• 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 Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (FAME) division 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 – the Projects Officer will provide implementation and technical support across FAME ensuring budget preparation, financial monitoring, audit compliance, procurement processes, grants, travel, workshops, high-level meetings and efficient administration through the Division’s Implementation Support team. The projects officer will support planning, monitoring and reporting of Projects activities. The key primary focus of this role is to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the Programmes in strict adherence to the Pacific Community (SPC) and donor requirements.

The key responsibilities of the role include the following:

Budget preparation, monitoring, and financial activities

• Support the PEUMP PMU, AFD and other project teams in monitoring the overall project budget and forecasts.
• Assist the PEUMP PMU, AFD and other project teams in the preparation of timely multi-purpose project financial (numerical and narrative) reports for SPC and donors.

Procurement and grants activities

• Support all requests for proposals, requests for quotations and expressions of interest in line with SPC and donor requirements.
• Provide accurate information to managers and staff on the different requirements of procurement and grants.
• Facilitate all evaluation processes and ensure they are compliant with SPC requirements.
• Facilitate the preparation and monitoring of the project’s annual procurement plan.
• Manage vendor relationships and ensure communication flows are clear and timely.
• Monitor all procurement and grants actions using key databases and workflows to ensure efficiency, completeness, availability of up-to-date information, and to allow effective follow- up action.
• Support grant requests and associated requirements for the Procurement Committee vetting process and consequently the facilitation of signing process with partner.

Travel and workshop activities

• Coordinate, process, and progress individual and group travel requirements, informing personnel/consultants/donors of travel procedures.
• Prepare, coordinate and organize workshop/meeting logistics (venue bookings, vendor payments, transport arrangements, accommodation, catering, registrations, technology, interpretation, ad-hoc requirements etc.) covering support to SPC PEUMP implementation partners inclusive of multi-partner workshops/meetings between SPC and the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner (OPOC) or other PEUMP partners.
• Ensure workshop/meeting notifications, papers, documentation, and presentations are coordinated, logically organised, and circulated in a timely manner.
• Ensure workshops/meetings/high-level meetings with senior officials, either face-to-face, virtual or a hybrid, run smoothly with adequate technical/facilitation support in place.

Project results reporting, audit, and compliance

• Facilitate all preparations for any project audit and support any external review or evaluation on financial and grant matters. Liaise with auditors to provide required documentation in a timely manner.
• Update systematically the electronic filing system covering all financial, procurement, and grant documents.
• Ensure expenditures and reporting are compliant with applicable SPC policies and donor requirements and with grant contractual agreements.
• Ensure all aspects of a project’s financial information, including accounting transactions, are accurately captured in the SPC financial system, with any discrepancies corrected in a timely manner.
• Work closely with other divisional finance and procurement officers to provide training and capacity building to division staff on finance policies and processes.

Continuous improvement and business efficiency

• Actively contribute to SPC corporate business improvement/change initiatives and reviews (processes etc.). This may include representation on working groups, testing teams, etc...
• Ensure that implementation support aligns with SPC policies and procedures.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Degree in a relevant field such as accounting, financial management or business administration or equivalent body of knowledge and experience.

Technical expertise

• At least 4-5 years of experience in projects finance, procurement, administration, and events management.
• Demonstrated experience in financial audit administration.
• Sound experience in logistics management
• inclusive of travel for workshops and training programs.
• Demonstrated experience managing budgets with a good understanding of performance and planning processes.
• Demonstrated capacity to organise high level meetings and workshops efficiently and effectively.
• Demonstrated capacity to interact with various stakeholders and facilitate linkages.

Language skills

• Good communication skills, including written English and the ability to write for and to a variety of stakeholder groups.

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Knowledge of Pacific Island countries and territories is an advantage.

Salary, terms and conditions

Contract Duration – This contract is budgeted for 3 years and is subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.

Remuneration – the Projects Officer is a band 8 position in SPC’s 2026 salary scale, with a starting salary range of SDR (special drawing rights) 3,038-3,702 per month, which converts to approximately XPF 438,381-534,098 (USD 4,071-4,960; EUR 3,674-4,476). SPC salaries are not presently subject to income tax in New Caledonia. 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.

Benefits for Staff in a position advertised internationally (EPAI) whose duty station is Noumea – SPC provides housing support in Noumea. 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 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 February 2026 – 11:00 pm (Noumea time)

Job Reference: CR000539

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. Please describe how you would provide procurement support to a colleague who is a technical or scientific specialist, but has limited operational knowledge on how to undertake international procurement.
2. Describe your experience in managing project budgets, including budget preparation, monitoring, and financial reporting.
3. Please provide examples of how you have facilitated administrative tasks such as travel arrangements, meeting coordination, and financial acquittals in your previous roles. How do you ensure accuracy and timeliness in your administrative work.