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Pacific Islands Global Climate Observing System (PI-GCOS) Officer)

Background

Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change have noted with concern the decline in the global climate observing capability and urged Parties to undertake programs of systematic observations and to strengthen their capability in the collection, exchange, and utilisation of environmental data and information. The Global Climate Observing System GCOS was established to ensure the observations and information needed to address climate-related issues are obtained and made available to all potential users. This led to the development of a Pacific Islands Global Climate Observing Systems (PIGCOS) Action Plan and an Implementation Plan as well as the establishment of a Regional Committee to provide guidance and progress implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

As Secretariat to the PIGC0S programme in the Pacific, the PI-GCOS officer will work closely with SPREP, the Regional Committee, Pacific Island National Coordinators, donors and partners to progress the PI-GCOS Action and Implementation Plan.

The PI-GCOS officer is primarily responsible to SPREP’s Futures Manager. The officers duties will include inter alia:

•  Responsibility for the coordination and monitoring of PI-GCOS projects and activities including, but not limited to, those described in the PI-GCOS Implementation Plan;

•  Overall responsible for the preparation of PI-GCOS Regional Committee and PI-GCOS planning and consultative processes and meetings as well as the publication of their findings and implementation of their decisions as may be required;

•  Scope and identify PI-GCOS project resources and undertake project awareness activities both with donor and member countries;

•  Prepare annual work plans in close consultation and cooperation with the National GCOS coordinators and PI-GCOS Regional Committee ;

•  Closely coordinate PI-GCOS matters with the GCOS Secretariat, appropriate regional and national climate focal points and other relevant climate programmes;

•  Seek funding for and support the annual Regional Meteorological Services and related Meetings;

•  Facilitate liaison and networking between and among PI-GCOS National Coordinators, regional organisations, key stakeholders and other individuals involved in project design, implementation and sustainable support;

•  Provide financial management, technical and project guidance to donors, project contractors and consultants and ensure consistency and coordination between the various PI-GCOS project elements and related activities provided or funded by various donor organisations;

•  Any other duties consistent with the above as assigned by the Director and/or Management from time to time.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Essential:

•  A relevant university degree in the physical sciences with a sound knowledge of meteorology and climatology issues facing the Pacific;

•  A good understanding the PI-GCOS Action and Implementation Plan and at least 3 years working experience on PI-GCOS related issues; and familiarity with the link between PI-GCOS and other complementary international and regional frameworks (such as the work of the World Meteorological Organisation, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Agency, the Global Terrestrial Observation Systems, the Global Oceanic Observation Systems);

•  A demonstrated capacity in multi-project coordination including skills in resource mobilization, design, monitoring and evaluation of climate related projects in Pacific island countries.

Desirable:

•  The ability to facilitate PI-GCOS work with key international, regional and national partners and to manage the work of consultants/sub-contractors;

•  Excellent oral and written communication, skills particularly in the development of project plans and reports and ability to meet project deadlines;

•  A proven ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary and/or multi-cultural team and to live and work in the Pacific islands

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 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 25,681SDRs to a maximum of 35,084 SDRs (including COLDA), depending on the successful applicant’s qualifications and experience. From 1 April 2005, the equivalent salary in Samoan Tala is SAT$103,854 to a maximum of SAT$141,880 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.

“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 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: 15 July 2005. Late applications will not be considered.