WATER SERVICES COORDINATOR
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.
APPLIED GEOSCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (SOPAC) DIVISION
SPC’s SOPAC Division is based at its Suva Regional Office, Fiji and has approximately 100 staff and an annual budget of around FJD 30 million (USD 15 million). Over almost 40 years, SOPAC has attained a reputation for excellence by placing an emphasis on applying scientific and technical knowledge to improving the livelihoods of Pacific people. Initially the focus was on mineral and hydrocarbon resource assessment in offshore areas. With over 90% of the region being ocean, the economic potential of these resources was, and remains, very large. Today, despite the global economic crisis, there is a well-established renewed interest in seabed mineral resource assessment in many Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs). A crucial part of SOPAC’s work is to provide guidance to PICTs, not only on the scientific and technical aspects of these potential resources but also on establishing sound national policy and regulatory frameworks. Furthermore, in this context the surveying and subsequent legal work to complete the establishment and declaration of sovereign maritime boundaries for all PICTs is most urgent.
The contribution of SOPAC to the scientific and technical – particularly geoscientific and geotechnical – understanding of the underlying root causes of environmental vulnerability remains critical. As vulnerability increases, particularly with respect to climate change and other natural hazards, sound knowledge-based adaptation strategies are needed in the context of coastal and nearshore environments, water and sanitation, and disaster risk reduction. In the generally small communities throughout PICTs, awareness raising, capacity building especially at the technical level and capacity supplementation particularly at the professional level will remain important across all the SOPAC work programmes.
WATER AND SANITATION PROGRAMME
SPC is the regional agency responsible for coordinating water and sanitation in the Pacific region and provides support to members through capacity building, awareness and advocacy related to the management of water resources and the provision of water supply and sanitation services.
PICTs have uniquely fragile water services due to their small size, lack of natural storage, competing land use and vulnerability to natural hazards. Pollution of fresh water resources, unsafe drinking water supplies and inadequate sanitation can have a significant impact on public health, quality of life, the environment and economic development. Urbanisation, rural development, growing populations, climate change and increased demand from industry and agriculture is putting further pressure on the region’s freshwater resources, threatening the long term viability of communities and islands. Natural disasters exacerbate water issues and can compromise the safety of drinking water supplies and increase the risk to public health.
In supporting PICTs to address these issues the SOPAC Water and Sanitation Programme (WSP) is structured to deliver its services in the areas of Water Resources Management, Water and Sanitation Services and Water Governance.
The Water and Sanitation Services Component of the programme is responsible for supporting PICT governments, water and wastewater providers to ensure access to a reliable supply of clean water and proper sanitation. It provides technical support to members through capacity building, awareness and advocacy through the following programmes.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Water Services Coordinator is accountable to the Deputy Director for the Water and Sanitation Programme of the SOPAC Division of SPC.
The role is responsible for managing an operational budget of approximately FJD1 million and a team of four staff and consultants to provide policy advice and technical expertise, and to coordinate water services projects and programmes across PICTs.
KEY RESULT AREAS
The position encompasses the following major functions or key result areas.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Essential
Desirable
SALARY, TERMS AND CONDITIONS
SALARY AND ALLOWANCES
The position is in Band 11 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 2012 salary scale, the salary range for approximately FJD 7,173–10,761 per month (USD 4,000-6,100; € 3,400–6,000). 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, 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
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 OPPORTUNITY
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 10 May 2012 | |
Applicants are requested to use SPC’s online recruitment system : http://www.spc.int/job.html. Only those 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). All other applicants must use the on-line recruiting system. Applicants should provide their curriculum vitae and specifically address in their cover letter how their qualifications, knowledge and experience demonstrate their ability to successfully undertake the duties and responsibilities of the position. They should also provide names and contact details of three referees. |
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