New Caledonia (France): Project Manager “PROTEGE”

Job descriptions

The Pacific Community 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 26 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 Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Programme (CCES) was established to enable SPC to strengthen and streamline its actions on climate change by bringing together work already undertaken by the organisation under a coherent strategic and technical leadership. In addition, it leads the actions of SPC on climate change and environmental sustainability, works with the Organisation’s regional and international partners and promotes the integration of these issues into all development activities conducted by the Organisation’s divisions.

PROTEGE is an integrated project aimed at reducing the vulnerability of human and natural systems to the impacts of climate change by increasing adaptability and resilience. It also targets activities for the sustainable management, conservation and use of biological diversity and its components including water resources. It is financed by the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) in the territories of French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis & Futuna and Pitcairn.

Functions— The Project manager is responsible for the proper conduct of the project as a whole. He/she is accountable to SPC, the project partners and the donor. In order to do this, he/she will have to work closely with the territories, SPC technical divisions as well as regional organisations such as SPREP, the co-delegation agency for this project.

The key responsibilities of the role include the following:

1. Project preparation and management, in collaboration with the territories and the project technical team:

• Supervise the preparation of the (annual and multiannual) work plans, logframes, project monitoring and evaluation processes and any other strategic plans related to the project implementation and in line with the project objectives;

• Coordinate complex multidisciplinary components of the project and supervise the contractors responsible for implementing activities;

• Supervise the budgetary and accounting management of the project in line with the requirements of SPC and of the European Union.

1. Strategic support to the territories and partners:

• Provide strategic expertise, in particular to ensure the integration of the different components of the project, the synergy between components and the integration both in between the OCTs and within the Pacific region as a whole;

• Finalise the definitions of the components’ activities and their indicators, the elaboration of the related action plans on the basis of the criteria defined by the project, in collaboration with the territories and stakeholders, and the technical team of the project;

• Ensure the dissemination and ownership of concepts and approaches developed within the project in the different technical units of SPC, territorial institutions, regional organisations and other partners.

1. Project communication and capitalisation of the results and lessons learned:

• Supervise the design and finalisation of the communication plan, as well as the communication activities and evaluate the results;

• Use the media to publicise the project and promote the results, in collaboration with the communication services of SPC, SPREP and the territories and partners concerned;

• Participate in regional and international conferences and workshops; and advocate to political and administrative decision makers for project approaches and outcomes.

1. Establishing and maintaining strong relations with various stakeholders and sustainability of results

• Develop and maintain close working relations with SPC officers, institutional and technical partners of the project in the four territories concerned, regional organisations, donors and the main institutions concerned, including research organisations and civil society,

• Participate in actions carried out in collaboration with other organisations.

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

Main selection criteria

1. Qualifications

• Post-graduate degree in environmental economics, programme management or equivalent.

2. Technical

• 10 years’ significant experience, including at least five years in international project management.

• Proven experience in the management of integrated and multi-sector projects funded by the European Union

• Strategic understanding of sustainable development issues in Oceania and in particular in the Territories

• Proven capacity to manage a dispersed project team

• Be able to drive new approaches and devise innovative solutions

• Be a good communicator and able to navigate well in a political environment

3. Language skills

• Speak and write French fluently and have a very good command of English.

4. Interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to meet the deadlines;

• Good team spirit and capacity to build relationships and work effectively in a multicultural context;

• Cultural diversity and proven knowledge of the specific context of developing countries; and

• Knowledge of the Island States and Territories will be an asset.

Salary, terms and conditions of employment

Required start date– as soon as possible

Contract Duration– This position is budgeted for three years and is subject to renewal depending on performance and funding.

Remuneration– the Project Manager is a Band 13 position in SPC’s 2018 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 5,194–6,396 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately XPF 766,453–943,863 (USD 7,168–8,827; EUR 6,423–7,910). 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 relocation grant, removal expenses, airfares, home leave, medical and life insurance, and education allowance are available for eligible employees and their recognised dependents. Employees are entitled to 25 days of annual leave and access to SPC’s Provident Fund (contributing 8% of salary, to which SPC adds a matching contribution).

Equal opportunity– SPC is an equal opportunity employer. Recruitment is based entirely on merit; in cases where two short-listed candidates are judged to be of equal rank by the selection committee, preference will be given to Pacific Island nationals.

Child protection– SPC is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. SPC’s Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Police clearance– Successful candidates will be required to provide a police clearance certificate.

Application procedure

Closing date : 19^th September 2018

Job Reference: AL00078

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 with 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.

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:

1. What do you think are three of the key priority issues in terms of sustainable development for the Pacific Territories?

2. What would you suggest to encourage the regional integration of the Pacific Territories into the development dynamics of the Pacific region?

3. What tools and approaches would you suggest to document lessons learned and capitalize on project results?

4. Have you been involved in any child-related legal convictions/offences?