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Post Description: DIRECTOR

Background:

Nominations are invited from suitably qualified and experienced candidates for the above position. Candidates must be nationals of, and nominated by, a SPREP Member government or administration. The Director of SPREP is the Head of the Secretariat, based in Apia, Samoa, and responsible for about 70 staff. SPREP works on behalf of its twenty-five Member countries and territories to promote cooperation in the Pacific Islands region, provide assistance in order to protect and improve its environment and to ensure sustainable development for present and future generations. It achieves this through an Action Plan for managing the Environment of the Pacific Island Region which sets out the highest priority issues for the region from time to time and through the Strategic Programmes of the Secretariat that seeks to implement its responsibilities under the Action Plan.

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

SPREP’s work is delivered through two Strategic Programmes; Island Ecosystems and Pacific Futures.

• The Island Ecosystems Programme includes components of terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems management, species of special interest and people and institutions.

• The Pacific Futures programme includes components of waste management and pollution control, environmental planning, climate change and atmosphere, environment monitoring, reporting and multilateral environmental agreements and regional coordination mechanisms. Assisting the region to understand and address sustainable development issues is an essential element of this mandate.

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 Director of SPREP is a senior regional position with diplomatic status, calling for proven qualities of diplomacy, vision, leadership and management skills. The Director is responsible to the SPREP Meeting for the:

• Provision of exceptional leadership, strategic direction and overall vision;

• Efficient and effective management and administration of SPREP work programme, staff and assets;

• Delivery of high quality advice and services to members and governing body;

• Articulation and strong advocacy for environment concerns of the regions; and

• Develop and maintain effective relationships through networking and interaction with other regional organisations, donors and stakeholders.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Experience and Attributes:

• High integrity with proven leadership qualities, managerial ability and experience at executive level in leading a multi-disciplinary, multicultural team. An academic qualification in an appropriate discipline is an advantage;
• Commitment to the social, economic and environmental aspirations of Pacific island peoples and ability to effectively communicate and liaise with members;
• Ability to advocate for and promote the environmental concerns, the protection and development of the environmental resources of the region and to cooperate effectively with other partner organisations and institutions;
• Demonstrated capacity to manage organizational and cultural change
• Good health and ability to travel and consult widely in the region; and
• Knowledge of both working languages would be an advantage.

Terms and Conditions

Duty Station: Apia, Samoa.

Term:   The initial term is three years, renewable for a further three years at the discretion of the SPREP Meeting to a maximum of six years, and begins from the day the appointee leaves his or her home to take up appointment. Appointment is subject to passing a medical examination.

Grade:   Grade M of SPREP’s salary scales for Executive/Professional Contract Staff as approved by the Eighteenth SPREP Meeting in 2007.

Salary: The basic salary for the Director ranges from SDR54,777 up to SDR82,164 (currently equivalent to SAT220,488 up to SAT330,727).

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. (Ranges from SDR7,782 mininum up to SDR10,551 maximum currently equivalent to SAT31,324 up to SAT42,470).

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 (SAT) 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 SAT equivalent. The international currency exchange rate at the time of writing is approximately USD1.00 = SAT2.56

For staff recruited from outside Samoa, the following applies:

Relocation Expenses:

SPREP will meet certain appointment and termination expenses for a Director recruited from outside Samoa, including transport and accommodation enroute for the appointee and accompanying dependents between home and Apia and back by the shortest and most economical route. This includes:

• business class airfares; and reasonable cost of packing, insuring, shipping and unpacking furniture, household and personal effects as   follows:

•   6m 3 for the Director;
• 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, once-only establishment grant of SDR1,467 is payable upon arrival in Apia for the Director, if recruited from outside 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 (or up to 12 days in special circumstances ). The appointee will be assisted to settle into Apia. This will include help in finding suitable rental accommodation.

School Holiday Travel: One return economy class flight each year between the place of education (taken to be recognised 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 first class airfares between Apia and the recognised home for the appointee 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.

Repatriation allowance: Upon completion of the contract, the appointee is entitled to a repatriation allowance equivalent to two week’s basic salary.

For ALL professional staff, the following applies:

Privileges and Immunities: Under articles 6 and 7 of the Headquarters Agreement between Samoa and SPREP (1996):

1. The Director shall have the like privileges and immunities as are accorded a diplomatic agent under the Samoa Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Act 1978 and in conformity with international law.
2. The members of the family of the appointee forming part of their households shall have the like privileges and immunities as are accorded the members of the family of a diplomatic agent under the aforesaid Act and in conformity with international law.

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: Rent-free accommodation up to a monthly rental limit of SAT5,000.

Utility: Utility charges for the Director’s accommodation (e.g. electricity, water and gas) will be met by SPREP.

Domestic Assistance Allowance: Current rate is SAT4,695 and is adjusted at the same time in accordance with the same rate of adjustments made to pay in the Samoan Public Service.

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 the Director 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 Benefits: The Director and dependents are entitled to have all reasonable medical, dental and optical expenses met, under the terms and conditions of the SPREP in-house Medical Treatment 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 ho is:

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.

Nominations:

 

Chair of the Selection Advisory Committee

SPREP Secretariat

P.O. Box 240                                       Fax (685) 20231

Apia, Samoa                                       Email: sprep@sprep.org