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Post Description:  Legal Adviser (LA)

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

SPREP is an Intergovernmental Organisation that assists Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) to protect and manage their environment to ensure they achieve sustainable development for present and future generations. SPREP’s membership comprises 21 Pacific Island countries and territories, together with 4 developed countries. The Secretariat’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.

The LA post is responsible to the Director, through the Deputy Director, in the provision of all legal advice and services for the Secretariat.

Key duties and Responsibilities include:

1)  Provide legal advice and services to the Secretariat :

•  Advise the Programmes and if necessary undertake project work or engage consultants for this purpose

•  Advise country Parties on Multilateral Environmental Agreement (MEA) obligations, negotiations and implementation

•  Assist countries with environmental legislation

•  Advise on contracts, Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) and similar documents,

• Advise on office regulations, policies, rules of procedures for meetings, etc.

•  Plan events together with other officers and act as a resource person when required

• Maintain the legal webpage on the SPREP website

2)  Service Regional Conventions for which SPREP is the Secretariat

• Organise Conferences of the Parties and intercessional meetings

• Provide legal advice and/or project assistance to the Parties in order for them to implement their obligations under the Conventions

• Keep the Conventions or Protocols up to date and encourage ratifications

3)  Advise on legal matters affecting SPREP as an organisation

• Advise management on corporate and organizational issues

• Advise management on issues in relation to SPREP as a treaty organisation

4)  Other duties, as required, from time to time.

Essential Selection Criteria include:

1)  Advanced degree in Law or Bachelor degree in lieu, with applied relevant work experience in excess of the minimum required relevant work experience.

2)  At least 10 years of environment law experience in the private or public sector, preferably in the Pacific region, with at least 5 years work experience at a senior level.

3)  Proven knowledge of a specific area of Environmental Law and specialist knowledge of at least one MEA

4)  Proven knowledge of international law and organisations

5)  Proven strategic advisory, coordination, analytical, communication and facilitation skills.

6)  Proven ability to establish effective partnerships to achieve successful outcomes.

7)  Ability to undertake work programme planning and budgeting, deliver on agreed work programme outcomes and work as part of an interdisciplinary and multicultural team.

8)  Fluent in English with excellent communications, presentation and inter-personal skills Sound knowledge of topical environmental issues and the environment generally

Highly desirable:

1)  Legislative Drafting Skills

Terms and Conditions

Duty Station : Apia , Samoa .

Duration :   Appointment is for a term of 3 years initially with possible renewal up to a maximum of 6 years.

Grade :   Appointment will be at the Grade J 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 38,610 SDRs to 51,441SDRs (including COLDA) depending on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience. Currently, the equivalent salary in Samoan Tala is SAT$158,533 to SAT$211,217 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 (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 = SAT2.68

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 dependant(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 dependant(s) are entitled to temporary accommodation at a suitable hotel or other fully furnished accommodation for up to 6 working days. 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 economy class airfares between Apia and the recognised home for the staff member and dependants 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 (COLDA) : 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 SAT $15,600 per annum per dependent child, with an overall maximum of SAT $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 Benefits : All employees and their dependants are entitled to have all reasonable medical, dental and optical expenses met , as determined by the Director, 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 :

'Dependant' 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:

•  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.

‘Expatriate' means a professional staff member, not a citizen or permanent resident of Samoa, who resides in Samoa only by virtue of employment with SPREP.

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

Applications should include:

1)  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.

2)  A statement to address how each Essential Selection Criteria is met.

3)  Available references from at least three recent employers and/or supervisors.

4)  Indication of possible starting date if successful.

Please note it is essential that all requirements for submitting an Application as outlined above must be addressed otherwise your application will not be considered.

All applications to be clearly marked “Application for Legal Adviser” and addressed to: The Acting Director, SPREP, P O Box 240 , Apia or alternatively to email address: sprep@sprep.org

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

Closing date: Friday, 2 October 2009 : Late applications will not be considered.

SPREP is an Equal Opportunity Employer