Home > Job Vacancies > Detail

Post Description: Project Manager - Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PM-PACC)

Background:

Climate change will be a major impediment to the achievement of sustainable development in Pacific islands countries (PICs), as all economic and social sectors are likely to be adversely affected, and the cost of adaptation will be disproportionately high, relative to GDP. In attempting to mainstream adaptation strategies into their sustainable development agendas, PICs SIDS have been confronted by many challenges including insufficient resources, equity considerations, prioritization of adaptation measures and uncertainties over climate change projections and adaptation strategies.

Climate change, climate variability and sea-level rise are not only environmental issues but also of economic, social and political issues for the PICs. The impacts and particularly the related economic and social shocks pose serious political and financial management issues as extreme climatic events can adversely affect gross domestic product, balance of payments, budget deficits, foreign debt, unemployment and living standards. Many PICs, given their smallness, location of their populations, agricultural activities, socioeconomic activities and key infrastructure at or near the coastal zone, any climate extremes and rise in sea-level will have significant and profound effects on their economies and their living conditions.

Current work in helping vulnerable populations adapt to climate change and variability has shown that socioeconomic, environmental and climatic stresses are all connected and therefore the full range of potential future stresses must be considered in adapting to the adverse impacts of climate change. Given the lack of human, financial and technological resources, partly due to their geography, accessibility, the smallness of the economic base and fragile economies vulnerable to external shocks, PICs’ ability to adapt to climate change remains a major challenge for sustainable development.

The need to implement adaptation measures in small islands has been highlighted by the IPCC TAR where it was suggested that risk-reduction strategies together with other sectoral policy initiatives in areas such as sustainable development planning, disaster prevention and management, integrated coastal zone management and health care planning should be employed. Given this urgency for adaptation in small island s tates there has been an increase in ad-hoc stand alone projects, rather than a programmed or strategic approach to the funding of adaptation options and measures.

The Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change Project (PACC), is aimed at building resilience to impacts of climate change in Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu in the key vulnerable socio-economic sectors of coastal zone and associated infrastructure, water resources, food production and food security. PACC will also assess the range of financial instruments and investments needed at the national and regional level so that adaptation financing is sustainable.

Duties and Responsibilities

The PM will be responsible for the overall coordination and management of the PACC project. He/She will report to the SPREP Director or his/her designated representative through the Programme Manager of the Pacific Futures Programme. He/She will liaise with the National Project Managers in all programme countries that implement project-related activities; National Climate Change Country Teams (NCCCTs); the Project Executive Group (PB) as well as UNDP Samoa, UNDP PNG and UNDP Fiji, in coordinating the implementation of the annual work plan for the project. The work plan will provide guidance on the day-to-day implementation of the project activities and on the integration of parallel co-financing initiatives. He/She will be responsible for the project execution, which will be fully in line with UNDP national execution procedures, as described in the NEX Manual, and for the achievement of project development objectives. He/She will also be responsible for providing to UNDP all required reports, including the submission of work plans, financial reports, and quarterly and annual reports. The SPREP on the advice of the PM shall recruit as appropriate experts to undertake activities at regional and national levels in cooperation with the participating PICs and the PB. The PM shall be responsible for all substantive, managerial and financial reports from the project. In the context of SPREP, the PM will work exclusively with the PACC project.

The PM will consult and coordinate closely with the Resident Representative of the UNDP country office in Samoa or his/her designated representative on developments and progress on the project.

In particular the PM will :

•  Assume overall responsibility for the day-to-day management and implementation of all project activities and ensure the realisation of project objectives in accordance with the PACC project document and UNDP Guidelines;

•  Assume overall responsibility for all the reporting obligations of the project to UNDP, including inception report, annual work plans and budgets, quarterly progress and financial reports, Annual Project Report/Project Implementation Report, Tripartite Reviews, and annual project audit reports, and all other reporting requirements as per standard UNDP/GEF procedures;

•  Ensure effective coordination of all PACC activities and between additional, climate change-related and baseline (particularly co-financed) activities outlined in the project document;

•  Coordinate and monitor the implementation of activities described in the work plan;

•  Assume overall responsibility for all project consultation meetings including annual meetings of Project Board (PB) and meetings with the National Project Managers (or National Coordinators) donor roundtable meetings, Multipartite Review Meetings; Inception workshop and others as relevant;

•  Coordinate in-country studies and implementation activities with the PACC Project Managers/National Coordinators;

•  Coordinate and manage all procurement requirements (e.g. contracts and consultancies in the project, including reviewing consultancy reports);

•  Provide guidance to contractors and consultants engaged by the project;

•  Facilitate liaison, partnership and networking between and among the 11 participating countries, regional organizations, key stakeholders and other individuals involved in project implementation.

•  Serve as the focal point for UNDP to provide up-to-date information about the technical, operational and financial status of the project;

•  Ensure that the relevant UNDP Country Offices are informed and briefed accordingly when on project mission to countries under the different UNDP offices in Fiji , PNG and Samoa respectively;

•  Consolidate lessons learned from the PACC project for distribution via the Adaptation Learning Mechanism;

•  Ensure proper acknowledgement of the GEF and UNDP in all project publications, reports, communications and presentations;

•  Assume overall responsibility for the widespread awareness on the PACC and widespread dissemination of PACC best practices and experiences as well as highlighting GEF’s and UNDP’s roles in the project.

•  Ensure the PACC is consistent with the Pacific Islands Framework for Action on Climate Change

•  Serve as Head of the Project Management Office housed within SPREP

•  Serve as Secretary to the PB

•  Represent the Project as appropriate in regional and international forum .

1.1.1.1 Deleverables

Apart from overall responsibility for the implementation of project-related Outputs as specified in the PACC Strategic Results Framework, the PM is responsible for the submission of the following deliverables to UNDP, among others:

a) Project Inception Report;

b) Quarterly Project Progress and Financial reports,

c) PIR/APR/TR reports,

d) meeting and workshop reports,

e) mid-term evaluation report

f) reports on implementation of project activities

g) Lessons learned templates for the Adaptation Learning Mechanism

h) other reports as needed (if any).

Duration

The duration of the project is over a 5 year period; however, the PM will be recruited on a three-year contract initially, as is the practice among CROP agencies and to be renewed for the remainder of the project based on satisfactory performance.

Essential Selection Criteria:

•  Advanced university degree (at least MSc. or equivalent) in geography, environmental science, engineering or another field relevant to the project;

•  A minimum of 10 years work experience in project management, acquired in a technical field that is relevant to the project (e.g. development, environment, disaster risk reduction)

•  Extensive knowledge of, and a demonstrable track record working on, climate resilience, vulnerability reduction and/or climate change issues in SIDS;

•  Track record of work experience in the Pacific region;

•  Proven track record of technical and managerial experience in the implementation of large-scale, multi-stakeholder projects, including financial management and oversight of projects;

•  Proven management experience with GEF- and UNDP-funded projects or similar regional/multi-country projects in small island developing countries;

•  Demonstrated experience in project leadership and management;

•  Ability to manage the work of consultants/sub-contractors and communicate efficiently with multiple stakeholders from different countries and organisational backgrounds;

•  Proven ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary and/or multi-cultural team;

•  Ability to meet project deadlines and to live and work within Pacific island communities;

•  Excellent working knowledge of English and track record in producing English-speaking communications and reports that meet international quality standards;

•  Skills and experience in effective communications and public presentations

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.