Senior Implementation Support Assistant

• Attractive local package
• Friendly and supportive team environment
• 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, public health surveillance, geoscience, and conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

The SPC’s Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (FAME) capability has been providing scientific and technical expertise to support fisheries management and sustainable development in the Pacific for over 65 years. The goal of SPC FAME is that the fisheries resources of the Pacific region are sustainably managed for economic growth, food security and environmental conservation. In pursuit of this goal, SPC FAME provides scientific and management advice to Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) and regional agencies to support the management of sustainable oceanic fisheries, coastal fisheries, marine ecosystems and aquaculture development. Along with addressing the challenges in the management of the region’s marine resources, there are also significant opportunities to derive greater economic and social benefits from them. Deriving greater benefits from the tuna fisheries, the development of aquaculture in the region, along with alternative livelihoods in coastal fisheries, hold significant potential. SPC FAME provides technical assistance to support PICTs to maximise these sustainable development opportunities in the marine sector and in some parts of the freshwater sector.

SPC FAME is composed of three programmes: the Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Programme (CFAP); the Oceanic Fisheries Programme (OFP); and the Marine Ecosystems Programme (MEP). The Director’s Office provides implementation support and strategic direction across the three programmes and cross-cutting projects. Working with all 22 PICTs, SPC FAME has strong partnerships with regional, sub-regional and national entities working in the marine sector. SPC FAME staff are based in New Caledonia, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tonga, with most of the staff being based in New Caledonia.

The role – Senior Implementation Support Assistant will provide implementation support to the PEUMP PMU ensuring administration, travel, finance, procurement and workshop activities follow SPC best practice and meet policy requirements.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Focus on implementation of finance and procurement activities to SPC policies and standards

• Prepare, progress, and reconcile finance and procurement activities ensuring compliance with SPC’s Financial Guidelines (purchase orders, invoices, payments, contracts and vendor management, cash advances, acquittals, update of annual procurement plan).
• Provide support to the PEUMP PMU Finance Officer with the preparation of financial reports and subsequent invoices.
• Assist PEUMP implementing teams, partners and beneficiaries with general requests, providing guidance on SPC policy and procedures.

Focus on implementation of travel and workshops activities to SPC policies and standards

• Coordinate, process, and progress travel requirements, informing personnel / consultants / donors of travel procedures.
• Prepare, coordinate and organize workshop/meeting logistics (budget development, venue bookings, vendor payments, transport arrangements, accommodation, catering, registrations, technology, interpretation, ad-hoc requirements etc.).
• Ensure workshop/meeting notifications, papers, documentation, and presentations are coordinated, logically organised, and circulated in a timely manner.

Focus on programme administration support to managers and teams with continuous improvement and business efficiency

• Manage day-to-day administration and operations work.
• Assist managers of teams to prepare, organize, collate and archive team information for circulation amongst PEUMP and broader FAME and input into corporate functions.
• Provide backstopping support to other project teams within FAME when required.
• Actively contribute to SPC corporate business improvements and enhancements.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification (diploma) in office management, administration, secretarial studies or equivalent body of knowledge and experience.

Technical expertise

• At least 7 years’ experience in business and/or project support within a medium-to- large organisation or similar.
• Excellent team player.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suites, specifically Word, Excel and PowerPoint.    

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

Remuneration – the Senior Implementation Support Assistant is a band 7 position in SPC’s 2025 salary scale, with a commencing taxable salary range of FJD 2,402-3,002 per month, plus local staff benefits. An offer of appointment for an initial contract will be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration being given to experience and qualifications. Progression within the salary scale will be based on annual performance reviews.

Benefits for Staff in a position advertised locally (EPAL) whose duty station is Suva – SPC provides medical and life insurance 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).

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 – 12 November 2025 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)

Job Reference: JM000914

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.

Only Fijian citizens are eligible to apply for this role.

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. Identify one high value procurement challenge you have faced in your current line of work and explain how it was resolved.
2. Accurate financial data is important for reporting purposes. Can you explain one method you have used that has effectively ensured the correctness of data for reporting purposes?
3. SPC carries out a lot of regional workshops as part of our work portfolio. What are 2 risks and solutions you can identify from arranging a workshop for multiple external participants?