Strategic Adviser - Promoting Just, Engaged, Civic-minded and Transparent Governance in the Pacific Project

• Suva-based position (Fiji)
• Attractive expatriate package
• Join the principal development organisation in the Pacific region

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, education, public health, geoscience, and conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

The Human Rights and Social Development Division has a vision for just, equitable and resilient Pacific societies and it aims to achieve this by advancing human rights, equality and social inclusion for all Pacific people, grounded in cultural values and principles. The work of this Division includes work previously undertaken by the Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT) in the area of human rights and the Social Development Programme (SDP) in the areas of gender equality and social inclusion, culture and youth development.

In line with its vision, the work of the Division will encompass the following focal areas:

• Objective 1: Pacific institutions are strong, transparent, and responsive for upholding and promoting human rights and implementing inclusive, gender sensitive and culturally respectful development.
• Objective 2: Pacific Civil Society understand and can advocate for their rights and uphold cultural values.
• Objective 3: Pacific culture is protected, preserved, and promoted and culturally relevant and appropriate knowledge and systems are integrated across all work.
• Objective 4: All PSC programs and operations are grounded in people centered approaches and consider the rights and cultural values of diverse groups including women, children, youth and persons with disabilities.
• Objective 5: HRSD Division teams work collectively, coherently, and efficiently and to a high standard to achieve shared success for Pacific societies.

The USD 20 million donor-funded ‘Promoting Just, Engaged, Civic-minded and Transparent Governance in the Pacific Project’ (‘PROJECT Governance’) is a flexible and adaptive implementing mechanism that will strengthen the practice of sound, just, and responsive governance in the region. PROJECT Governance is anchored by the commitments made by the Pacific Island Forum leaders in the 2000 Biketawa Declaration and reaffirmed in the 2018 Boe Declaration.

The role – Strategic Adviser - PROJECT Governance will provide strategic advice and related technical assistance for PROJECT Governance, including in relation to programming, partnerships, new areas of work, budgeting and financial management, MEL, research, and resource mobilisation. The Strategic Adviser may from time-to-time provide similar advice and technical assistance for broader SPC initiatives. This role will work closely with the SPC HRSD Director and Deputy Director, the PROJECT Governance Chief of Party and other PROJECT Governance staff, and other SPC HRSD staff. From time-to-time, be Strategic Adviser will work with Directors and staff from other SPC divisions. 

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Strategic advice and support on project implementation

• Provides strategic advice and support to the design and delivery of PROJECT Governance, including implementation planning, delivery, monitoring, and problem solving.
• Supports design and delivery of activities under PROJECT Governance.
• Strategic advice and support to PROJECT Governance team in design and delivery of activity level procurement, communications and MEL plans.
• Support the preparation of Annual Implementation Plans.
• Provides support to HRSD colleagues leading on PROJECT Governance funded activities.
• Conduct research, legal and policy analysis on key and emerging regional human rights, and good governance issues in line with PICT’s priorities.
• Engage in national, regional, and international fora, mechanisms, and processes for the purposes of integrating HR and good governance perspectives in policies and programs.
• Provide strategic advice and support on the implementation of PROJECT Governance sub-grants.
• Support integrated programming and mainstreaming of People Centered Approaches to Development across SPC.

Strategic advice and support on project administration

• Provides strategic advice and inputs to managing budget execution, donor contract compliance, and donor narrative and financial reporting as per contract and compliance rules from donor.
• Work closely with the Chief of Party in the preparation of financial and narrative reports.
• Work closely with the Chief of Party to support the management of the PROJECT Governance budget.
• Provide strategic advice and support on the development, implementation and monitoring of the PROJECT Governance MEL Plan.
• Provide strategic advice and support on the development, implementation and monitoring of the PROJECT Governance Communications Strategy.
• Provide strategic advice and support on the administrative management of PROJECT Governance sub-grants.

Resource mobilisation, advocacy, stakeholder engagement, networking and coordination

• Provide strategic advice and support stakeholder engagement, networking, and coordination to advance PROJECT Governance objectives, divisional outcomes and organisational strategic objectives at national, regional, and institutional levels.
• Provide strategic advice and undertake organisational representation in relation to United Nations agencies and intergovernmental stakeholders based in Geneva, Switzerland.
• Engage in working groups, task forces and other technical committees.
• Represent SPC at national, regional, and international forums as delegated by the Director.
• Work closely with the Deputy Director, Chief of Party and other key HRSD staff to develop technical and financial budget proposals for post PROJECT Governance funding.

Capacity building and support

• Working closely with the HRSD capacity building team, support and deliver capacity development of divisional and organisational staff in the area of project management.
• Support the PROJECT Governance team to implement project commitments and support the team to deliver on good governance commitments and country interventions.
• Provide support to relevant project staff to report against project work plans and budgets.
• Provide support to PROJECT Governance for staff development.
• Collaborate with in country staff to develop, implement, monitor project activities.

For a more detailed account of the key responsibilities, please refer to the online job description.

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in development, good governance, human rights, or law.

Technical expertise

• At least 10 years of project management and development experience working in the field of human rights, and/or good governance.
• Extensive experience working in the Pacific region with at least 5 years of working for a regional organisation.
• Experience managing multi-country donor funded programmes.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural teams in the Pacific region.
• Strong technical expertise, good management skills and excellent communications skills.
• Experience managing USAID funded programmes.        

Language skills

• Excellent English communication skills (oral and written).

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Ability to work in a multicultural, inclusive and equitable environment.

Salary, terms and conditions

Contract Duration – until 30 June 2026 – subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.

Remuneration – The Strategic Adviser - PROJECT Governance is a band 11 position in SPC’s 2024 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 3,091‒3,864 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 9,211–11,513 (USD 4,111–5,138; EUR 3,831–4,789). 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 10% 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.

Application procedure

Closing Date: 5 January 2025 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)

Job Reference: CB000354

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):

1. Please share your experience in engaging with diverse stakeholders, such as intergovernmental agencies or donor organizations. How did you balance advocacy, stakeholder expectations, and organisational objectives to secure additional funding or partnerships?
2. Can you describe a time when you provided strategic advice that directly improved the implementation of a governance-related project? What was the context, and how did you measure the impact of your advice?
3. Drawing from your experience and examples from Pacific Island countries and territories, what are some of the key factors that could inform an effective multi-country capacity building strategy in support of governance and human rights institutions?