Director - Geoscience, Energy and Maritime

• Suva-based Director position (Fiji)
• Senior leadership role
• Join the principal development organisation in the Pacific region

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 20 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 other two focus areas within this division are Programming and Operations, which is responsible for driving integrated programming excellence and operational support across the division, and Geoinformatics, which is responsible for providing diverse, integrated, and unique and demand-driven information and spatial data services across SPC work programmes, projects and countries.

The role – Director – Geoscience Energy and Maritime is a key member of the Pacific Community Senior Leadership Team and will be pivotal in the execution of executive leadership and management of the division. This role will work collaboratively with the Executive and Senior Leadership Team across all SPC locations to achieve strategic objectives and implement operational policies. The Director will shape the strategic direction of the division by overseeing and ensuring high quality provision of scientific, technical and policy support in the development of Sustainable Georesources, Water and Sanitation, Integrated Disaster and Climate Resilience, Sustainable Energy Security, Maritime Affairs and Safety, Ocean Science and Earth and Marine Observations for member countries throughout the Pacific region. The Director will ensure complete oversight of the Division’s work programme, key functions, and the management of its operations, including budgetary expenditure and overall financial performance of the division.   The Director will coordinate and oversee divisional staff recruitment in consultation with the Deputy-Director, Science and Capability, whilst leading staff management and development.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

• Business planning (development, strategy and execution)
• Organisational and senior leadership team support
• People leadership and management
• Resource mobilisation, governance and financial management
• Stakeholder management and advocacy

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• A postgraduate degree in a relevant science field, international development, or business administration

Knowledge and experience

• At least 15 years of demonstrated leadership and experience in a public sector or research environment in managing geoscience related resources or a similar field, including financial management
• Experience successfully building and leading multi-disciplinary teams, including people of different national and cultural backgrounds, and demonstrated ability to manage professional, technical, and program support staff in a team environment, ensuring everyone's role contributes to successful team outputs
• Demonstrated experience in relationship building and working with a wide variety of donors and development partners with awareness of their policies and procedures

Essential skills

• Demonstrated ability to lead strategically with a solid understanding of delivering programmes and projects of work
• Proven ability to influence work collegially and in partnership with stakeholders and internal partners towards agreed outcomes
• Demonstrated record of accomplishment in change management
• Capacity to effectively represent SPC at regional and international forums
• Demonstrated skills and experience in continuous improvement and facilitating innovation across teams
• Ability to work constructively to resolve issues, concerns or difference of opinion
• Project management skills, including project design and reporting
• Excellent audit, risk and financial management skills

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 – 3 years

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 Director – Geoscience Energy and Maritime is a Band 15 position in SPC’s 2022 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 5,505‒6,881 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 16,624–20,781 (USD 7,652–9,565; EUR 6,753–8,441). 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 are 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.

Application procedure

Closing Date – 7 March 2022 at 11:59pm Fiji time

Applicants must apply online at http://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
• contact details for three professional referees
• a cover letter detailing your skills, experience and interest in this position
• responses to all screening questions

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

Applicants should not attach copies of qualifications or letters of reference. These documents may be requested at a later stage.

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 the Fijian 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.

Please ensure that you respond to all the screening questions.  If you do not respond to the screening questions, your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed at shortlisting stage.

Screening Questions:

• What do you consider to be priority areas for the physical sciences and data in the Pacific region over the next 10 years?
• Please describe how you have ensured world class science has been translated into meaningful development outcomes on the ground, preferably in the Pacific region.
• In managing a large multisectoral team, how have you balanced competing priorities from external (members and donors) and internal shareholders to ensure mutually beneficial outcomes.