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Post Description:  Marine Pollution Adviser (MPA)

Background

Applications are invited for the above position with SPREP in Samoa. Appointment would be for a 3-year term.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is an 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 has a current staff establishment of more than 70 staff.

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 Marine Pollution Adviser is responsible to the Director through the Pacific Futures Programme Manager, to perform the following duties:

•  Under the Noumea Convention and its Protocols, provide 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 and to assist members in the maintenance of their national marine spill contingency plans;

•  Management of the coordination and implementation of projects under the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Technical Cooperation Programme and providing advice and assistance to SPREP island member countries in relation to the IMO Conventions related to marine environment protection;

•  Joint management of the coordination and implementation of the Regional Strategy on Shipping Related Introduced Marine Pests (SHRIM-PAC) with the Invasive Species Officer;

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

•  Coordinating and integrating of all shipping related marine pollution work with other SPREP staff, regional and international organizations and the private sector in particular working with the SPC Regional Maritime Programme to provide technical advice to the Pacific Maritime Association (PacMA) and the Association of Pacific Ports (APP);

•  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

Candidates must have the following:

•  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.

Also desirable are:

•  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.

Applicants with a demonstrated interest and involvement in marine science and environmental project management will be highly regarded.

Terms and Conditions

Duty Station: Apia, Samoa.

Duration:   Appointment is for a term of 3 years initially with renewal for a further 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 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 36,584 SDRs to a maximum of 48,700 SDRs (including COLDA), depending on the successful applicant’s qualifications and experience. Currently, the equivalent salary in Samoan Tala is SAT$148,788 to a maximum of SAT$198,063 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 = SAT2.79.

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:- 6m3 for the staff member;- 2m3 for dependent spouse;- 1m3 for each dependent child; and- up to 20 kilos of excess baggage for the appointee (and family) if recruited from outside of Apia.

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.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 or recognized home and Apia each year (except the last) to enable a dependent child being educated outside Samoa to visit parents, or either parent to visit the child.

Home Leave Travel: One return economy class airfare home after completing 18 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 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, 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 a maximum of Samoan Tala $46,800 per annum per family of 3 or more eligible children.

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

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.

“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 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 must address selection criteria and be accompanied by a detailed curriculum vitae containing full personal details (birthdate, 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: 12 January 2007.  Late applications will not be considered.