability to produce written reports for donors, funding proposals, trip reports, training materials etc.

4. Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Understanding of current Pacific Islands regional aquaculture development and management issues, and experience of working with gender and human rights-based issues relating to aquaculture.

Salary, terms and conditions

Contract Duration – This vacant position is budgeted until 30 September 2026 and is subject to renewal depending on performance and funding.

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 Projects Manager (Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture) is a Band 12 position in SPC’s 2021 Noumea salary scale, with a starting salary range of SDR (special drawing rights) 4,685-5,760 per month, which converts to approximately XPF 685,755-843,105 (USD 6,512-8,006; EUR 5,747-7,065). An offer of appointment for an initial contract will be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration being given to experience and qualifications. Progression within the salary scale will be based on annual performance reviews. SPC salaries are not presently subject to income tax in New Caledonia.

Benefits for international staff employees based in New Caledonia – SPC provides subsidised housing in Noumea. 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 faire, 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.  If two interviewed candidates are ranked equal by the selection panel, preference will begiven to the Pacific Islander. Applicants will be assured of complete confidentiality in line with SPC’s private policy.

Application procedure

Closing date: 6 February 2022 – 11:00 pm, Noumea time

Job Reference: SH000121

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 and experience relative to the key selection criteria, and interest in this position
• responses to all screening questions

Please ensure your documents are in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format.

All positions at SPC have specific screening questions. If you do not respond to all of the screening questions, your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed at shortlisting stage.

Screening questions

• What tools and approaches do you think are essential in a project management cycle?
• Please provide examples of large donor-funded projects you have managed. Highlight what challenges you faced in project management, and what you did to overcome these challenges.
• What do you consider are the keys to the successful management of multiple, linked projects across a range of technical sectors, involving public, private and community sector stakeholders, across multiple countries and territories?