Head of Digital and ICT

• Suva-based position (Fiji)
• Attractive expatriate package
• Join the principal development organisation in the 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 Operations and Management Directorate (OMD) provides corporate services to all SPC Divisions and Programmes. It consists of three key departments: Finance, Human Resources and Information Services. OMD is focused on improving the effectiveness of systems, policies and management to provide high-quality customer-oriented services.

The role – Head of Digital and ICT will provide strategic leadership, resource management, work planning, and service management for SPC’s ICT Services, Digital Transformation Initiatives, and Regional Digital Services, engage with stakeholders across SPC and members to ensure services are fit for purpose, efficient, and continuously improving and lead financial planning and develop and manage cost recovery strategies to ensure Digital and ICT services at SPC are sustainably funded, and funding for regional digital initiatives are used for the benefit of SPC’s member countries.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Management and leadership

• Effectively recruit, lead and represent Digital and ICT staff as well as ensure they exhibit high morale and productivity and contribute to results.
• Ensure succession planning is strong, and leaderships skills are developed within the teams.
• Utilise robust performance management practices and effectively address staff performance issues.
• Make tangible contributions to the departmental leadership team’s collective management and direction of the department.
• Provide feedback and manage fairly direct reports in a way that promotes effectiveness, efficiency and growth.

Ways of working

• Demonstrate contributions to leading and inspiring improvement to ‘ways of working’ across the department.
• Ensure teams are managed collaboratively and work well with other teams within OMD and within SPC programme divisions.

Delivery of teamwork programme

• Manage ambitious yet realistic annual work plans.
• Ensure Digital and ICT teams deliver high quality services and products in their respective areas within expected timeframes.
• Manage Digital and ICT projects and programmes and ensure planned value and benefits are delivered.
• Monitor and measure service quality, risks, and the benefits delivered by initiatives.
• Engage and provide updates to SPC’s ICT committee, SLT and ARC, ensuring they are well informed.

Engagement and digital resource management and mobilisation

• Lead strategic thinking, planning and resource management for SPC’s Digital and ICT resources.
• Produce high quality budgets and reports for Digital and ICT programmes as requested by their various cycles.
• Effectively manage internal cost recovery frameworks provide sustainable funding for quality services and improve as needed.
• Coordinate digital products within SPC’s programme divisions and assess them for risks.
• Have constructive discussions with possible donors, follow up on leads where necessary and possible generate and approve business cases.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in information systems management, business administration, or another academic discipline related to the substantive work of the Digital and ICT teams, or equivalent body of knowledge and experience.

Technical expertise

• 15 years of relevant experience, including 10 years in a managerial role.
• Demonstrable experience managing ICT and Digital operations and change.
• Demonstrated experience applying emerging technologies.
• Strong relationship management, influencing and engagement experience and success in leading teams of professionals.
• Senior experience in resource management, planning and budgeting.
• Product / project management and delivery skills.
• Experience overcoming the challenges presented by digital transformation.
• Demonstrated ability to work with people from different national and cultural backgrounds. 

Language skills 

• Excellent English communication skills (oral and written) with a working knowledge of French being an advantage.

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness 

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

Salary, terms and conditions

Contract Duration – 3 years – subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.

Remuneration – The Head of Digital and ICT is a band 14 position in SPC’s 2025 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 4,784‒5,980 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 14,399–17,999 (USD 6,362–7,953; EUR 5,860–7,325).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 1,500–5,200 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: 30 March 2025 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)

Job Reference: MR000005

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 discuss how your personal and professional background has shaped your approach to management and leadership.
2. Discuss your views on how digital tools can be used in a practical way to address challenges facing the region, identifying challenges and what your approach would be to overcome them.
3. Using specific examples from the past, please discuss your experience with digital strategy, IT operations, product management, and leading digital change.