BACKGROUND
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 over 400 staff and a total annual budgetof approximately 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 in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia and national offices in Honiara, Solomon Islands as well as Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. SPC 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.
SPC’s Coastal Fisheries Programme (CFP) helps to develop the capacities of member Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) to assess, harvest, develop, manage and conserve their marine resources through advice and training by skilled fishers, post-harvest specialists, scientists, managers, aquaculture specialists and planners. CFP supports the sustainable development of the region’s fisheries at artisanal and small- and medium-scale commercial levels through providing assessment, development and management advice, technical assistance, information, and vocational and scientific training at national and regional levels.
The Aquaculture Section is one of three sections that make up the CFP. It has three professional staff and a project assistant. The main objective of the section, as stated in the Strategic Plan (2010–2013) for the Division of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (FAME), is: “To provide a regional framework for sustainable aquaculture, in the areas of planning, research, development and trade, for Pacific Island governments, private enterprises and other stakeholders”. The section also provides input to the other two objectives of the plan relating to an ecosystem approach to fisheries management and a consultative process including all stakeholders.
The Aquaculture Adviser manages the work programme of the Aquaculture Section to provide support and information to governments, investment authorities and the private sector in planning aquaculture activities that are both economically and environmentally sustainable. This information should enable realistic assessment of prospects and avoidance of potential pitfalls and take into account the experiences of other island countries.
The position is responsible to the CFP Manager, and maintains close working relationships with other organisations collaborating in the Pacific Islands Regional Aquaculture Strategy, and other CFP sections.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The position of Aquaculture Adviser encompasses the following major functions or key result areas:
- Section management, administration and communication
- Serve as the Pacific regional focal point for the sector and promote inter-agency networking and crosssectoral collaboration in the sector
- Support trade facilitation and aquatic biosecurity
- Develop and support national sector plans, policy and legislation
- Promote food security and alternative livelihoods through mariculture, inland aquaculture and freshwater fisheries
- Support private sector enterprise development, research and capacity building programmes.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
The position requires a self-starter with considerable initiative, accustomed to working in new situations in new countries and comfortable in collaborating with people from all levels of Pacific Island society, from the community to senior government level. Specific requirements are as follows.
Qualifications
Essential
• Postgraduate qualifications in a field relevant to aquaculture.
Knowledge / Experience
Essential
• At least 5 years’ employment in fields relevant to Pacific Island aquaculture practice and policy
• Experience in project design
• Demonstrated experience at leading and managing a small team, developing annual work plans and working to deadlines
• Excellent skills in communication (written and oral) and teamwork with people from different ethnic and educational backgrounds
• Project management experience
• Willingness and ability to travel in SPC member countries.
Desirable
• Experience of working in a Pacific Island fisheries department or private sector company
• Fluency in English and French.
SALARY, TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Salary and allowance
The starting salary will depend on experience and qualifications and will be in Grade J of SPC’s salary scale.
Professional salaries at SPC 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 4,554-5,991 per month. At prevailing exchange rates these amounts convert into approximately XPF 588,900 – 774,715 per month (USD 6,700-8,800 ; € 4,900- 6,500).
It is expected that an offer of appointment for an initial contract would be made in the lower half of this range.
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.
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.
SPC emoluments are not subject to income tax in New Caledonia at the present time.
Tenure
The appointment will be for a period of three years in the first instance, subject to a one-year probationary period. The contract may be renewed for a further three years subject to performance and continued funding availability.
Accommodation
An SPC-owned house or flat will be made available with the staff member contributing 25 per cent of the normal rental of the accommodation.
Leave
Leave will accrue at the rate of 25 working days per annum of active duty.
Sick leave
Thirty working days per annum.
Medical benfits
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, 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 workplace.
Equal opportunities
SPC is an equal opportunities employer. Recruitment to SPC staff vacancies is based entirely on merit, but in cases where two shortlisted candidates are judged to be of equal rank by the Selection Committee, 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 31 March 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).
