Team Leader (Increasing Agricultural Commodity Trade (IACT)

Secretariat of the pacific community JOB DESCRIPTION TEAM LEADER (Increasing Agricultural Accommodation Trade – 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 Islands, 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’s core business is to improve the food and nutritional security of the Pacific community 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 IACT project is a € 9 million 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 Pacific ACP states, the private sector and government agencies on a number of challenges such as the lack of competitiveness of primary sector exports, the lack of guaranteed supply, the lack of sustained quality and the lack of increased competitiveness of its products that limit the ability of these countries to benefit from opportunities available in the global economic market. The Team Leader (IACT), under the leadership of the Director of the Land Resources Division, through the Forestry and Agriculture Diversification Coordinator and the Pacific ACP states, will take administrative, financial, technical and reporting responsibility for the IACT project. The Team Leader (IACT) will be responsible to the Coordinator, Forest and Agriculture Diversification team. The appointee will undertake overall management responsibility for the direction and operation of the IACT Project in line with project goals, and for successful delivery of the project objectives, and will be required to work to promote a business-friendly environment in the Pacific region and to strengthen Pacific ACP states’ productive export capacity in primary industries (agriculture, forestry and aquaculture/mariculture) and allied downstream processing. KEY RESULT AREAS In close collaboration with FACT Team Leader, the position of Team Leader (IACT),encompasses the following major functions under the LRD strategic plan objectives. 1. Team performance and leadership · Create a team environment that fosters and develops effective working relationships and excellent performance. · Ensure team members are managed effectively (in particular recruitment, performance management, and training and development). · Monitor the performance and workloads of direct reports and staff members to ensure that objectives are met. · Develop and monitor contracts of short-term technical experts. 2. Project Management (work plan and budget) · Develop an annual work plan and budget. · Supervise and monitor the implementation of the work plan to ensure it is implemented in timely manner and within budget. · Organise meetings of the Project Steering Committee and Technical Advisory groups; develop and implement responses to resolutions and recommendations. · Proactively identify and respond to new opportunities that will enhance project objectives. 3. Technical and policy advice · Direct collaborators and information seekers to appropriate sources of information. · Delegate information requests to team members and professional networks. · Provide technical and policy advice in areas of specialist expertise (including forestry, agro-forestry, genetic resources, export marketing, trade policy). 4. External partner relationship management · Effectively communicate regularly with key partners and clients in private, NGO and government sectors. · Ensure project activities are undertaken in an open and transparent manner. · Intervene early and effectively when potential problems arise. · Counsel team members on how to best work and liaise with a diversity of external partner agencies and individuals. 5. Sourcing additional funding resources · Persuade private sector partners to co-invest in supply chain improvements. · Maintain healthy relationships with prospective donor agencies. · Identify potential sources of funds to bolster the work of IACT and other LRD teams. · Develop project proposals, including budgets, in collaboration with colleagues. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE Essential Ø Postgraduate degree in agriculture (crops & animals), forestry or fisheries, rural development, agribusiness, or other relevant tertiary qualification. Ø At least ten years’ experience in project/programme leadership, management, networking, communication skills, and writing of reports and funding proposals. Ø Excellent English language skills (oral and written). Ø Excellent computer skills across necessary applications. Desirable: Ø Doctorate in any related field. Ø Knowledge, appreciation and assessment of pro-poor and sustainable development strategies. Ø Knowledge of trade policy and bio-security issues. Ø Knowledge of EU donor processes. Ø Ability to communicate effectively in the public domain. Ø Experience of working in the Pacific region. SALARY, TERMS AND CONDITIONS SALARY AND ALLOWANCES The position is in Band 11 of SPC’s salary scale. Salaries for staff recruited internationally 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 2,553–3,830 per month. At prevailing exchange rates these amounts convert to approximately FJD 7,498–11,248 per month (USD 4,200–6,300; € 2,900–4,400). 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 remuneration is 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. Sick leave is 30 working days per annum. MEDICAL BENEFITS SPC’s Staff Medical Insurance reimburses doctor fees, costs 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 on merit. 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.