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MARINE POLLUTION ADVISER (MPA)

Background

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is an independent intergovernmental agency that provides assistance and technical advisory services to Pacific Island countries, territories and administrations in the protection and management of their environment to ensure they achieve sustainable development for present and future generations. SPREP’s membership comprises 21 Pacific Island countries and territories and 4 developed countries (Australia, New Zealand, France and the United States of America). SPREP currently has a staff of more than 70.

The SPREP Secretariat Strategic Programmes is to be delivered through two programmes; Island Ecosystems and Pacific Futures. The Island Ecosystem Programme includes components of Terrestrial ecosystems management, Coastal and marine ecosystems management, species of special interest and People and Institutions.  The Pacific Futures Programme includes Marine Pollution component which aims to advise and assist SPREP member countries through management and implementation of projects under PACPOL and related conventions related to marine pollution protection and management.

Key Responsibilities and accountabilities

The Marine Pollution Adviser is responsible to the Director through the Pacific Futures Programme Manager, under the supervision of the Programme Coordinator Pollution Prevention Focus Area, to perform the following duties:

•  Management of the coordination and implementation of projects under the Pacific Ocean Pollution Prevention Programme (PACPOL) that addresses shipping related marine pollution issues including marine spill planning and response, ships waste management, environmental management of ports, invasive marine species and WWI wrecks;

•  Management of the implementation and maintenance of the “Pacific Islands Regional Marine Spill Contingency Plan (PACPLAN)” that addresses large Tier 3 marine spills and co-ordinate its implementation when a formal request for assistance is received from a SPREP member;

•  Management of the coordination and implementation of projects under the International Maritime Programmes (IMOs) Technical Cooperation Programme;

•  Providing advice and assistance to SPREP island member countries in marine pollution management and in relation to the SRPEP and Waigani Conventions;

•  Providing advice and assistance to SPREP island member countries in relation to the IMO Conventions related to marine environment protection;

•  Coordinating and integrating of all shipping related marine pollution work with other SPREP staff, regional and international organisations;

•  Providing input to SPREP work programme development, SPREP Meeting papers, monitoring and evaluation protocols within the organisation; and

•  Other related activities as required from time to time.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Essential:

•  tertiary qualifications, preferably with post-graduate qualifications, in marine science and/or environmental management; and

•  at least five years work experience in marine science, environmental project management and/or marine pollution management, preferably within the Pacific islands region.

Desirable:

•  excellent written and oral communication and liaison skills;

•  ability to work with and manage the work of consultants;

•  proven ability to work as part of an inter-disciplinary and/or multi-cultural team;

•  proven ability to raise funds and have the necessary skills to part-take in negotiations for raising funds for the activities for the post; and

•  ability to prepare project proposals for funding considerations and reports to deadlines often under difficult circumstances.

Terms and Conditions

Duty Station: Apia, Samoa.

Duration: Appointment is for a term of 3 years initially with renewal for a further period, up to a maximum of six years, depending upon the officer’s performance during the first term and availability of funds.

Grade: Appointment will be at 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 32,234 SDRs to a maximum of 42,832 SDRs (including COLDA), depending on the successful applicant’s qualifications and experience. From 1 April 2005, the equivalent salary in Samoan Tala is SAT$130,419 to a maximum of SAT$173,298 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 = SAT2.70.

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. Termination is by way of either (i) completion of term of contract or (ii) by way of one month’s notice by either party.

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; and
- reasonable cost of packing, insuring, shipping and unpacking furniture, household and personal effects as follows:

- for each dependent 6m3 for the staff member;
- 2m3 for dependent spouse;
- 1m3 child; and

- up to 20 kilos of excess baggage per person.

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 (or up to 12 days in circumstances as approved by the Director). Appointee will be assisted to settle into Apia. This will include help in finding suitable rental accommodation.

School Holiday Travel: One return economy class airfare between the place of education (home) and Apia each year (except the last) to enable a dependent child being educated outside Samoa to visit parents.

Home Leave Travel: One return economy class airfare home after each completing eighteen months of service (for a 3-year term) except the last year, for the appointee and dependent(s).

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 basic salary, upon successful completion of contract.

For ALL professional staff, the following applies:
Cost of living differential allowance: Cost-of-living differential allowance reflects the difference in the cost of living 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. For expatriate officers, the entitlement is limited to tuition and boarding fees up to a maximum of SAT15,600 per child with a maximum of SAT46,800 per family per annum. For local professional officers, the entitlement is limited to a maximum of SAT3,200 per child with a maximum of SAT9,600 per family per annum. This benefit is currently under review.

Housing Assistance: A rental assistance of 75% of the rent payable in Samoa for expatriate executive furnished housing is a component of remuneration for all professional staff. This supplement is currently under review.

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 legally and 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 opportunities 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 be accompanied by a detailed curriculum vitae containing full personal details (birth date, sex, 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. References, if available, are to accompany your application from three recent employers and/or supervisors. In addition, application should include copies of academic qualifications. Application should also indicate how soon you are available to start if successful, and must be addressed to:

The Director
SPREP Telephone: (685) 21 929
PO Box 240 Fax: (685) 20 231
Apia, Samoa E-mail: SPREP@sprep.org

Closing Date: 30 June 2005. Late applications will not be considered.