SENOR FISHERIES SCIENTIST (Climate Change Ecosystem Analysis)

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. OCEANIC FISHERIES PROGRAMME Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) are unusually dependent on capture fisheries for food security and income. Consumption rates of fish in all Pacific Islands are above the global average and much of this is supplied by subsistence fishing, in addition to fish landed annually from commercial coastal fisheries. While most of the 2 million tonne catch of offshore (tuna) fisheries is taken by foreign based vessels or destined for export, this sector also makes a major contribution to national food supplies. Income generation and employment in export-oriented fisheries and aquaculture are equally important to PICTs providing a significant contribution to the GDP of most PICTs. SPC’s Oceanic Fisheries Programme (OFP) is one of two programmes that make up the Division of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (FAME). OFP’s goal is to ensure that fisheries exploiting the region’s resources of tuna, billfish and related species are managed for economic and ecological sustainability using the best available scientific information. The programme provides information to national and regional authorities on the status of stocks targeted or otherwise impacted by oceanic fisheries; it collects and analyses comprehensive scientific data on fisheries targeting the region’s resources of tuna and other oceanic species; and it aims to improve understanding of pelagic ecosystems of the western and central Pacific Ocean. OFP comprises four sections responsible for stock assessment, data management, fisheries monitoring and ecosystem analysis. The programme currently has 29 internationally recruited and 25 locally recruited staff and an annual budget of over 500 million CFP (USD 6 million). Ecosystem and climate change are predicted to have profound impacts on the sustainability of oceanic fisheries in the Pacific region. To facilitate regional and national fisheries planning the Senior Fisheries Scientist (Climate Change Ecosystem Analysis) will provide SPC member governments, Forum Fisheries Association and Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission with scientific data, modelling and advice on oceanic fisheries to underpin their management decision-making and strategic positioning with regard to projected climate change. This will involve research and provision of information on the effects on the pelagic ecosystem of removal of target species by studying the trophic structure; the effects of environmental variation on target stocks, the pelagic ecosystem and the fisheries; the effect of climate change on target stocks, and provide technical support to SPC members to develop and negotiate adaptations for ecosystem and climate change. He or she will work closely with other programmes within SPC and the OFP. The Senior Fisheries Scientist (Climate Change Ecosystem Analysis) reports directly to the Principal Fisheries Scientist for Ecosystem Monitoring and Analysis. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The position of Senior Fisheries Scientist (Climate Change Ecosystem Analysis) encompasses the following major roles and responsibilities: 1. Research to support stock assessment and ecosystem-based fisheries management · Conduct research on trophic structure of the pelagic ecosystem. · Develop an ecosystem monitoring scheme by designing strategies for biological sample collections (observer-based, ship of opportunity, tagging and scientific cruise) and supervise the implementation of the design and undertake field work when required. · Coordinate, supervise and undertake laboratory work and provide training for staff, attached staff and trainees in laboratory and fish identification skills. · Participate in ecological and biological research that delivers new knowledge on the relationships between tuna fisheries, tuna populations and their physical and biological environment. · Document the results of research for publication as scientific papers, technical reports and country reports, and present findings to regional and scientific meetings. 2. Ecosystem and climate change models and analyses · Analyse trophic relationships of the warm pool ecosystem and incorporate these and other information into existing and/or new ecosystem models. · Participate in ecological and biological analyses and model development that delivers new knowledge on the relationships between tuna fisheries, tuna populations, bycatch populations and their physical and biological environment. · Analyse climate change impact on pelagic ecosystem functioning through model simulation and ecosystem analyses. · Document the results of research for publication as scientific papers, technical reports and country reports, and present findings to regional and scientific meetings. · Provided technical support to SPC members to negotiate climate change adaptations. 3. Support for ecosystem-based fisheries management at regional level for WCPFC and at national level for SPC members · Provide ecosystem, by-catch and tuna biology analyses, advice and services, to the WCPFC Secretariat, the WCPFC Scientific Committee and its technical working groups, as required. · Provide national tuna climate change reports. 4. Support for technical assistance at the regional and national levels to build national capacity to identify and implement climate change adaptation measures and monitoring systems · In collaboration with other senior OFP staff, provide advice to SPC members on climate change and ecosystem impacts of regional tuna fisheries and provide scientific support for the adoption of an ecosystem approach to fisheries management and climate change adaptation. · Provide training to attachments in ecosystem analyses and climate change issues. 5. Administration · Assist the Section Head to develop the annual work plans and work plan reports for the Section, consistent with the strategic plan. · Maintain up-to-date corporate and administrative procedures for all activities undertaken. · Contribute where applicable to programme, divisional and corporate publications, such as fisheries newsletters, annual reports, and divisional reports for CRGA. · Produce reports for all activities undertaken in the appropriate format for the activity, including technical reports, trip reports, input to funding proposals and donor reports. · Fill in for the other staff when they are on leave or duty travel, when required. · Participate in other administrative duties as directed by the EMA Principal Fisheries Scientist. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE Essential Ø A relevant post-graduate qualification, preferably at PhD level, in fisheries science, oceanography, population biology, ecosystem modelling, climate change or a related discipline. Ø Demonstrated skills in trophic ecology (e.g. food web description, stable isotope analysis). Ø Demonstrated analytical and ecosystem modelling capabilities. Ø Demonstrated analytical capabilities on climate change issues. Ø At least five years’ professional experience in marine ecological research, ideally directed at the development of scientific advice for fisheries management. Ø Excellent verbal and written presentation and communications skills in English, both at a technical level and in the preparation of information destined for the general public. Ø Proven ability to work as part of an inter-disciplinary and/or multi-cultural team. Ø Ability to meet project deadlines, often under difficult circumstances. Desirable Ø An understanding of tuna population dynamics, large-scale oceanographic models, the western and central Pacific tuna fishery and climate change impact on fisheries. Ø Direct experience of fisheries issues in the Pacific region. SALARY, TERMS AND CONDITIONS SALARY AND ALLOWANCES The position is in Band 12 of SPC's salary scale. Salaries for positions advertised 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 4,071–5,904 per month. At prevailing exchange rates, these amounts convert to approximately XPF 556,000–806,500 per month (USD 6,600–9,600; EUR 4,700–6,700). 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. 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 two years, with the possibility of renewal for a further period depending on performance and continued funding availability. DUTY STATION Noumea, New Caledonia. 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 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. 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 09/12/2011

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.