Home > Job Vacancies > Detail

Post Description: Capacity Development Officer (CDO)

Background:

Applications are invited for the above position with SPREP in Apia, Samoa. Appointment is for a 3-year term initially, with possible renewal up to a maximum of 6 years.

SPREP is an independent Intergovernmental Organization that provides assistance and technical advisory services to Pacific Island Countries (PICs), territories and administrations in the protection and management of their environment to ensure they achieve sustainable development for present and future generations. SPREP comprises 21 Pacific Island countries and territories and 4 developed countries.1

1 American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Sates of America, Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

The CDO is responsible to the Director through the Programme Manager – Island Ecosystems for performing the following duties:

1. Capacity Development and Promotion of Environmental Training in island Members

• Provide assistance and advice to island Members, in close collaboration with SPREP colleagues, to assess capacity needs, identify actions to address these needs and establish monitoring mechanisms linking capacity development actions to the Action Plan Outcomes.
• Provide advice and guidance to island Members and the Secretariat on capacity development for project cycle management.
• Prepare, coordinate and disseminate information to PICTs on environmental training opportunities and funding sources.
• Advise and assist Managers and Officers plan, implement and evaluate capacity building for the implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs).
• Advise and assist Managers and Officers develop funding proposals targeting island Members’ capacity development needs and provide overall coordination to ensure that proposals are well focused and logically constructed.
• Assist officers plan, implement and monitor capacity development activities aimed at strengthening capacity of island Members and the Secretariat’s to engage with and effectively utilize funding opportunities.
• Assist Managers and Officers evaluate, monitor and continuously review SPREP’s training and human resource development and associated capacity building activities in island member countries and territories, in consultation with themand institutions in the region;

2. Coordination and input into SPREP Workshops

• Work to ensure a coordinated approach to SPREPs training workshops for PICTs in a range of environmental areas in collaboration with SPREP management and Officers and where appropriate, liaise with partner institutions to develop environmental training programmes;
• Attend meetings, workshops, training programmes and seminars where appropriate to provide advice and assistance in facilitation and training.

3. Volunteer Technical Assistance/Internships

• Take the lead in securing funding for technical assistance to island Members through volunteer attachment, cross-country attachment and internships;
• Advise on the placement of volunteers, country attachments and interns in Member countries and territories and within the SPREP Secretariat, where relevant and appropriate.

4. Programme Monitoring and Evaluation

• Develop and implement together with management organization-wide programme monitoring and evaluation (M&E) procedures to strengthen the Secretariat’s ongoing development as a learning organisation in the delivery of support to island Members.
• Ensure that M&E methodologies are incorporated into programme activities and projects to enable lessons learned, inform and improve the work of the organisation.
• Design and implement internal M&E training for Secretariat staff.
• Other duties as may be required from time to time as determined by the Director and/or Programme Managers.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Essential

• Candidates must have a university qualification (a post-graduate qualification would be an advantage) in the social and/or environmental sciences with at least 5 years’ work experience in the area of capacity development and environment management preferably within the Pacific Islands region at a senior level.
• Up-to-date knowledge and working experience in a range of capacity development approaches and working knowledge of key multilateral environmental agreements related to SPREPs mandate, Pacific regional strategies and the related capacity-building needs of Pacific island countries and territories;
• Proven experience in conducting and coordinating training programmes in a range of environmental management areas, with particularly emphasis on the circumstances of Pacific Island countries and territories and sound knowledge of environmental issues affecting and challenges faced by Pacific Island governments and stakeholders in addressing these issues;
• Proven project management experience, engagement with donor processes, ability to meet deadlines often under difficult circumstances; and a proven ability to prepare project proposals and reports
• A proven ability to work as part of a multi-programme, inter-disciplinary and multi-cultural team and to live and work within Pacific Island governments, institutions and community settings.
• Working knowledge of monitoring and evaluation principles and processes and experience in their application to projects, programmes and organizations;

Terms and Conditions

Duty Station: Apia, Samoa.

Duration:   Appointment is for a term of 3 years initially with a possible renewal for a further 3-year period depending upon the officer’s performance during the first term, continuity of related programme activities and availability of funds.

Grade:   Appointment will be at the Grade I of SPREP’s authorised salary scale for professional staff.

Salary: The basic salary range for this position is expressed in International Monetary Fund Special Drawing Rights (SDRs). The salary range is from 26,885 SDRs to a maximum of 36,771 SDRs (including COLDA), depending on the successful applicant’s qualifications and experience. Currently, the equivalent salary in Samoan Tala is SAT$107,551 to a maximum of SAT$147,099 per annum (including COLDA).

Adjustments: Professional staff salaries and appropriate allowances are paid in Samoan Tala and adjusted every month based on the monthly average in the value of the SDR relative to the Samoan Tala (WST) at the time the salary payment is processed. SDR movement however is limited to within 5% above or below a reference point set annually. Remuneration is paid monthly in WST equivalent. The international currency exchange rate at the time of writing is approximately USD1.00 = SAT2.67

Term: For those recruited from outside Samoa, the term begins from the day the appointee leaves his or her home to take up the appointment. Appointment is subject to a satisfactory medical examination, as well as a 6 months’ probationary period. An appointment is terminated by (i) completion of term of contract (ii) one month’s notice by either party (iii) without notice by either party paying one month salary in lieu of notice or (iv) dismissed with or without notice as a disciplinary measure.

For staff recruited from outside Samoa, the following applies:

Relocation Expenses: SPREP will meet certain appointment and termination expenses for professional staff recruited from outside Apia, Samoa, including transport and accommodation en-route for the appointee and accompanying dependent(s) between home and Apia, and return, by the shortest and most economical route. This includes:

• economy class airfares;
• reasonable cost of packing, insuring, shipping and transporting furniture, household and personal effects as follows:
  • 6m 3 for the staff member;
  • 2m 3 for dependent spouse;
  • 1m 3 for each dependent child; and
  • up to 20 kilos of excess baggage for the appointee and family.

Establishment Grant: A lump sum, of SDR1,100 is payable upon taking up appointment and arrival in Apia.

Temporary Accommodation and Assistance: On arrival in Apia, the appointee and dependent(s) are entitled to temporary accommodation at a suitable hotel or other fully furnished accommodation for up to 6 working days.

School Holiday Travel: One return economy class flight each year between the place of education (taken to be recognized home) and Apia by (i) each dependent child being educated outside Samoa or (ii) the staff member or spouse to visit the child, providing the journey is not made within the final 6 months of the contract.

Home Leave Travel: Return economy class airfares between Apia and the recognised home for the staff member and dependents after completing 18 months of service for 3-year contracts providing no travel is undertaken within the final 12 months of the contract.

Privileges and Immunities: SPREP remuneration is tax-free for non-citizens or non-residents of Samoa, including duty-free importation of household and personal effects which have been owned and used by them for no less than six months, within 6 months of taking up appointment.

Repatriation allowance: The appointee is entitled to a repatriation allowance equivalent to two week’s salary, upon successful completion of contract, provided the contract is not extended or renewed.

For ALL professional staff, the following applies:

Cost of living differential allowance: Cost-of-living differential allowance reflects the comparative cost of living difference between Suva and Apia. This allowance is reviewed periodically based on data determined by an independent reviewer.

Education Allowance: Education expenses maybe reimbursed against actual receipts for dependent children, to cover up to 75% of the actual cost of tuition and boarding fees only. Currently the allowance is up to a maximum of Samoan Tala $15,600 per annum per dependent child, with an overall maximum of Samoan Tala $46,800 per annum per family of 3 or more eligible children.

Housing Assistance: Professional staff shall receive housing assistance of 75% of the typical rent payable in Samoa for expatriate executive furnished housing. The current rate is SAT$2,138 per month.  This assistance shall be reviewed annually and adjusted on relative movement in the local rental market.

Annual Leave: 25 working days a year (up to a maximum accumulation of 50 days).

Sick Leave: 30 working days a year (up to a maximum accumulation of 90 days).

Other Leave: Provisions also exist for maternity, family (compassionate and paternity) and special (without pay) leave.

Duty Travel: SPREP meets travelling expenses at prescribed rates necessarily incurred by staff required to travel away from Apia on official business.

Personal Accident Insurance: All employees are covered by SPREP’s 24 hour Life and Personal Accident Insurance Policy.

Medical Insurance: All employees and their dependents are entitled to have all reasonable medical, dental and optical expenses met by SPREP or by SPREP’s medical insurance scheme.

Superannuation: An expatriate contract staff member will receive a superannuation allowance of 7% of basic salary. For local contract staff, SPREP will pay 7% of basic salary to the Samoa National Provident Fund.

Definitions:

'Dependent' means the financially dependent spouse or dependent child of an employee.

'Dependent child' means an employee’s unmarried, financially dependent, natural or legally adopted child who is:

• under the age of 16 years; or
• under the age of 19 years if undertaking full-time study at a   secondary school; or
• under the age of 22 years if enrolled and undertaking full-time study at a university or other tertiary institution; or
• mentally or physically incapacitated.

Equal Opportunities: SPREP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Men and women are equally eligible for all posts in SPREP.

General: Appointment will be under the terms and conditions of SPREP’s Staff Regulations, a copy of which will be made available to the successful applicant.

Applications

• A detailed curriculum vitae containing full personal details (birth date, gender, nationality, marital status, number of dependents and age/s, health status, home address, and full contact numbers); qualifications and experience relevant for the position; previous and current appointments with salaries, names and contact addresses/numbers/E-mail of three professional referees who are prepared to provide testimonials.
• Available references from at least three recent employers and/or supervisors.
• Copies of academic qualifications.
• Indication of possible starting date if successful.

All applications to be clearly marked “Application for Capacity Development Officer” and addressed to:

The Director

SPREP                                                       Telephone:  (685) 21 929

P O Box 240                                                Fax:           (685) 20 231

Apia                                                            Email:         SPREP@sprep.org

Samoa

Closing Date: 8 June 2007. Late applications will not be considered.

For further enquiries, the Personnel Officer can be contacted on telephone (685) 21929 ext 230 or Email: litiab@sprep.org