Program Manager - Digital Earth Pacific (DEP)

• 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 role – the Program Manager – Digital Earth Pacific (DEP) will oversee and manage programmes associated with Digital Earth Pacific (DEP). Specifically, the Program Manager will be responsible for the overall implementation of DEP which involves providing high-level strategic and technical advice on DEP; day-to-day management, coordination, and oversight of operations and finances; resource mobilisation; performance and quality control.

The key responsibilities of the role include the following:

Overall management and delivery of the DEP

• Lead the detailed design and delivery of DEP country and regionally-led activities.
• Provide day-to-day, results-orientated, and adaptive management, implementation, and coordination of all DEP activities.
• Ensure program objectives are sustainably realised, and activities are implemented in accordance with: beneficiary priorities, formal agreements; and the operational policies and procedures of SPC and PICs.
• Ensure robust project management, administration, knowledge/records management systems and processes are established and streamlined.
• Ensure DEP financial management is sound and in accordance with SPC, donor and audit requirements.
• Coordinate and manage all DEP procurement and contract/grant management requirements for funded services, supplies, equipment, and infrastructure.
• Oversee monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) within the project in line with SPC requirements.
• Prepare high-quality and timely progress and completion reports, work plans for the SPC management, donors, PIC members and partners.

Providing high-level strategic and technical expert advice on DEP

• Facilitate multi-stakeholder consultative forums to develop, negotiate and later evaluate and reflect on DEP activities.
• Increase stakeholder awareness and knowledge of strengthening DEP at various levels.
• Provide oversight of the technical quality of all DEP outputs and deliverables.
• Undertake high-level strategic analyses of DEP and other activities in the Pacific; and identify human capacity gaps in key sectors where appropriate.
• Use analysis to provide expert advice, briefings, and information products to senior government officials, SPC management, donor representatives and other stakeholders to inform the development, implementation and monitoring of appropriate risk-informed activities.
• Facilitate access to expertise, and knowledge sharing within and between Pacific Island countries, and promote Pacific-Pacific cooperation.

Supporting contributing members across SPC in collaboration with relevant divisions

• Oversee and support where needed technical contractors and services in accordance with SPC policies and procedures.
• Provide indirect support and contributions to performance management of DEP staff in accordance with SPC policies and procedures.
• Negotiate and contribute to achieving effective project support arrangements for DEP staff sitting under alternative line management structures.
• Ensure all personnel supporting DEP actions receive adequate assistance to fulfil their obligations to the project whilst also developing professionally as individuals.
• Encourage open communication to discuss performance, and actively share experience in project management and reasoning behind all decision making with the DEP team.
• Actively schedule time for staff and make yourself available for DEP contributing members with concerns at all other times.
• Create an open and confidential environment to resolve performance issues.

Facilitating effective advocacy, communications, and engagement within and between Pacific Islands Countries, SPC, and other collaborating entities, and stakeholders

• Establish and maintain effective communications with Pacific Island Countries concerning their needs and the implementation of the DEP.
• Ensure appropriate communications, engagement and visibility activities are undertaken for the project in line with the Communications, Engagement and Visibility Strategy agreed with the SPC and supporting partners.
• Coordinate high-level government participation and program oversight through the established governance mechanisms and national steering committee process for the program.
• Ensure that DEP is delivered within the context of, and contributes to the achievement of, the SPC Strategic Plan, Divisional business plans and regional policy frameworks.
• Strengthen regional cooperation and coordination and establishment of communities of practice; and contribute to other regional and global coordination mechanisms, such as the Pacific Resilience Partnership, Ocean Geospatial Symposium, Pacific GIS/RS User Groups, Group of Earth Observations (GEO), Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS)

Supporting the capacity, efficacy, and impact of SPC

• Provide expert advice and support to strategic planning and for DEP in SPC more broadly.
• Promote collaborations and relationships within DEP, divisions and SPC more broadly.
• Lead and promote networking between key stakeholders, individuals and projects involved in DEP actions where relevant.
• Support the development of proposals, including to source assistance from donors and other development partners in the region.
• Support formal and informal reporting to DEP donor and development partners as required.
• Identify and leverage synergies between DEP and other SPC programmes, ensuring that DEP outcomes complement and enhance SPC’s portfolio of data products and services and support broader strategic initiatives.
• Establish and maintain strong collaborative relationships with SPC programmes, facilitating coordination efforts to align strategic objectives, share best practices and optimise resource allocation.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• A Master’s degree from a recognised institution (and/or equivalent work experience) in a discipline relevant to project/programme management, international development, natural resources management, climate or environmental science, remote sensing.

 Technical expertise

• At least 15 years in a similar program management position with complex multi-donor, multi-beneficiary projects ideally with experience in the Pacific Islands region.
• Experience of managing projects being simultaneously implemented at multiple levels – regional, national, sub-national and community (including in remote island locations).
• Thorough understanding of adaptive and results-orientated project management, including: project-cycles; log-frames; financial forecasting and reporting; procurement and contract management; MERL; and risk management.
• Understanding of applying gender and social inclusion approaches to development and mitigating adverse environmental impacts
• Demonstrable experience in leading and motivating culturally and disciplinary diverse and dispersed teams.
• Sound knowledge of organisational affairs and systems and processes.
• Experience in managing and coordinating staff and their performance to achieve high productivity and ensure staff wellbeing.
• Track record in contributing to and advocating for the open source software and open data ecosystem

Language skills

• Fluency in English.

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

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

Salary, terms and conditions

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

Remuneration – the Program Manager – Digital Earth Pacific (DEP) is a Band 13 position in SPC’s 2024 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 5,438–6,701 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately XPF 804,323–991,168 (USD 7,232–8,912; EUR 6,740–8,306). 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. 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 private policy.

Application procedure

Closing date: 5 May 2024 – 11:00 pm Noumea time

Job Reference: CR000214

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: (2.000 characters maximum per question)

1. Delivering on-the-ground resilient development actions in Small Island Developing states brings many challenges. Based on your experience, identify the three most important challenges in addressing these development priorities.
2. It is important that project activities are locally-owned and solutions are locally appropriate. Describe three approaches you can adopt to achieve this in a regionally coordinated initiative.
3. What key actions, systems and processes can support effective project, contract and financial management and reporting in a project involving multiple collaborating entities?