POPULATION CENSUS AND SURVEY DATA PROCESSING SPECIALIST/PROGRAMMER

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 was established in 1947. It has 26 member countries and territories and its working languages are English and French. 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 can be found on its website: www.spc.int. STATISTICS FOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME The strategic goal of the Statistics for Development Programme (SDP) is to ‘strengthen the capacity of national statistical systems (NSS) and social and economic planning agencies to ensure the region’s policy-makers and analysts have access to a wide range of key demographic, economic and social indicators to support evidence-based decision making’. To achieve this goal, SDP’s 2011–2014 strategic plan, addressing Phase 1 of the regional Ten Year Pacific Statistics Strategy, 2011–2020, focuses on six strategic objectives and 20 associated outputs (in parentheses): 1. Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) are undertaking key statistical collections as scheduled (4). 2. PICTS are producing the agreed core set of statistics across key sectors (3). 3. PICTS have their own capacity or are accessing regional capacity to undertake agreed core and some specialist statistical functions (5). 4. Pacific national and regional statistics are accessible and are being utilized (2). 5. New and innovative statistical tools and systems have been introduced (3). 6. National and regional statistics governance is functioning effectively (3). There are currently 15 positions in SDP: a Programme Manager, 12 professional staff, and two support staff. From time to time, consultants, and temporary and part-time staff are employed, depending on programme needs and funding availability. In close liaison with SDP demographic, economic and social statistics subject matter specialists, this position will complement an existing Population Census and Survey Data Processing Specialist/Programmer, to allow the programme to effectively respond to a growing workload with upcoming household surveys and processing of administrative records, particularly relating to births, deaths and migration. More can be learned about SDP through the website www.spc.int/sdp. The Population Census and Survey Data Processing Specialist/Programmer will be responsible to the Manager, Statistics for Development Programme. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The main duties of this position are to (i) provide advice and assistance to member countries in the design and development of census and household data processing systems, (ii) train national staff in the use of these systems, and (iii) undertake CSPro programming tasks required for specific tabulation outputs (production of standard DHS [demographic and health survey] master tables, for example). The nature of these tasks involves frequent travel to countries undertaking censuses or household surveys, primarily in, but not restricted to, the northern Pacific. Specific duties include the following: · Provide technical advice and assistance to member countries in the design and development of population census and household survey data processing systems, with an emphasis on using CSPro. · In close collaboration with another Population Census and Survey Data Processing Specialist/Programmer, this specialist will: o assist national population census and household survey data processing counterparts in developing data processing applications, guidelines and quality assurance systems, including batch edit applications based on detailed edit specifications developed in collaboration with subject matter specialists; o develop training materials and documentation, and provide in-country training to national staff in census and survey data processing and other relevant technical skills; and o develop census and survey tabulation applications based on master tabulation plans developed by subject matter specialists in collaboration with data users, and assist national census data processing counterparts with the efficient processing of these outputs. · Assume responsibility for advanced CSPro programming activities where required, such as recoding or computing new variables based on original variables from unit record datasets for the production of standard DHS master tables (as per MACRO International programming standards). · Provide technical backstopping in data processing to other SDP professional staff as required by SDP Manager. FORMAL QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPECTED COMPETENCIES Essential Ø Tertiary qualifications in statistics, computer science or related field, or a minimum of 10 years of demonstrated experience in population census and household survey data processing; Ø Demonstrated knowledge of CSPro systems, including advanced programming skills; Ø Demonstrated experience in processing DHS and HIES surveys; Ø At least 8 years of experience in developing and maintaining comprehensive population census and survey database systems; Ø Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Access; Ø Excellent verbal and written communication skills; Ø Good knowledge of population and demographic statistics; Ø Ability to work and willingness to travel in a multicultural and multilingual environment. Desirable Ø Demonstrated work experience with censuses and household surveys in a developing country environment, preferably in the Pacific Island region. Ø French language skills. SALARY, TERMS AND CONDITIONS SALARY AND ALLOWANCE 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 (e.g. the French Pacific Franc, XPF, in New Caledonia). As per SPC’s 2011 salary scale, the salary range for this band is SDR 3,589–5,182 per month. At prevailing exchange rates, these amounts convert to approximately XPF 490,257–707,861 per month (USD 5,600–8,200 / EUR 4,100–5900). An offer of appointment for an initial contract will be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration being given to experience and qualifications. The organisation subsidises housing. An SPC-owned or SPC-rented house or flat will be made available, with the staff member contributing 25 per cent of the normal rental. In addition, an establishment grant is payable to non-residents of New Caledonia. Where appropriate, other allowances, such as an education allowance, may be payable. SPC salaries are not subject to income tax in New Caledonia at the present time. TENURE Appointments will be for a period of three years, subject to a six month probationary period, with the possibility of renewal for a further three years, subject to performance and continued funding availability. DUTY STATION Noumea, New Caledonia. 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 doctors’ 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 New Caledonia, 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. PROVIDENT FUND The appointee will be eligible for membership in SPC's Staff Provident Fund. Staff members contribute 8 per cent of base salary, to which SPC adds a matching contribution. 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 workplace. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES SPC is an equal-opportunity employer. Recruitment is based on merit. If two short-listed candidates are judged to be equally qualified, preference will be given to Pacific Island nationals.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES The closing date for applications is 30/11/2011

Applicants are asked to use SPC’s online recruitment system. Only those applicants residing in a Pacific country or territory who cannot access the online recruitment system are allowed to 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). All other applicants must use the on-line recruiting system or their applications will not be considered. 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.