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, geoscience, and conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

The Programme – Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Programme (CCES) was established to support SPC in strengthening and streamlining its climate change initiatives by consolidating the existing climate change work of SPC under strategic and technical management. In addition, CCES provides leadership in SPC’s climate change and environmental sustainability actions, coordinates and liaises with regional and international partners coherently for the organisation and enhances mainstreaming of the issue within its divisional development work.

The Pacific Regional Nationally Determined Contributions Hub (in the following referred to as “the NDC Hub”) aims to address identified needs and priorities of Pacific Island Countries (PICs) to enhance and successfully implement their NDCs.

The role – NDC Hub Manager will coordinate and manage the NDC Hub and more specifically the handover process of the NDC hub coordination from German Corporation for International Cooperation GmbH (GIZ) to SPC and the subsequent shaping of the Project Management Unit from 09/2024 onwards being an integral part of the SPC organisational structure, based on the experiences of Implementation Unit under previous GIZ management of the Secretariat.

The role will provide leadership, technical guidance, overall management and implementation, including the supervision and oversight of the administration, financial management and contracts related to the NDC Hub. The contracts include consulting contracts as well as grant and financing agreements to be concluded with implementing partners. The role will also provide information and support as requested on NDC priorities for effective engagement of Pacific SIDS in the UNFCCC COP and PA process. This will be coordinated as part of SPCs support through OneCROP.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Implementation, Coordination and Reporting of the NDC hub

• Provide leadership, technical guidance, overall management and implementation of the handover process of the NDC hub in strong collaboration with the current NDC hub manager until August 2024.
• Provide leadership, technical guidance, overall management and implementation of the operational setup of the NDC hub within SPC after August 2024.
• Ensure day to day management implementation budgeting monitoring and reporting in the NDC hub coordination group (which includes all implementing partners), including supervision of staff.
• Design and oversee technical and financial agreement with implementing partners and co-financing agreements from donors.
• Coordinate the implementation of the 2030 strategy.

Support leveraging of climate finance for the sustainability of the NDC hub

• Until August 2024 in close coordination with the GIZ Project Manager, develop and maintain strategic partnerships with project donors.
• After August 2024, identify funding and scaling sources and opportunities as well as new and cutting-edge partnerships.
• Identify sector-specific climate change needs drawing from relevant national and regional documents in coordination with SPC’s climate finance capabilities and services, and the CCFP coordination arrangement.
• Engage with line ministries, sector specialists and government focal points on climate change and climate finance (e.g. NDAs) to identify national priorities for accessing climate finance, in consultation with leads on climate finance including, CFU, Special Modalities, and the CCFP coordination arrangement.

Relationship Management & Representation

• Until August 2024 in close coordination with the GIZ Project Manager, ensure coherence and coordination on climate change activities internally, and with external partners.
• After August 2024, support SPC under the CCFP in leading, developing and implementing inter-divisional programmes that mainstream climate change across the whole organization, including supporting implementation of the Paris Agreement’s objectives as they relate to the NDCs by SPC’s programmes and operations.
• Represent the SPC/NDC Hub in international or regional events, to strategically and technically contribute to the long-term development of the NDC hub.

Support informed Pacific engagement in the relevant multilateral processes

• Support UNFCCC negotiations and COP on topics of NDC as appropriate, in close coordination with the Senior Advisor Climate Change Multilateral Agreements.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in project management, public sector or business administration; or equivalent combination of degree and work experience.

Technical expertise

• About 10 years of practical experience in the Development and climate change areas.
• Around 5 years of experience in large (over 5 million euros) climate change project management and/or development.
• Proven experience in grants writing & mobilisation of funds.
• Sound knowledge of issues related to climate change adaptation, mitigation and loss and damage in SIDS.
• Prior experience in managing projects in complex regional or international institutional setting with numerous partners, including design, organisation, delivery, and MEL of project activities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills in the multicultural environment of the Pacific Islands and experience in day-to-day engagement with Government ministries and agencies.
• Excellent drafting and writing skills including for a variety of reports and audiences.
• Excellent proven experience in engaging with other stakeholders (private sector, NGOs, development partners).
• Proven track record in organizing consultations, validation meetings, workshops at the national and regional level.
• A proactive and positive team player able to work effectively in a multicultural environment, with great initiative, willing to lend a hand in a broad range of tasks to support the CCES team in achieving their goals.
• Demonstrated competence in being well organized, works effectively under minimal supervision, able to multi-task, and effectively meet deadlines on multiple, and sometimes urgent requests for support.

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 NDC Hub Manager is a band 12 position in SPC’s 2024 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 3,565‒4,456 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 10,623–13,279 (USD 4,741–5,927; EUR 4,419–5,524). 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 1,350–3,000 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 matching 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

Job Reference: JM000572.

Applicants must click 'Apply Now' to apply online.

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 describe your experience in terms of coordination of a multi-partners / multi-donors climate change project / programme or activity you have led, including your role in the team, the methodology, and key learnings.
2. Describe what the NDC's are and what you feel is the importance of the NDC Hub in providing support to members for their implementation.
3. How do you think the NDC Hub moving into SPCs management can leverage off SPC's technical capabilities across its sectors, and its growing capability in climate finance like its accredited entity status with the GCF?

A position description is attached.