Coastal Fisheries Information Technology Officer/Trainer

• 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 one of SPC’s oldest Divisions and it has been providing scientific and technical expertise to support fisheries management and sustainable development in the Pacific for over 60 years. FAME’s goal is that fisheries resources of the Pacific region are sustainably managed for economic growth, food security and environmental conservation. FAME includes the Oceanic Fisheries Programme (OFP) and Coastal Fisheries Programme (CFP). OFP is the region’s centre for oceanic fisheries science and information, providing essential data collection, data management and modelling and analysis services to the Pacific. CFP provides science and technical support to PICTs to enhance the management of coastal fisheries, and the sustainable development of aquaculture and nearshore livelihoods across the region. The work of OFP and CFP are supported by the FAME Director’s Office, which includes the Information Section, communications, and monitoring, evaluation and learning.

The role – the Coastal Fisheries Information Technology Officer/Trainer will maintain and extend SPC Coastal Fisheries & Aquaculture data collection systems, provide training and user support including data quality control on these systems, and contributes to the inventory, documentation and dissemination of coastal fisheries and aquaculture related data and information in the Pacific region.

The key responsibilities of the role include the following:

Training and user assistance

• Conduct training at SPC and in countries on the use of SPC developed databases and mobile applications for coastal fisheries and aquaculture data collection and analysis.
• Provide first level of support to users of FAME databases and mobile applications.
• Participate to the elaboration of training materials and training videos in support to data collection and data entry.

Software development and maintenance

• Participate in the development and maintenance of online and mobile database frontends.
• Participate in the migration, development and maintenance of FAME and CBFM Drupal web sites and provide assistance and training to content providers.
• Install and maintain in-country servers and associated databases if necessary.

Regional data repository

• Participate in the inventory and collection of existing datasets, reports and document metadata for those datasets and documents.
• Transform and clean country datasets if required so that they can be analysed and imported in a data warehouse.

Promote inter-agency networking and cross-sectoral collaboration

• Liaise and work closely with other work areas under the PEUMP programme for the betterment of databases and information in support of community-based fisheries management.
• Develop and promote collaborations with other sections within SPC on issues such as gender, equity, disability and social inclusion, food security, small-scale livelihoods, climate change adaptation, etc.

Section administration and communication

• Assist the Coastal Fisheries Information and Database Manager to develop annual work plans and reports.
• Maintain up to date corporate and administrative procedures, including training data for all activities undertaken.
• Contribute where applicable to Programme, Divisional and Corporate publications, such as Fisheries Newsletters and PEUMP programme articles and reports.
• Produce reports for all activities undertaken in the appropriate format for the activity including technical reports and trip reports, and input to funding proposals, donor reports.
• Fill in for staff when they are on leave or duty travel, when required.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Degree in computer science or a related subject or equivalent body of knowledge and experience.

Technical expertise

• A minimum of 5 years of demonstrated experience in software and database development and the successful implementation of medium- to large-scale web, desktop and/or mobile applications.
• A minimum of 3 years of demonstrated work experience with C# and 1 year demonstrated work experience with Xamarin/.NET MAUI development.
• Ability to design, plan and facilitate workshops and other trainings and provide user support.
• Willingness and demonstrated capacity to travel and undertake overseas assignments in SPC member countries, sometimes under difficult physical conditions.

Language skills

• Excellent communication skills in English (oral and written) with the capacity to engage scientific, government, public and fisher audiences.

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Demonstrated capability for collaborating and working in an integrated programme involving colleagues from several different countries and cultures.
• Knowledge of Pacific Island countries and territories is an advantage.

Salary, terms and conditions

Contract Duration – This contract is budgeted until 20 May 2027.

Remuneration – the Coastal Fisheries Information Technology Officer/Trainer is a band 10 position in SPC’s 2025 salary scale, with a starting salary range of SDR (special drawing rights) 3,568-4,364 per month, which converts to approximately XPF 521,491-637,777 (USD 4,745-5,804; EUR 4,370-5,345). 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. 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. 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:  27 April 2025 – 11:00 pm (Noumea time)

Job Reference: CR000406

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. Describe and provide links to web & mobile database font-end applications you maintained/developed in C# / Xamarin/.NET MAUI and explain what your role in the development of these applications was.
2. Describe your experience in providing training and user support on web & mobile applications for data collection across several countries.
3. Describe your experience in documenting and cleaning legacy datasets in relation with fisheries or field surveys.