Small & Medium Scale Enterprise Development Officer ( IACT)

Secretariat of the pacific community JOB DESCRIPTION SMALL- AND MEDIUM- SCALE ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER (IACT) BACKGROUND The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) is an international organisation that provides technical and policy advice and assistance, training and research services to its Pacific Island members. SPC works in a wide range of sectors with the aim of achieving three development outcomes – sustainable economic development, sustainable natural resource management and development, and sustainable human and social development. SPC’s headquarters are in Noumea, New Caledonia. It has regional offices in Suva, Fiji, and Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and country offices in Honiara, Solomon Islands and Port Vila, Vanuatu. Additional information on SPC, particularly regarding its work in specific sectors, can be found on its website: www.spc.int. LAND RESOURCES DIVISION (LRD) LRD’s core business is to improve food and nutritional security in the Pacific through the sustainable management and development of land, agriculture and forestry resources. This is accomplished through the delivery of technical support, training and advice to SPC member country governments in the areas of plant protection, conservation and use of plant genetic resources, animal health and production, agroforestry, sustainable systems for agriculture, forestry and land management, and biosecurity and trade facilitation. The Increasing Agricultural Commodity Trade (IACT) project is a 9 million Euro project funded by the European Union, to be implemented over four years by SPC through its Land Resources and Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems Divisions. This project will work with the private sector and government agencies in the Pacific members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) on a number of challenges like the lack of competitiveness of primary sector exports, the lack of guaranteed supply and the lack of sustained quality that limit their ability to benefit from opportunities available in the global economic market. Under the leadership of the Team Leader (IACT) through the Forestry and Agriculture Diversification Team Coordinator, the Small-and Medium-Enterprise Development Officer will be responsible for providing specialised advice and expertise in matters pertaining to business, finance, management and marketing aspects of small- and medium-scale enterprise (SME) development in agriculture, forestry and aquaculture. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES v Formulating strategies for SME development · Lead project strategies and activities relating to SME development and capacity building, including a business incubator model appropriate to the Pacific Islands, and support efforts to collect trade-related statistics. v Facilitating industry and expert networks · Advise and assist Pacific ACP countries with the development of relevant networks amongst, for example, producer and exporter associations and other relevant bodies. · Facilitate the formation of consultative committees or other expert networks to provide business, finance, management and marketing input to investment proposals. v Provision of SME assistance and advice · Provide direct assistance to an ongoing and planned portfolio of agriculture, forestry and aquaculture partner enterprises by working with them to identify, design, implement and evaluate effective and innovative approaches in export-focused enterprise development relating to finance, product development and marketing. · Provide training, organise training attachments, obtain market intelligence and prepare business plans and export marketing strategies. v Assistance to meet market requirements · In close collaboration with the Export Marketing Officer, supervise the delivery of assistance to entrepreneurs and SMEs in market information, product development and quality accreditation to enable them to meet the requirements of domestic and export markets. v Documentation and other related duties · Produce project manuals documenting all supporting procedures, guidelines and training sessions. Provide input to the IACT project as required to ensure all business aspects are adequately covered. SELECTION CRITERIA Essential Ø Bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics, agronomy, business administration, regional planning and development, small- and medium-scale enterprise development, or a related field. Ø At least five years’ practical experience in business and enterprise development, small- to medium-scale enterprises, and agribusiness in developing countries. Ø Previous interaction with and knowledge of finance and development assistance agencies. Ø Demonstrated experience in project management. Ø Excellent skills in cross-cultural oral and written communication and teamwork. Ø Willingness to travel and work in the Pacific region for extended periods, sometimes under difficult conditions. Ø Excellent interpersonal skills. Ø Excellent English language skills (oral and written). Ø Excellent computer skills. Desirable Ø Post-graduate level qualification in economics, agronomy, business administration, regional planning and development, small- and medium-scale enterprise development, or a related field. Ø Knowledge, appreciation and assessment of pro-poor and sustainable development strategies. Ø Good public speaking skills. SALARY, TERMS AND CONDITIONS SALARY AND ALLOWANCES The position is in Band 9 of SPC’s salary scale. Professional salaries at SPC are set in SDR (Special Drawing Rights) and paid in the local currency (i.e. the Fiji dollar, FJD, in Fiji). As per SPC’s 2011 salary scale, the salary range for this band is SDR 1,896–2,844 per month. At prevailing exchange rates these amounts convert to approximately FJD 5,569–8,353 per month (USD 3,100–4,700; € 2,200–3,300). An offer of appointment for an initial contract will made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration being given to experience and qualifications. The organisation subsidises housing. A housing allowance of 75 per cent of the total rental, up to a limit of FJD 2,625 per month, will be provided. The minimum housing allowance payable is FJD 1,170 per month. In addition, an establishment grant will be payable to non-residents of Fiji. Where appropriate, other allowances, such as an education allowance, may be payable. While SPC emoluments are not subject to income tax in Fiji at the present time, this status is currently under review by the Government of Fiji. Any change in this status will apply to Fiji nationals. PROVIDENT FUND The appointee will be eligible for membership in SPC’s Staff Provident Fund. Staff members contribute eight per cent of their base salary, to which SPC adds a matching contribution. TENURE The appointment is for a period of three years, with the possibility of renewal for a further period depending on performance and continued funding availability. DUTY STATION Suva, Fiji. LEAVE Annual leave will accrue at the rate of 25 working days per annum. For expatriate staff members, home leave fares are payable after 18 months of service. Sick leave is 30 working days per annum. MEDICAL BENEFITS SPC’s Staff Medical Insurance reimburses doctor fees, cost of prescribed medicines, surgical and hospital costs, etc. up to certain percentages and limits. Supplementary medical insurance is available to increase these percentage reimbursements and limits. FARES AND REMOVAL EXPENSES For an appointee recruited outside of Fiji, the cost of air fares by the most direct and/or economic route for the appointee and recognised dependants, and reasonable removal expenses by sea of personal and household effects, will be met by SPC on appointment and termination. COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT SPC has a standardised computing environment based on Microsoft Office running under Microsoft Windows. SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT Smoking is not permitted in the work place. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES SPC is an equal-opportunity employer. Recruitment is based entirely on merit, but in cases where two short-listed candidates are ranked equal by the selection committee, preference will be given to Pacific Island nationals.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES The closing date for applications is 25 July 2011

Applicants are asked to use SPC’s online recruitment system. Applicants who cannot access the online recruitment system may send their documents to: Director-General, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, P.O. Box D5, 98848 NOUMEA CEDEX, New Caledonia or submit them by fax (+687 26 38 18) or email (spc@spc.int, preferably as an electronic attachment in Microsoft Word format). Applicants should provide their curriculum vitae and specifically address how their qualifications, knowledge and experience demonstrate their ability to successfully undertake the duties and responsibilities of the position in their cover letter. They should also provide names and contact details of three referees.