TEAM LEADER, GRANT COORDINATION

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 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.

PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION

SPC’s Public Health Division (PHD) supports the development of healthier Pacific Island communities through four broad objectives under the strategic plan 2010–2014.

1. Combat and reduce the overall impact and burden of diseases.
2. Contribute to strengthening national health systems.
3. Increase the capacity of Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) to address non-health sector determinants of health.
4. Increase the efficiency and impact of interventions.

PHD’s primary focus is to provide technical assistance and to implement programmes in support of countries’ priorities and plans. PHD has staff based in Noumea, Suva, Pohnpei, Honiara and Port Vila. Information on PHD and the division’s strategic plan is available at www.spc.int/php.

PHD GRANT MANAGEMENT

The ‘business model’ for PHD has expanded substantially in recent years. An increasing amount of its work currently involves grant management, as it becomes more of a conduit to channel funds to Pacific Island governments and civil society organisations. Grants to countries account for USD 20 million in 2012 with the main funding streams being the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; the Pacific Islands HIV and STI Response Fund; and the Pacific NCD Framework 2-1-22 Programme with the latter two grant streams supported by Australia and New Zealand.

The Grant Management Unit (GMU) was established as a facility within the PHD for managing public health-related grants to sub-recipients including Pacific island countries and territories (PICTs), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), regional organizations and civil society organizations (CSOs) in a harmonious and coordinated way. The unit provides best grant management practices and works to enhance overall PHD and country capability for harmonised and quality management of programmes and projects.

The GMU is structured into three teams: the Grant Coordination Team (GCT), the Finance Team (FT) and the Procurement and Supply Management Team (PSMT) to deliver its objectives.

The GCT is responsible for the day-to-day operational, strategic and pragmatic management (including risk management) of the PHD grant portfolio and for maximising grant utilisation, implementation and impact, while improving the alignment of funds and reporting processes with national systems. When required and if gaps are identified, the GCT may directly contribute to some grant implementation and sub-grant monitoring. The GCT contributes to the ‘whole of health’ approach of the PHD. Within the team, expertise on the management of specific disease ‘grants’ or funding streams will be managed to ensure coverage of all issues under a team-based approach.

The Team Leader is responsible for the overall day-to-day supervision of the team of Grant Coordinators and manages direct relationships between SPC and the grantees, according to the principles enunciated through the PHD Grant Management Unit.

As a result of the recent organisational reform, the overall scope of the role and in particular the internal and external working relationships at SPC may be affected.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The position encompasses the following major roles and responsibilities in support of PHD’s strategic plan objectives.

• Provide team leadership; managing and motivating the Grant Coordinators, Grant Officers and other implementing officers to deliver high quality, performance-based funding services to country and regional partners.
• Ensure grant implementation is in line with agreements and funding for countries and regional organisations as well as with national plans and priorities.
• Provide oversight of sub-grant agreements between SPC and country and regional implementers for all grants and funding streams, in line with national and regional strategies, with conditions that reflect implementation and national and PHD absorptive capacity.
• Provide oversight for the transparent, appropriate disbursement of grant funding to sub-recipient country and regional implementing partners to support programme implementation based on performance and absorptive capacity.
• With a primary focus on PICTs, coordinate the strengthening of grant implementation capacity - in particular human and financial systems — amongst implementing partners so that they utilise all grant funding transparently and systematically to achieve national programme outcomes.
• Contribute to the SPC and PHD overall approach and work on initiatives to increase country and partner planning for, and evaluation of, efforts to reduce gender and sexual orientation barriers to achieving universal access to services.
• Oversee the production of high quality routine and ad hoc financial and programmatic reports to donors and other stakeholders as a means of demonstrating SPC’s capacity to manage grants on a cost-effective, performance-orientated basis.
• Contribute to the strengthening of GMU controls to ensure routine compliance with donor conditions at both SPC and PHD grant management level, and between SPC and country and regional implementing partners.
• Contribute to SPC’s proactive, strategic and regional efforts to increase overall value for money in common procurement and supply management needs for PICTs under donor funded programmes.
• Contribute to initiatives in aid development effectiveness as a high priority for country and regional implementing partners benefiting from SPC directed funds.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

1. Master’s degree in business or public administration, development studies, finance or other relevant discipline, or equivalent years of relevant experience.
2. At least five years’ experience in grant or project management in a developing country setting, with expertise in validation, design, oversight, monitoring and implementation of development projects and donor reporting requirements.
3. At least five years’ experience as a senior manager, with significant staff and budget accountability, with skills in accounting, contract and financial management.
4. Sound communication and negotiation skills in English, combined with judgment, tact and diplomacy to work with diverse stakeholders in a multicultural, multilingual team environment.
5. Willingness to travel and undertake overseas assignments in SPC countries and beyond.

Desirable

1. Degree in public health, development studies or related field.
2. Experience working on a government or NGO public health project/programme, ideally in a Pacific Island setting.
3. Recent experience in dealing with donors involved in the Pacific region (e.g. AusAID, NZAID, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS Tuberculosis and Malaria, ADB).
4. For English speakers, a knowledge of French.

SALARY, TERMS AND CONDITIONS

SALARY AND ALLOWANCES

The position is in Band 12 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 2012 salary scale, the salary range for this band is SDR 2,939–4,409 per month. At prevailing exchange rates these amounts convert to approximately FJD 8,200–12,300 per month (USD 4,600–7,000; EUR 3,500–5,200).

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 appointees 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 successful candidate will be awarded a contract until 31 December 2013, renewable subject to performance and 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 appointees recruited outside of Fiji, the cost of air fares by the most direct and/or economic route for the appointees 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 3 June 2012.

Applicants are asked to use SPC’s online recruitment system by following the link http://www.spc.int/job.html.

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.

Important note: prepare and save your curriculum vitae, response to qualifications and experience criteria and referee information as Microsoft Word documents BEFORE attempting to submit your application online. It is not possible to partially complete your application via the online system, save it and return to complete later.