The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) is an international organisation that provides technical and policy advice and assistance, training and research services to its Pacific Island members. It works in a wide range of sectors, including natural resources (agriculture, fisheries and forestry), health, statistics, human development, human rights, information and communication technology and social issues. SPC was established in 1947. It has 26 member countries and territories and its working languages are English and French. The organisation has been expanding rapidly and now has approximately 400 staff and a total annual budget of XPF (French Pacific francs) 8 billion (approximately USD 90 million).  

SPC’s headquarters is in Noumea, New Caledonia. It also has regional offices in Suva, Fiji Islands and Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia and national offices in Honiara, Solomon Islands as well as Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The organisation has gained a reputation for providing ‘real solutions to real problems’ in the Pacific (SPC Corporate Review, 2005) and strives to maintain professionalism, integrity and pragmatism in delivering its services. Additional information on SPC can be found on its website: www.spc.int. 

The Oceanic Fisheries Programme (OFP) is part of SPC’s Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems Division, and currently consists of 21 professional and 14 support staff. OFP’s mission is to ‘provide member countries with the scientific information and advice necessary to rationally manage fisheries exploiting the region’s resources of tuna, billfish and related species’. The programme consists of three sections: Statistics and Monitoring, Stock Assessment and Modelling, and Ecosystem Monitoring and Analysis. 

OFP works with Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) to help monitor and compile statistics on oceanic fisheries in their waters and in the western and central Pacific Ocean generally, to provide assessments of the status of migratory fish stocks at both regional and national levels, and to carry out applied research and provide advice on pelagic fisheries ecosystems. OFP also assists PICTs to develop local human resources, statistical information and scientific monitoring capacity in tuna fisheries. For further information, see www.spc.int/oceanfish. 

The Senior Fisheries Scientist (Stock Assessment) is responsible to the Principal Fisheries Scientist, Stock Assessment and Modelling section. 

Role of the position

The Senior Fisheries Scientist (Stock Assessment) will undertake analyses and provide authoritative advice on the status of stocks of tuna and tuna-like species under the management of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission. 

The position is based at SPC headquarters in Noumea, New Caledonia, but the incumbent may be required to travel extensively, mainly within the Pacific region. 

KEY RESULT AREAS 

The position of Senior Fisheries Scientist (Stock Assessment) encompasses the following major functions or key result areas: 

1.   Research and development

• Develop and refine methods for the analysis of catch and effort data.

• Contribute to the MFCL project and other research into statistical stock assessment methodologies.

• Contribute to the development of the software used in stock assessment and related activities.

• Contribute to research into appropriate model structures.

• Develop and refine methods for the analysis of conventional and electronic tagging data.

• Contribute to research into reference points for stocks of tuna and tuna-like species.

• Contribute to research into approaches for estimating and describing uncertainty in stock assessment.

• Contribute to methods for evaluating WCPFC conservation and management measures. 

2.   Stock assessment

• Undertake analyses of catch and effort, size, and tagging data for inputs for stock assessment modelling (auxiliary analyses).

• Undertake stock assessments of tunas and tuna-like species as requested by WCPFC using modern statistical stock assessment models.

• Characterise the robustness / sensitivity of stock assessment results to alternative suppositions relating to important model assumptions, e.g. input data, biological parameters, and model structures.

• Review, as appropriate, stock assessments and other supporting analyses (e.g. catch per unit effort) undertaken by SPC, the wider WCPFC mandate (e.g. including northern stocks), and other relevant regional tuna fisheries management organisations (e.g. Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission). 

3.   Management information

• Estimate key reference points for tuna and tuna-like species.

• Evaluate assumptions used in the assessment of relevant conservation and management measures.

• Evaluate the impacts of alternative management measures for tuna and tuna-like species using stock assessment models.

• Assess the multi-species implications of management measures in mixed fisheries for tuna and tuna-like species. 

4.   Communication

• Present – clearly and at the appropriate level – the results of technical analyses to scientists and fisheries managers.

• Produce clearly written reports and presentations of the results of technical analyses.

• Contribute to the international body of fisheries knowledge though presentations and publications.

• Collaborate, as appropriate, with scientists within SPC, the WCPFC membership, and other relevant organisations. 

WORK COMPLEXITY 

The most challenging duties typically undertaken are the following: 

• The application of complex statistical and mathematical models to fishery catch and effort and biological data.

• Effectively conveying the results and uncertainties of these analyses to both technical (fisheries scientists) and executive (managers) audiences.

• Completing a demanding work plan within tight timelines whilst maintaining capacity to be responsive to the needs of fisheries management authorities.

• Maintaining strong collaborations with international scientists where English/French is a second language. 

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE 

1. QUALIFICATIONS 

Essential

➢ Relevant tertiary qualification, preferably at PhD level, in fisheries science, population biology, stock assessment modelling, natural resource management, or a related discipline. 

Desirable

➢ PhD or equivalent in fisheries population dynamics. 

2. KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

➢ Thorough knowledge of fisheries stock assessment principles and techniques and at least five years of practical fisheries stock assessment experience

➢ At least five years of professional experience in the development of scientific advice for fisheries management

➢ Strong quantitative analytical skills, including experience in data modelling and programming (R, C++ or ADMB)

➢ Excellent verbal and written presentation and communication skills in English

➢ Good working knowledge of Word and Excel and databases

➢ Proven ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary and/or multicultural team

➢ Ability to meet project deadlines, often under difficult circumstances. 

Desirable

➢ Direct experience of tuna fisheries in the Pacific region

➢ Knowledge of and experience in the use of statistical length-based, age-structured models in fisheries stock assessment

➢ Experience in the analysis of catch and effort and tagging data

➢ Familiarity in international fisheries instruments, e.g. UN Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA). 

SALARY, TERMS AND CONDITIONS 

SALARY AND ALLOWANCES 

The starting salary will depend on experience and qualifications. The position is currently in Grade J of SPC’s salary scale. 

Salaries for staff recruited internationally are set in SDR (Special Drawing Rights) and paid in the local currency, i.e. the French Pacific franc (XPF) in New Caledonia. The salary range for this grade is SDR 4,165–5,430 per month. At prevailing exchange rates these amounts convert into approximately XPF 578,935–754,770 per month (USD 7,000–9,200; € 4,800–6,300). 

In addition, an establishment grant will be payable to non-residents of New Caledonia. Where appropriate, other allowances such as child and education allowance will be paid. 

The organisation subsidises housing. An SPC-owned or SPC-rented house or flat will be made available, with the staff member contributing 25 per cent of the normal rental. 

SPC emoluments are not subject to income tax in New Caledonia at the present time. 

TENURE 

The appointment is for a period of three years, with the possibility of renewal for a further period depending on performance and continued funding availability. 

LEAVE 

Leave will accrue at the rate of 25 working days per annum of active duty. 

Sick leave is 30 working days per annum. 

MEDICAL BENEFITS 

SPC’s Staff Medical Insurance reimburses doctors’ fees, cost of prescribed medicines, surgical and hospital costs, etc. up to certain percentages and limits. Supplementary medical insurance is available to increase these percentage reimbursements and limits.  

PROVIDENT FUND 

The appointee will be eligible for membership of SPC’s Staff Provident Fund. Staff members contribute 8 per cent of their base salary, to which SPC adds a matching contribution. 

FARES AND REMOVAL EXPENSES 

For an appointee recruited outside New Caledonia, the cost of air fares by the most direct and/or economic route for the appointee and recognised dependants, and reasonable removal expenses by sea of personal and household effects, will be met by SPC on appointment and termination. 

COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT 

SPC has a standardised computing environment based on Microsoft Office running under Microsoft Windows. 

SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT 

Smoking is not permitted in the work place. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES 

SPC is an equal-opportunity employer. Recruitment is based on merit. If two short-listed candidates are judged to be equally qualified, preference will be given to Pacific Island nationals. 

ADDRESS AND CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS 

Applications should be addressed to the Director-General, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, PO Box D5, 98848 Noumea Cedex, New Caledonia, to arrive by 15 February 2010. 

Applicants should provide their curriculum vitae and specifically address how their qualifications, knowledge and experience demonstrate their ability to successfully undertake the duties and responsibilities of the position in their covering letter. They should also provide names and contact details of three referees. Applications that do not specifically address the selection criteria will not be considered. 

Applications may be submitted by fax (+687 26 38 18) or email (spc@spc.int, preferably as an electronic attachment in Microsoft Word format).