| Job Vacancies | |
| > | Open |
| > | Archive |
| Search |
Home > Job Vacancies > Detail
PROGRAMME MANAGER - PACIFIC FUTURES
Background
SPREP is an Intergovernmental Organisation that assists Pacific Island countries and territories to protect and manage their environment to ensure they achieve sustainable development. SPREP’s membership comprises 21 Pacific Island countries and territories, together with 4 developed countries (Australia, New Zealand, France and the United States of America).
The SPREP Secretariat Strategic Programmes (2004 – 2013) was endorsed by the SPREP governing body, the SPREP Meeting, in September 2004. The Strategic Programmes is to be delivered through two programmes; Island Ecosystems and Pacific Futures. 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.
Key Responsibilities and accountabilities
The Programme Manager will be responsible to the Director, through the Deputy Director, for providing strategic leadership and day to day management of the Pacific Futures Programme and will be required to effectively and efficiently discharge of the following key responsibilities and accountabilities:
1. Executive Management
• Work collaboratively with Executive colleagues to provide an integrated approach to strategic and organisational planning, programme design, work programme and budget implementation, performance monitoring and evaluation, and building partnerships to ensure the ongoing success of SPREP.
•
Provide technical advice and assistance to the Director and Deputy Director.
2. Strategic Programme Direction
• Lead and provide strategic direction to the Pacific Futures Programme and its team, ensuring integration within the Programme and with the Island Ecosystems Programme.
• Maintain up to date knowledge of science and technology, of relevant international conventions, sustainable development platforms and Small Island Developing States issues. Identify implications and strategic opportunities for the Pacific Future programme, building insights into planning and priority setting and bringing critical and emerging issues to the attention of the Executive Management Team.
3. Strategic Programme Planning
• Lead the review and update of the Pacific Futures Strategic Programme on agreed timeframes, drawing on insight into PICTs priority needs, operating environment insight and consulting with Members as appropriate.
• Develop an annual work plan, budget and implementation strategy including staffing resources and requirements for the Pacific Futures Programme for consultation with the Executive Management Team.
4. Programme Performance and Reporting
• Coordinate the day to day management of the Pacific Futures Programme providing an appropriate level of technical guidance and assistance to staff.
• Manage and provide approvals for budget expenditures within the approved Work Programme & Budget for the Programme and financial delegations.
• Ensure all reporting requirements and commitments to external stakeholders are upheld and timely communications are undertaken with stakeholders around performance issues.
• Implement the agreed performance monitoring and evaluation system for the Pacific Futures Programme.
5. Team Leadership
• Lead and manage the performance of staff creating a team environment where people are clear about what is expected of them, how their work supports the wider organisational goals and have the performance feedback they need to continuously improve their performance.
• Actively engage in the recruitment and selection of Pacific Futures Programme staff in collaboration with Corporate Services and in appointment recommendations to the Deputy Director.
• Ensure the induction, ongoing training and development of staff to build capacity of the Secretariat to meet its organisational goals and contribute to capacity building in the region in collaboration with Corporate Services.
6. Member Liaison
• Build and maintain constructive relationships with Member representatives and ensure the implementation of the agreed Member liaison processes at the Project level.
• Identify the capacity building needs of the Member countries in conjunction with Project Officers and ensure that appropriate institutional support and professional development from SPREP is programmed.
7. Donor Liaison
• Identify opportunities to establish partnerships based on mutual benefits and present to the Executive Team for discussion.
•
Identify funding opportunities with regard to the Pacific Futures Programme
and liaise with donors at the appropriate levels and assist in partnering
and funding negotiations by contributing technical and programme design
expertise in support of the Executive.
8. Regional Cooperation
• Establish and maintain national, regional and international partnership networks and coordinate technical or functional support mechanisms which fall within the ambit of the Pacific Futures Programme.
Serve as an advocate for the Pacific Futures Programme and represent SPREP and/or the collective Member countries at high level regional and international meetings.
Required Qualifications and Experience
Essential
Applicants must be nationals of SPREP member countries and territories with the following competencies:
• A tertiary qualification in Environmental Management/Development related field. (A post-graduate qualification would be an advantage);
• Extensive high level experience (at least 10 years) in environmental management/ development work as a senior technical professional with development organization preferably in the Pacific/Asia region as well as similar experience in project management.
• Proven experience with development of funding proposals for major national or regional environmental/development programmes and in the design and delivery of integrated work programme activities with a good understanding of synergies and interlink-ages across multilateral environmental agreements;
• Excellent written and verbal communication and negotiation skills with at least 5 years experience negotiating with donors, governments and development organizations; and
• Strategic leadership qualities with proven ability to lead and guide the work of a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural team of professional staff; and having good working experience with staff performance management systems.
Desirable
• Extensive knowledge of the Pacific Islands region and good understanding of the environmental management issues in the Pacific and challenges facing Pacific Island Countries and Territories.
• A very good understanding of donor policies and processes in relation to funding for the environment including, inter-alia, the GEF, AusAID, NZAID, EU, ADB, World Bank
• Familiarity with the SPREP Action Plan and Strategic Programmes.
• Experience working and/or negotiating with governments of some of the SPREP Member Countries.
Has managed a programme or project team of at least 15 professional staff.
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 the Grade K (Senior Adviser) level 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 36,852 SDRs to a maximum of 49,086 SDRs (including COLDA), depending on the successful applicant’s qualifications and experience. From 1 January 2005, the equivalent salary in Samoan Tala is SAT$151,646 to a maximum of SAT$201,989 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 = SAT2.74.
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: