*The Pacific Community (SPC) invites applications for the position of Coordinator, Climate Finance within its Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Programme. This position will be located at* its regional office 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 known 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.
The role – the Coordinator, Climate Finance will be responsible for the following key responsibilities:
Lead the development and coordinate the work and operations of SPC’s climate finance unit, in full coordination with other SPC’s divisions and units
• Lead the overall planning incl. budget and workplans of the Climate Finance Unit (CFU), in close collaboration with the CCES director, SPC’s resource mobilization unit and in full coordination with OMD services.
• Provide leadership, engagement and operational guidance to ensure effective delivery of climate change projects development and implementation within the CFU, liaising with other partners and SPC divisions.
• Ensure a smooth coordination of the project development and management work of the CFU as well as reporting requirements in accordance with contractual requirements and approved budgets.
• Lead overall communication of the CFU, in collaboration with the CCES Information, communication and knowledge management officer.
• Resolve operational and technical problems, collaboration issues with project partners. Ensure risks are effectively managed.
• Ensure that monitoring, evaluation and learning activities are incorporated into project implementation and service delivery.
• Maintain an awareness and understanding of any SPC policies and procedures or changes and ensure that they are appropriately applied in the CFU operations.
• Foster collaboration of the CFU with other SPC divisions to maximize impact and relevance of the projects and promote integrated programming.
Ensure the full liaison, engagement and effective collaboration with the GCF and, pending accreditation, with the AF, and strengthen the role of SPC as an accredited entity and delivery partner in the region
• Serve as SPC’s main CGF focal point and dispatch relevant information appropriately across the CFU and the organization.
• Represent SPC as an Accredited Entity and Delivery Partner in international, regional and bilateral GCF meetings and, pending accreditation, AF meetings as well as in other conferences concerning Climate Change and climate finance, as appropriate.
• Participate in conveying SPC’s positioning, results, outputs and lessons learned on climate finance to outside audiences, in particular with regard to the GCF, the AF and other funds as appropriate.
• Drive and/or support mobilisation of initiatives and development of readiness, climate and change adaptation and mitigation project proposals targeting climate finance funding agencies, in particular GCF, to the benefit of member countries
Coordinate the engagement with eligible countries’ NDAs and focal points to plan and agree on SPC’s support to facilitate access to climate finance to address their climate change priorities
• Serve as SPC’s main focal point on climate finance for eligible Pacific countries and associated NDAs.
• Liaise regularly with the NDAs and government stakeholders involved on climate finance to identify relevant needs and priorities and ensure these are addressed by the CFU.
• Convey the CFU positioning, results, outputs and lessons learned on climate finance to the NDAs.
Strengthen and ensure smooth collaboration with climate finance and project development partners
• Maintain strong linkages and relations with other CROP agencies, donors and funding partners.
• Ensure smooth collaboration with the CFU climate change project development and management partners.
Provide strategic advice to the CCES programme to support and foster SPC's work on climate finance and climate change
• Provide strategic advice and guidance to the CCES programme on climate finance, climate change adaptation and mitigation issues.
• Provide technical support to the CCES director and CCES manager on the planning, development, implementation and coordination of the climate finance related work of CCES.
For a more detailed account of the key responsibilities, please refer to the online job description.
Key selection criteria
1. Qualifications
• Master degree qualification in a relevant field relating to sustainable development and climate change (environmental sciences or management, economics, finance or business administration).
2. Technical expertise
• Around 10 years of practical experience in the ODA and climate change areas.
• Demonstrated experience in project / programme development, project and financial management, and demonstrated ability to manage professional, technical, and programme support staff in a team environment.
• Solid knowledge of UNFCCC process as well as issues related to climate finance, climate change adaptation and mitigation in SIDS.
• Demonstrated experience in relationship building and working with a wide variety of donors and development partners with awareness of their priorities and positioning.
• Practical work experience in a developing country environment preferably in the Pacific Island Region.
• Proven ability to influence work collegially and in partnership with stakeholders and internal partners towards an agreed outcome.
• Excellent drafting and writing skills including for a variety of reports and audiences.
3. Language skills
• Excellent English communication skills (oral and written).
• High –level verbal and written communication skills and the capacity to represent SPC at regional and international forums.
4. Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• Knowledge of Pacific Island countries and territories is an advantage.
Salary, terms and conditions
Contract Duration – This vacant position is budgeted for 3 years and is subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.
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 Coordinator, Climate Finance is a band 12 position in SPC’s 2021 salary scale, with a starting salary range of SDR (special drawing rights) 4,685-5,760 per month, which converts to approximately XPF 685,755-843,105 (USD 6,512-8,006; EUR 5,747-7,065). An offer of appointment for an initial contract will normally be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration being given to experience and qualifications. Progression within the salary scale is 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 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 bilinguism, 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 begiven to the Pacific Islander. Applicants will be assured of complete confidentiality in line with SPC’s private policy.
How to apply:
Application procedure
Closing date: 21 February 2021 – 11:00 pm (Noumea time).
Job Reference: AL000356
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 (maximum of 2.000 characters per question):
In your opinion, what should be the main focus of SPC climate finance unit for the next couple of years?
What are the main challenges and opportunities associated with climate finance in the Pacific region?
How would you increase and facilitate access to climate finance for SPC member countries?