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Post Description:Pollution Prevention and Waste Management Adviser (PPWMA)

Background:

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 PPWMA is responsible to the Programme Manager - Pacific Futures in the leadership and management of the Pollution Prevention and Waste Management team.

Some key duties and responsibilities of the post include:

•  Coordinate and provide appropriate advice to SPREP members and other stakeholders on Pollution Prevention and Waste Management (PPWM)issues where necessary;

•  Design and coordinate PPWM programmes and activities in consultation with all relevant stakeholders to meet the needs of Members and of the Secretariat;

•  Lead and guide the PPWM team in the development, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of individual and sectional work plans;

•  Provide leadership and management to the PPWM team and ensure all staff workplans and performance and development issues are addressed and completed on a timely basis;

•  Provide technical advice to Management on important emerging issues and their potential implications for the Secretariat and its work on PPWM;

•  Prepare technical and performance reports to Management and Donors, where necessary;

•  Contribute and provide technical advice to SPREP Management, on the development, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of the Secretariat’s strategic plans and work programmes and budget;

•  Assist the Programme Manager in identifying and securing funds and other support for the work programmes of SPREP; Liaise with other Staff and Management to identify and assign SPREP staff and other resources for the effective implementation of the SPREP work programme;

•  Other duties, as required, from time to time.

Essential Selection Criteria include:

1. Advanced degree (at least MSc or equivalent) in Environmental Science or other relevant technical field from a recognised institution ;
2. At least 10 years’ experience in pollution prevention and waste management or relevant area at the senior management level, preferably within the Pacific islands region;
3. Demonstrated management and leadership qualities with experience in leading and working within a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural team environment
4. Strong strategic advisory and analytical skills with a demonstrated ability to motivate teams and establish and implement workplan objectives
5. Demonstrated knowledge of accepted and emerging environment and sustainable development concepts, principles and practices, and their application to pollution prevention and waste management in the Pacific islands
6. Demonstrated experience in programme and project management and monitoring and evaluation including financial management, proposal and report writing with a high level of organisational, analytical, problem-solving and facilitation skills
7. Fluent in English with excellent communications, presentation and inter-personal skills

Terms and Conditions

Duty Station : Apia , Samoa .

Duration :   Appointment is for a term of 3 years initially with a possible renewal for the remainder of the project

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$162,405 to SAT$216,376 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 = SAT2.90

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 dependent(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 dependent(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 recognized 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 dependents 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 : 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 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 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 dependents 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 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 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:

•  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.

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

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

•  Copies of academic qualifications.

•  Indication of possible starting date if successful.

All applications to be clearly marked “Application for Project Manager – Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change Project” and addressed to: The 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: 9 January 2009 : Late applications will not be considered.