Housing Coordinator

• Noumea-based position
• 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 unique organisation works across more than 25 sectors. We are known for our knowledge and innovation in such areas as fisheries science, public health surveillance, 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 – the Housing Coordinator is responsible for the strategic management, maintenance, and optimisation of the organisation’s properties housing staff. This role ensures that all housing is efficiently maintained, compliant with safety and regulatory standards, and aligned with the organisation’s operational and strategic objectives. Additionally, playing a key role in supporting new policies development, implementation and procedures to enhance property management operations.

The key responsibilities of the role include the following:

Management of the housing team

• Manage the housing team to ensure effective management of SPC properties housing staff and assets in compliance with all relevant SPC policies including Fixed Assets and Small Value Items policy(s).

Management of staff accommodation

• Manage staff accommodation, including allocation and chattels.
• Provide high quality client service.

 Support to Policy Development & Implementation

• Support design, implementation, and enforcement of new property management policies and best practices.

 Contribution to SPC’s properties management

• In collaboration with the Facilities team, maintain all SPC’s Noumea properties.

Management property cost recoveries and budgets

• Manage property cost recoveries and budget to ensure the recoveries adequately cover the cost of maintaining the properties and periodic refurbishment works.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in project and facilities management, and/or any technical and/or legal relevant fields or equivalent body of knowledge and experience.

Technical expertise

• 5-7 years of experience in managing a team responsible for managing properties and/or implementation of routine and non-routine maintenance works projects across multiple sites.
• Excellent business and financial acumen with the proven ability to provide effective operational management to achieve agreed performance targets and deliver quality customer service.
• Experience in operating properties on a full cost recovery model.
• Specialist knowledge of and experience in applying key property legislation and relevant standards, (e.g. occupational health and safety, building standards).
• Excellent staff management skills.
• Proven ability to work with contractors on technical aspects of building.
• Highly developed written and oral and negotiation skills.

Language skills

• Excellent oral and written French & English language communication

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Experience working in an international and multicultural environment.

Salary, terms and conditions

Contract Duration – This vacant position is budgeted for 6 months.

Remuneration – the Housing Coordinator is a band 9 position in SPC’s 2025 salary scale, with a starting salary range of SDR (special drawing rights) 3,350-4,092 per month, which converts to approximately XPF 489,689-598,025 (USD 4,456-5,442; EUR 4,104-5,011). 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. Progression within the salary scale is based on annual performance reviews. SPC salaries are not presently subject to income tax in New Caledonia.

Benefits for international staff employees based in New Caledonia – SPC provides subsidised housing in Noumea and will reimburse excess accompanied luggage of up to two additional bags. Airfares, medical and life insurance are available for eligible employees. 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 bilinguism, 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 begiven to the Pacific Islander. Applicants will be assured of complete confidentiality in line with SPC’s private policy.

Application procedure

Closing date: 15 June 2025 – 11:00 pm (Noumea time)

Job Reference: CR000434

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.

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. Can you describe your experience in managing staff housing (e.g. relocation, lease agreements, facility management), particularly in an international context
2. How do you ensure that housing arrangements meet both organizational policies and the personal needs of incoming staff?
3. Tell us about a time when you had to manage a difficult housing situation. How did you resolve it?