- August 1, 2023
- Posted by: strategia
- Category: Humanitarian Jobs
Description
The Pacific Community (SPC) is the principal scientific and technical organisation in the Pacific region, supporting development since 1947. We are an international development organisation owned and governed by our 27 country and territory members. In pursuit of sustainable development to benefit Pacific people, our organisation works across more than 25 sectors. We are known for our knowledge and innovation in such areas as fisheries science, public health, geoscience, and conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.
The Geoscience Energy and Maritime Division provides advice, technical assistance, research and training support to Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs). There are three (3) areas of scientific programming and two areas of focus within this division:
- Oceans and Maritime Programme (OMP) – assists member countries with services that provide applied ocean science and knowledge for evidence-based policy-making and technical solutions for improved ocean and maritime governance, management and capacity development.
- Georesources and Energy Programme (GEP) – assists member countries by applying technical knowledge in the areas of geoscience and sustainable energy use.
- Disaster and Community Resilience Programme (DCRP) – assists member countries to demonstrate strengthened resilience through integrated action on disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, natural resource management and increased access to water and sanitation.
The Communications and Knowledge Management Adviser will be responsible for developing a shared vision, understanding, commitment and exposure of the work of the GEM Division to ensure increased engagement with members and donors, and to assist all GEM staff in aligning with that shared vision of SPC. The development and implementation of an innovative strategic communications plan and shared vision will include, but not be limited to media strategies, community engagement, internal support, partnership development, strategic advisory roles to senior management, event management of relevant regional meetings, digital production, and monitoring and evaluation support for internal/external reporting.
The key responsibilities of the role include:
Strategic Communications
- Lead development of relevant and consistent strategic communications plan for the GEM Division.
- Support the development of consistent programme-based communications plans in line with the overarching strategic direction of GEM.
- Ensure consistent approaches across the division through publications to community engagement.
Strengthen Information and Knowledge Management
- Support effective engagement with stakeholders including monthly briefing engagement from the division.
- Lead the development of the new divisional website in line with corporate branding requirements.
- Advise on the development or consolidation of any relevant systems such as Pacific Disaster Net to ensure effective communications approaches integrated for respective audiences.
Advocacy and Awareness
- Support internal communications team to develop targeted behaviour change and advocacy strategies to increase the understanding and effectiveness of GEM’s work.
- Coordinate / plan / implement divisional based advocacy strategies in partnership with divisional programmes to increase awareness, action, or understanding of key work of GEM.
- Support high level advocacy events relevant to the division and broader SPC and best support communications officers/advisors to achieve desired outcomes.
Partnerships and Relationships
- Develop targeted approach to increase engagement with partners through a range of stakeholders in line with overall communications strategy for division and working in partnership with MEL and Senior Management Team.
- Support development of high-level briefings and confidential information to ensure effective delivery of work in cultural and relevant manner for countries, donors, partners.
- Lead on and develop innovative briefing and opportunity briefs for upcoming trends such as private sector engagement in resilience.
Communications Capacity Development
- Develop internal communications trainings on better use of social media, digital editing, development of event strategies etc to support increased capacity of communications teams in GEM.
- Develop media training and briefings for colleagues to increase effective presentation skills during media. This could also significantly support countries if required.
- Develop consistent templates and central database for all communications materials for GEM Division in line with overall strategic plan and SPC Corporate goals and plans.
For a more detailed account of the key responsibilities, please refer to the online job description.
Key selection criteria
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, media, journalism or a related field.
Technical expertise
- 7 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in public relations, communications or advocacy field.
- Demonstrated leadership ability in a regional coordination role, especially the ability to work and manage teams remotely.
- Demonstrated experience in establishing effective regional media network partnerships for public messaging.
- Experience of working within and/or supporting national government agencies, and key stakeholders such as private sector.
- Demonstrated analytical skills and the ability to master, compile, summarise and communicate new material quickly.
- Proficiency in using Microsoft Office suit of programmes as well as usage of web-based management systems, good knowledge and experience in audio-visual production.
- Understanding of the media and communications environment in Pacific Island countries, especially within government and NGO’s, as well as the mainstream media industry.
Language skills
- Excellent English communication skills (oral and written).
Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness
- Interpersonal skills with the ability to work in a multicultural, inclusive and equitable environment.
Salary, terms and conditions
Contract Duration –This vacant position is budgeted until 31 August 2026 and is subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.
Remuneration – The Communications and Knowledge Management Adviser is a Band 10 position in SPC’s 2023 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 2,575‒3,218 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 7,595–9,494 (USD 3,450–4,313; EUR 3,268–4,085). An offer of appointment for an initial contract will normally be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration given to experience and qualifications. Progression within the salary scale will be based on annual performance reviews. Remuneration of expatriate SPC staff members is not subject to income tax in Fiji; Fiji nationals employed by SPC in Fiji will be subject to income tax.
Benefits for international employees based in Fiji – SPC provides a housing allowance of FJD 1,350–3,000 per month. Establishment and repatriation grant, removal expenses, airfares, home leave travel, health and life and disability insurances and education allowances are available for eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Employees are entitled to 25 working days of annual leave per annum and other types of leave, and access to SPC’s Provident Fund (contributing 8% of salary, to which SPC adds a matching contribution).
Languages – SPC’s working languages are English and French.
Recruitment principles – SPC’s recruitment is based on merit and fairness, and candidates are competing in a selection process that is fair, transparent and non-discriminatory. SPC is an equal-opportunity employer, and is committed to cultural and gender diversity, including bilingualism, and will seek to attract and appoint candidates who respect these values. Due attention is given to gender equity and the maintenance of strong representation from Pacific Island professionals. If two interviewed candidates are ranked equal by the selection panel, preference will be given to the Pacific Islander. Applicants will be assured of complete confidentiality in line with SPC’s Privacy Policy.
How to apply
Application procedure
Closing Date: 28 August 2023 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)
Job Reference: JM000461
Applicants must apply online at http://careers.spc.int/
Hard copies of applications will not be accepted.
For your application to be considered, you must provide us with:
- an updated resume with contact details for three professional referees
- a cover letter detailing your skills, experience and interest in this position
- responses to all screening questions
Your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed at shortlisting stage if all the above documents are not provided. Applicants should not attach copies of qualifications or letters of reference. Please ensure your documents are in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format.
For international staff in Fiji, only one foreign national per family can be employed with an entity operating in Fiji at any one given time. SPC may assist on a case-by-case basis with submissions to Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their consideration and final approval. SPC cannot and does not make any guarantee whatsoever of approval for such applications to Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs and where an application is approved, the spouse or partner will subject to such terms and conditions as may be set from time to time by the Ministry.
SPC does not charge a fee to consider your application and will never ask for your banking or financial information during the recruitment process.
Screening Questions (maximum of 2,000 characters per question):
- What has motivated you to apply for this role and how do you see this as contributing to successful delivery of effective communications approaches in the Pacific region?
- What is the benefit of planning and how do you monitor / track the effectiveness of communications and public diplomacy actions you are implementing or have implemented? Please refer to an example of success you have had in previous roles in your response.
- How would you actively engage with Pacific governments and stakeholders in appropriate ways to ensure they engage with the science and technical work at SPC? Please provide an example where you have done this before, and any outcomes achieved.
