Fisheries Scientist (Climate Change) Location: Noumea, New Caledonia

Job Code:	11/84
# of openings:	1
Description
Secretariat of the pacific community POSITION DESCRIPTION FISHERIES SCIENTIST (climate change) 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 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. Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) are unusually dependent on capture fisheries for food security. Annual per capita fish consumption in all Pacific Islands is above the global average of 16.5 kg, and in several small island states the figures are among the highest in the world. Much of this is supplied by subsistence fishing, with a high proportion of coastal households directly involved in catching fish. Catches from inshore subsistence fishing are estimated at 110,000 tonnes, making an annual contribution to the gross domestic product of PICTs of over USD 166 million. This is often undervalued in official statistics. A further 45,000 tonnes is landed annually from commercial coastal fisheries, much of it for sale on local markets. While most of the two 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. This is particularly true in urban centres, where catches unsuitable for export provide a relatively low-cost source of protein. Dark meat tuna, canned for the local market, also provides an affordable and easily-stored high protein food that is appreciated in several countries with tuna processing industries. The role of fisheries in food security is not just about providing fish for consumption. Income generation and employment in export-oriented fisheries and aquaculture are equally important in ensuring that people have adequate access to food – especially in some of the poorer countries in the region. It is noteworthy that the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) identifies Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu as ‘low income food deficit’ countries. SPC’s Coastal Fisheries Programme (CFP) helps to develop the capacities of member Pacific Island countries and territories to assess, harvest, develop, manage and conserve their marine resources through advice and training by skilled fishers, post-harvest specialists, scientists, managers, aquaculture specialists and planners. CFP supports the sustainable development of the region’s fisheries at the artisanal and small- and medium-scale commercial levels through the provision of assessment, development and management advice, technical assistance, and vocational and scientific training at national and regional levels, as well as the dissemination of relevant information. The Coastal Fisheries Science and Management Section is one of three sections that make up CFP. The section currently has seven professional staff and a project administrator. The main objective of the section, as stated in the Strategic Plan (2010–2013) for the Division of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems, is to ‘assist governments and administrations in the development of scientifically informed and socially achievable coastal fisheries management policies and systems in line with the guiding principles of the Apia Policy’. The section also provides input to the division’s work under the other two objectives in the plan, relating to the principles of the ecosystem approach to fisheries and the use of consultative processes that include all stakeholders. Climate change is predicted to have profound impacts on coral reef habitats and the finfish and invertebrate resources they support in the Pacific Region. To try to understand the possible effects of climate change on the coastal marine environment, a small project ‘Monitoring the vulnerability and adaptation of coastal fisheries to climate change’ commenced in 2010. The project has designed and field-tested monitoring systems and tools, and collected baseline data, through the establishment of five pilot sites, to determine whether changes are occurring in the productivity of coastal fisheries. It will identify the extent to which any such changes are due to climate, as opposed to other pressures on these resources, particularly overfishing and habitat degradation from poor management of catchments. The Fisheries Scientist (climate change) will take the lead in this project and with the assistance of one or two Pacific Island young professionals, conduct follow-up surveys at the five pilot sites and analyse the data collected to try to determine the cause of any changes that are detected from the baseline surveys. The Fisheries Scientist (climate change) reports directly to the Coastal Fisheries Science and Management Adviser. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The position of Fisheries Scientist (climate change) encompasses the following major functions or key result areas: · Assess coastal living reef and lagoon resources and habitats with a focus on climate change effects on these habitats and resources. · Build the capacity of young Pacific Island professionals and in-country counterparts. · Give practical assistance to members in the designing and targeting of appropriate awareness-raising and educational information. · Promote inter-agency networking and cross-sectoral collaboration in coastal fisheries science and management. · Handle section administration and communication. More specifically, the responsibilities of the position include: · Trying to standardise and collaborate on data collection and monitoring systems for identifying climate change effects on reef and lagoon resources and habitats with countries, NGOs and others involved in this area, when many want to work in isolation using their approach; · Assisting with establishing functional monitoring programmes for climate change effects on reef and lagoon resources and habitats with local staff in-country, with them taking ownership and conducting the monitoring programme themselves; · Providing training in monitoring and data collection, data entry into database and data analysis with young Pacific Island professionals and local staff, with them being competent in all areas after the training; · Coordinating and undertaking the comparative analysis of all data available for the pilot sites established for the climate change projects, making this information available to the countries; · Providing sound scientific advice based on the best available data for identifying possible climate change effects on reef and lagoon resources and habitats, and recommending adaptation strategies; and · Establishing and strengthening collaboration and cooperation with other researchers working on the possible effects of climate change on reef and lagoon resources and habitats. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE The successful applicant will be someone who has considerable initiative, is accustomed to working in new situations and countries, and is comfortable collaborating with people at all levels of Pacific Island societies (from community members to government technical staff). Applicants are required to address each of the selection criteria below in their applications. Essential Ø Postgraduate degree or equivalent in a discipline relevant to reef fisheries assessment (reef and lagoon resources and habitats) and/or reef/coastal marine ecology. Ø Current open water SCUBA diving certificate and medically fit and able to dive in a range of environments. Ø At least five years’ direct relevant experience in applied field research for reef and lagoon resources and habitats involving local collaborators. Ø Demonstrated capability for collaborating and working in an integrated programme involving colleagues from several different countries and cultures. Ø Experience in designing and implementing standardised monitoring protocols for reef and lagoon resources and habitats, with a focus on identifying the causes of different effects, such as climate change. Ø Sound understanding of possible climate change effects on the marine environment including reef and lagoon resources and habitats. Ø Experience working with gender issues relating to fisheries. Ø Excellent communication skills (oral and written) with the capacity to engage scientific, government, public and community audiences. Ø Excellent cross-culture communication and team work skills. Ø Proven ability to design, plan and facilitate workshops and other training. Ø Experience working with PC systems and MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint software, and software programmes for data entry and management. Ø Willingness and demonstrated capacity to travel and undertake overseas assignments in SPC member countries, sometimes under difficult physical conditions. Desirable Ø A working knowledge of both of SPC’s official languages (English and French). Ø Prior experience or involvement with socioeconomic, market or creel survey work. Ø Understanding of current Pacific Island’s regional coastal fisheries management and science issues. 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 (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 4,100–5,900). 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, subject to a six-month probationary period, 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 16/01/2012
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.