Director-General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community

Director-General

Applications are invited for the position of Director-General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, located at its headquarters in Noumea, New Caledonia.

SPC is the Pacific Island region’s principal technical and scientific organisation serving the 22 Pacific Island countries and territories of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. It delivers technical, scientific, research, policy and training in agriculture, disaster risk management, education, energy, fisheries, forestry, gender, geoscience, human rights, public health, statistics, transport, water resources, youth and culture, and in cross-cutting areas such as climate change. At the heart of SPC is its integrated work programme, which is based on priorities agreed by members and approved annually by its governing body. Its powerful combination of diverse disciplines enables SPC to take a unique approach to the development of the region’s land, marine and human resources through technical assistance and training delivered at in-country, subregional and regional levels. SPC also has a strong focus on applied research, particularly in its agriculture and oceanic fisheries programmes. For more information visit www.spc.int. 

In applying, candidates should be guided by SPC’s vision, mission and corporate values, the role and profile of the position, and the key result areas and selection criteria.

SPC’s vision for the region is a secure and prosperous Pacific Community, whose people are educated and healthy and manage their resources in an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable way.

Our mission is to help Pacific Island people position themselves to respond effectively to the challenges they face and make informed decisions about their future and the future they leave for the generations that follow.

Our corporate values are underpinned by the principle of ‘making a positive difference in the lives of Pacific Island people – putting people first’. They include accountability, integrity, respect, transparency, sustainability, people-centredness, gender equality and cultural sensitivity.

SPC was established in 1947, employs over 570 staff, and is a bilingual organisation with English and French as its official working languages. Its headquarters are in Noumea, New Caledonia, with other offices in Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia and Solomon Islands. SPC has 26 member countries and territories including its metropolitan members, Australia, France, New Zealand and the United States of America, which contribute a large proportion of its funding. Other major development partners are the European Union, Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, United Nations agencies, Asian Development Bank, World Bank and Global Environment Facility, to name a few.

Governance: SPC’s governing body, the Conference of the Pacific Community, meets every two years. The Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CRGA), ‘a committee of the Conference’, meets every year at the officials’ level to consider SPC’s annual work programme and budget, and in the years the conference does not meet, is empowered to make decisions on SPC’s governance.

Organisational structure: SPC is led by the Director-General supported by the senior management team, which includes three Deputy Directors-General and the Director of the Strategic Engagement, Policy and Planning Facility. Also contributing to SPC’s executive management are the directors of the seven technical divisions (Applied Geoscience and Technology; Economic Development; Education, Training and Human Development; Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems; Land Resources; Public Health; and Statistics for Development), the directors of Finance, Human Resources and the North Pacific Regional Office, and the coordinator of the Solomon Islands country office.

The role – The Director-General is the chief executive of SPC and has full responsibility and authority to lead and manage the organisation within the guidelines provided by the policies determined by its governing body. The appointee is accountable to the conference for meeting SPC’s objectives and for: (i) developing SPC’s vision, goals and objectives; (ii) leading organisational decision making; (iii) overseeing the planning, delivery, monitoring and measurement of impact of SPC’s services to members; and (iv) managing the organisation within the policy guidelines set by the conference and CRGA. To achieve these objectives, the Director-General needs to have a sound understanding of the cultural and geopolitical landscape of SPC member countries and territories. The appointment is for two years, renewable for two further two-year terms subject to the results of an annual performance assessment process undertaken by a CRGA subcommittee. The Director-General is based at SPC headquarters in Noumea, New Caledonia.

The profile – SPC seeks an innovative and visionary leader with a reputation for achieving results and a track record of successful leadership and management of multidisciplinary teams of highly qualified and culturally diverse professionals in a national, regional or international context. The appointee will be an experienced change agent with business acumen, and have a good understanding of the technical nature of SPC’s work and the region’s current and emerging development priorities. He/She will have an appreciation of the geopolitical environment of the Pacific Islands region and the global context; a good understanding of the role SPC plays in relation to other regional organisations working in the region under the banner of the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific; and a demonstrated commitment and dedication to the development of Pacific Island countries and territories. The appointee must be able to work with the region’s political leaders; have excellent advocacy, negotiation, representational and interpersonal relationship skills; and be able to communicate effectively in a bilingual and culturally diverse environment and work across the organisation and with stakeholders and partners. Key attributes include integrity, honesty and transparency.

Key result areas – The successful applicant must be able to demonstrate strong ability and potential to progress in the following six key result areas of the position:

1. Organisational vision, leadership and management – Provide the vision, leadership and direction of the organisation and uphold and promote its corporate values. Advocate and lead the enhancement of SPC’s image and its role in the region’s development at national, regional and international forums. Oversee staff appointment and management processes, including the selection and appointment of the senior management team and appointment of SPC’s executive team. Lead, motivate and inspire staff and drive the performance of the senior management team. Explore opportunities to develop new partnerships and secure new resources to address members’ development priorities. Guide SPC’s engagement in the region’s development agenda in a changing economic, social and political environment. Support initiatives that enhance synergies in addressing members’ national priorities through regionally delivered services.

2. Organisational policy, development and change management – Drive organisational policy innovation, development and research. Lead continuous improvement and reform across SPC to maximise the efficiency, coordination and effectiveness of its work and service delivery. Oversee the observance of organisational policies, with particular emphasis on SPC’s bilingual policy. Maintain a vibrant policy agenda and recommend reviews and changes for consideration by the governing body to keep the organisation attuned to its regional working environment. Manage changes in SPC’s organisational structure to consolidate its place and role in regional development and maintain efficiency and effectiveness. Oversee SPC’s cohesive operation as a decentralised organisation and regularly appraise the effectiveness of its decentralisation policy. Set annual objectives for SPC and its executive management team and be accountable for the results achieved. Ensure good communication is maintained within SPC and with external constituencies in regard to policy innovation and change.

3. Organisational governance – Ensure the effective leadership and management of SPC in accordance with the Director-General’s accountability to the governing body. Drive effective organisational governance including proper servicing of conference and CRGA and other key organisational meetings. This includes overseeing the agenda, preparation of papers and outcome documents, and distribution of an annual report to members and development partners covering SPC’s programme activities and financial operations. Oversee SPC’s regulations, rules, policies and associated procedures and systems.

4. Organisational work programme service delivery and performance – Liaise at the highest level with SPC member countries and territories to ensure SPC’s programmes are relevant and effective. Oversee the development and implementation of SPC’s work programme and reporting of impacts to members, donors and stakeholders. Maintain the continued relevance and quality of SPC’s work and ensure that divisional and programme strategic plans address the key priorities of SPC members. Ensure continual improvement of the joint country strategies, which provide the platform for delivery of SPC’s technical services to individual members. Oversee the implementation of corporate-wide systems for performance management, monitoring and evaluation to enable assessment of SPC’s services, and results and outcomes achieved at national level.

5. Organisational financial security and property – Oversee SPC’s financial security, including the preparation and revision of SPC’s annual budgets, monitoring of expenditure and cash flow and annual audit of accounts. Drive resource mobilisation efforts and represent SPC at the highest levels, in particular with its donors and members. Drive efficiency and effectiveness measures and performance, and effectively plan for and manage risks. Support initiatives to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of expenditure, work programmes and administrative structures. Identify and pursue funding opportunities to support interventions addressing members’ new and emerging priorities likely to benefit from regionally delivered services. Ensure appropriate protection and maintenance of SPC property.

6. Organisational relationships and advocacy – Maintain strong working relationships across SPC. Drive, develop and maintain strategic collaborative relationshipswith all member governments and administrations of SPC, development partners and other stakeholders and ensure they are kept informed of developments within SPC. Advocate on behalf of members at national, regional and international forums. Champion SPC’s key role in the Pacific region’s development agenda at the highest political and leadership levels.Develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with all regional organisations, including the Pacific Islands Forum and take advantage of the mechanism provided through theCouncil of Regional Organisations in the Pacific to better coordinate activities and minimise duplication of work programmes. Convene annual planning meetings with SPC’s key donors. Establish formal understandings or agreements with other regional and international organisations working in the same areas as SPC to maximise opportunities for cooperation.

Selection criteria – The Conference of the Pacific Community agreed that the following attributes will guide the selection criteria: Understands technical and regional issues; is sensitive to the needs of the organisation and the region; has technical experience in areas relating to the purpose of the organisation; understands the geopolitical aspects of the region; is a good manager of research, technical and administrative staff; has leadership qualities; is a good communicator both within and outside the organisation; is able to work well with donors; is able to formulate a vision for the organisation; is conversant with the changes occurring in the region that impact on the nature and role of SPC and the services it delivers to members; is conversant with the new architecture for regional institutions and able to lead SPC while also consolidating its expanded role, purpose and modality of service delivery to members; is of good character, standing and integrity, and able to command the respect of members and partners; is able to demonstrate dedicated effort and commitment to the development of Pacific Island countries and territories; is conversant with the principles of organisational change, organisational restructuring and change management; and having a practical knowledge of SPC’s two working languages (English and French) is an advantage and should be taken into consideration.

Taking account of these attributes approved by the conference, all candidates will be assessed against the following eleven key selection criteria.

1. Leadership – Have a track record of strategic leadership of a scientific or technical organisation. Demonstrate a clear vision for SPC. Possessintegrity and honesty. Act as a role model to inspire, motivate and develop the executive team and staff. Ensure staff across the organisation feel valued and trusted. Be able to work with all SPC island member countries and territories and ensure SPC’s services benefit all its island members.
2. Strategic thinking and planning – Foresight and strategic thinking skills with demonstrated ability to develop and implement plans that deliver desired strategic and long-term outcomes.
3. Judgement and decision-making – High level of judgement and decision-making at leadership/CEO level. Proactive in seeking evidence to support decision-making.
4. Resource management – Track record of resource management at leadership/CEO level. Ability to oversee the careful financial management of a decentralised organisation with diverse sources of funding, and to anticipate and manage change and risk and ensure that value for money is achieved.
5. Results-oriented, problem solving – Results-driven with a record of high achievement. Able to develop solutions that deliver tangible results for SPC members, management, staff and other stakeholders.
6. Innovation and analytical skills – High-level skills in analysis and innovation. Able to generate and transform new ideas into opportunities. Drive policy advice based on sound analysis and support original solutions.
7. Influencing and relationship building skills – Well-established influencing skills. Able to influence, motivate and guide others to achieve organisational goals. Demonstrate strong skills in negotiation, communication and advocacy.
8. Relationship building skills – Excellent interpersonal skills that contribute to building productive relationships and partnerships across SPC and with stakeholders.
9. Qualifications – Post-graduate qualification in any of the disciplines covered under SPC’s work programme and/or in another relevant discipline, i.e. strategic or corporate planning; public policy; economics or financial planning; organisational management; international development; business or public administration.
10. Technical expertise – Business acumen and experience in leading and managing a large technical or scientific organisation with multidisciplinary teams of highly qualified and culturally diverse professionals working at national, regional or international levels with a wide range of stakeholders and partners including government, non-government, political, financial and private sector stakeholders.
11. Language skills, cultural and political awareness – A practical knowledge of SPC’s two working languages (English and French) will be considered an advantage. Culturally sensitive, particularly in relation to SPC’s island members individually and collectively, with a sound understanding of the geopolitical landscape of the region.

Remuneration – This is a senior management position in Band 18 of SPC’s 2013 salary scale, with a salary range of 9,683–14,331 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately XPF 1,380,675–2,043,481 (USD 15,100–22,200; EUR 11,500–17,100). An offer of appointment for an initial contract will normally be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration being given to experience and qualifications. Progress in the salary scale will be based on annual performance reviews. SPC salaries are not subject to income tax in New Caledonia at the present time.

Benefits – SPC provides the Director-General with a residence in Noumea. An establishment and relocation grant, removal expenses, airfares, home leave, medical insurance and education allowances are available for eligible employees and their recognised dependants. Employees are entitled to: 25 days annual leave and 30 days sick leave per annum; life insurance; and access to SPC’s Provident Fund (contributing 8% of salary to which SPC adds a matching contribution).

Work environment – SPC has a standardised computing environment based on Microsoft Office. Smoking is not permitted in the work place.

Equal opportunity – SPC recruits on merit, but if two interviewed candidates are ranked equal by the selection committee, preference will be given to Pacific Islanders.

Application procedure – The closing date for applications is Tuesday 30 April 2013. Candidates MUST provide: a detailed curriculum vitae; a written response stating their claims against the eleven key selection criteria; and contact details, including email addresses and telephone numbers, for three referees.

Apply online – Please use SPC’s online recruitment system at http://www.spc.int/job.html. Important note: prepare and save your curriculum vitae, response to key selection 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. Can’t access the online recruitment system? Apply via email: recruit@spc.int; fax: + 687 26 38 18; or post to Dr Jimmie Rodgers, Director-General, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, P.O. Box D5, 98848 NOUMEA CEDEX, New Caledonia. Need assistance? Contact Dr Rodgers in confidence through Efi Rex (Director-General’s office manager) at efir@spc.int or telephone + 687 260114.

Partner Agencies: SPC is a core member of the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP). CROP is chaired by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat based in Fiji. Other core members are the Fisheries Forum Agency based in Solomon Islands and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme based in Samoa. Other members are the South Pacific Tourism Organisation, the University of the South Pacific, the Pacific Islands Development Programme, the Fiji School of Medicine, the Pacific Aviation Safety Office and the Pacific Power Association. CROP agencies work together on shared outcomes and initiatives, and develop common policies and operating platforms, to achieve efficiencies and enhance service delivery across the Pacific region. The leaders of the CROP agencies meet once a year and are supported by regular consultative meetings of inter-agency working groups.