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 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 Statistics for Development Division (SDD) is based in SPC’s headquarters in Noumea, New Caledonia. The division employs approximately 20 staff, all of whom are all based in Noumea. SDD’s goal is to help the Pacific Island Countries and Territories achieve “highly competent and sustainable national statistics systems that meet national and international statistics needs for evidence-based policy, planning and monitoring.” SDD has a regional statistical system leadership and coordination role; and also supports the region directly in data infrastructure, collection, statistical methodology, analysis and dissemination.
**The role –the Statistics Adviser (Prices)**will support Pacific Island countries and territories in the production, analysis and use of statistics relating to pricing through technical assistance, advice, training and other methods.
The key responsibilities of the role include the following:
Ways of working
- Demonstrable contribution as an individual and team-member to the organisational or ‘ways of working’ objectives in the division business plan.
Development and implementation of a technical programme on the improvement of price and other economic statistics for PICTs
- Member countries are assisted to improve and rebase their consumer, producer, export-import and other price indices (including PPP) using appropriate international standards and methods;
- Member countries are assisted in the compilation, re-basing, analysis and dissemination of price and other economic statistics, including public finance, PPPs, macroeconomic statistics and household survey data using appropriate best practices and standards;
- Methods and best practices for various price index compilations are developed and implemented in the context of the Pacific region.
- A set of price indicators is developed – e.g., trade price index, unit price index – that can be routinely reported against to inform impact of changes in the cost of living on welfare and poverty lines.
- Market surveys are implemented concurrently with HIES to collect: non-standard unit conversion factors and photos; spatial and temporal prices for primary produce; data on prices and availability of prepared meals.
- Progress in the development of economic statistics across member countries is periodically reviewed in collaboration with the other Economic Statistics Advisor and other relevant agencies including PFTAC, ADB and World Bank.
- Member countries are assisted to compile their basket of goods that are common in the Pacific e.g. canned tuna for the estimation of purchasing power parity (ICP);
- Contributions are made to projects of fellow SDD economic statistics advisors (e.g. Pacific trade data) and other SDD colleagues as necessary
- Regular contact with NSOs and other relevant agencies is maintained and national counterparts are engaged in report writing and south-south exchanges wherever possible.
National capacity development in the compilation and analysis of price and other economic statistics
- Technical assistance and training activities lead to a demonstrable increase in national capacity for the compilation and analysis of price and other economic statistics at NSOs;
- Countries lacking designated economic statistics capacity are provided with appropriate and (cost-) effective capacity supplementation focusing on price indices and other economic statistics;
- National/regional training in price and other economic statistics is organised and conducted, where feasible in collaboration with other technical providers in the region, including south-south technical assistance, and such training leads to demonstrable and measurable improvements in NSOs technical capacity;
- Guidance notes are developed and published on areas relating to prices statistics for the Pacific statistics methods toolkit
- Country specific questions on particular estimation/ classification or price index matters are dealt with in a timely matter, e.g. through live chat etc.
Dissemination and communication of price and other economic statistics outputs
- Processes are developed and implemented for the regular transmission and validation of official price and economic statistics and their dissemination through the appropriate SDD/PDH platforms and tools;
- Collaboration in dissemination is established with other SDD Specialists to ensure that price indices and other economic statistics are updated in the dotStat platform;
- Pocket Summaries, posters, indicator datasets and other SDD publications are regularly updated;
- At least one knowledge product or analytical paper is produced for dissemination every six-months focusing on economic statistics or the use of economic statistics to inform development related topics;
- Regular media briefs are provided to Information and Publications Officer.
For a more detailed account of the key responsibilities, please refer to the online job description.
Key selection criteria
Qualifications
- Master’s degree, in statistics, econometrics, economics or a related field.
Technical expertise
- 10 years of professional experience obtained in a National Statistical Office or related agency at the national, regional or international level.
- Demonstrated expertise and experience in the compilation and rebase of consumer (and other) price statistics, such as PPP;
- Good understanding of key international guidelines, including price manuals, the System of National Accounts (SNA) guidelines, and extensive demonstrated experience in applying these to the production of macroeconomic indicators;
- Previous work experience in a developing country environment, preferably in the Pacific Island region;
- Good interpersonal skills, team player with ability to network and effectively work in a multicultural setting;
- Proven experience in professional training and staff development, including the planning and running of technical workshops.
Language skills
- Proven English language proficiency, and competence in writing and delivering technical reports and presentations;
Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness
- A team player, with the ability to work in a multi-diverse and multi-cultural environment.
Salary, terms and conditions
Contract Duration– This vacant position is budgeted for 3 years and is subject to renewal depending on performance and funding.
Remuneration– The Statistics Adviser (Prices) is a Band 11 position in SPC’s 2023 salary scale, with a starting salary range of SDR (special drawing rights) 4,206-5,161 per month, which converts to approximately XPF 637,132-781,844 (USD 5,636-6,916; EUR 5,339-6,552). 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 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: 13 August 2023 – 11:00 pm (Noumea time)
Job Reference: CR000045
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
Your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed at shortlisting stage if all the above documents are not provided. Applicants should not attach copies of qualifications or letters of reference.
Please ensure your documents are in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format.
SPC does not charge a fee to consider your application and will never ask for your banking or financial information during the recruitment process.
Screening questions (maximum of 2,000 characters per question):
- Describe what you consider to be the main challenges associated with collecting macro-economic statistics in Pacific Island countries.
- Describe your experience with respect to conducting capacity building through training or staff mentoring.
- Give an example of the most effective team environment you have worked with, explain what made it effective, and describe your role and contribution.