New Caledonia (France): Health and Safety Advisor

*The Pacific Community (SPC) invites applications for the position of Health & Safety Adviser in the Operations and Management Directorate. This position will be located at its headquarters in Noumea, New Caledonia.*

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 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 Operations and Management Directorate (OMD) provides corporate services to all SPC Divisions and Programmes. It consists of three key departments: Finance, Human Resources and Information Services. OMD is focused on improving the effectiveness of systems, policies and management to provide high-quality customer-oriented services.

The role – the Health & Safety Adviser will provide, operate and maintain best practice health and safety strategies and systems for SPC. The role will provide health and safety reporting and advice in order to promote excellence and maximise company performance through audit, communication and continuous improvement of health and safety systems. The incumbent will develop and implement health and safety improvement initiatives companywide. The role will look to build leadership and commitment to health and safety and develop a culture where all staff take responsibility for the health and safety of themselves and others. The role will ensure effective health & safety systems, processes and practices integrated with the management of our people and our programmes.

The key responsibilities of the role include the following:

1. Excellence in health and safety systems

• Promote continuous improvements in the use of health and safety systems and tools,

• Development and implementation of the health and safety plan,

• Identification of risk management and hazard identification,

• Health and safety systems are easy to use and understood by all staff.

2.Excellence in compliance

• Implementation, maintenance and improvement of policies and procedures,

• Meet obligations and responsibilities under relevant health and safety legislation,

• Ensure health and safety requirements are developed, monitored and maintained in line with Pacific Communities policies,

• All risks effectively managed and no outstanding compliance issues.

3.Excellence with people

• Communicate effectively in order to develop and maintain a positive behavioural environment,

• Promote health and safety values and train staff in the use of and purpose of health and safety policies, procedures and processes,

• Health and Safety committees operate regularly,

• Training attendance records.

4.Excellence with information

• Encourage maximum reporting of incidents and work with managers to ensure all accident/incidents are openly, accurately and timely recorded and reported,

• Production of comprehensive reports that clearly indicate areas of success and areas of improvement in relation to health and safety,

• Implement with managers improvement plans for identified areas of improvement,

• Incorporate health and safety legislation and compliance into SPC processes and policies.

5.Excellence with innovation

• Research best practice in health and safety management and implement with mangers when relevant,

• Review paper based systems and recommends more effective options. Project manager the implementation of approved recommendations,

• Implemented technologies that will increase operational efficiency and productivity,

• Proactively attained knowledge of new industry methods or processes and applied to situations where applicable.

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

Key selection criteria

1. Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualification specialized in Health and Safety or Environmental.

2. Technical expertise

• Overall minimum 7 years of relevant experience in health and safety,

• At least 5 years of experience in a similar or comparable role,

• Working knowledge of the relevant health and safety acts across different regions/countries,

• Proven track record in driving a culture that supports health and safety management, encouraging and rewarding excellence,

• Self-management, can take initiative and is a solution finder,

• Significant experience in providing advice on complex health and safety issues, and in development of health and safety policies.

3. Language skills

• Excellent written and oral communications skills for effective communications in English and French.

4. Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Excellent interpersonal skills with a collaborative, inclusive mindset and leadership, change management and staff management skills,

• Cultural sensitivity and awareness, and the ability to effectively work with team members from different cultural backgrounds,

• Knowledge of Pacific Island countries and territories is an advantage.

Salary, terms and conditions

Required start date– as soon as possible

Contract Duration– This position is budgeted for 12 months.

Remuneration– the Health and Safety Advisor is a Band 10 position in SPC’s 2019 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 3,415–4,172 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately XPF 487,815–596,018 (USD 4,849–5,924; EUR 4,088–4,995). 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).

Languages– SPC’s working languages are English and French.

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: 18 August 2019

Job Reference: AL000201

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. Can you please provide an example of when you have implemented a Health & Safety Plan, including risk management and hazard identification. What steps did you take.

2. Please outline your experience in Health & Safety Systems implementation, including user training and organisation wide adoption and application of the H&S systems.

3. Please outline your experiences in stakeholder engagement and provide evidence of the success of this engagement through training delivered and an enhanced H&S culture.