Research Assistant

• Attractive local package
• Friendly and supportive team environment
• Join the principal development organization in the Pacific 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 Human Rights and Social Development Division has a vision for just, equitable and resilient Pacific societies and it aims to achieve this by advancing human rights, equality and social inclusion for all Pacific people, grounded in cultural values and principles. The work of this Division includes work previously undertaken by the Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT) in the area of human rights and the Social Development Programme (SDP) in the areas of gender equality and social inclusion, culture and youth development.

 

In line with its vision, the work of the Division will encompass the following focal areas:

• Objective 1: Pacific institutions are strong, transparent, and responsive for upholding and promoting human rights and implementing inclusive, gender sensitive and culturally respectful development.
• Objective 2: Pacific Civil Society understand and can advocate for their rights and uphold cultural values.
• Objective 3: Pacific culture is protected, preserved, and promoted and culturally relevant and appropriate knowledge and systems are integrated across all work.
• Objective 4: All PSC programs and operations are grounded in people centered approaches and consider the rights and cultural values of diverse groups including women, children, youth and persons with disabilities.
• Objective 5: HRSD Division teams work collectively, coherently, and efficiently and to a high standard to achieve shared success for Pacific societies.

 

As the key implementing partner for the Pacific Women Lead portfolio, SPC leads the Pacific Women Lead (PWL) at SPC programme (PWL at SPC), located within SPC’s HRSD Division. The PWL at SPC programme receives more than AUD 55 million under the Australian Government’s AUD 170 million PWL portfolio. PWL at SPC has funding for five years from 2021-2026.

 

The PWL at SPC programme goal is that Pacific women and girls, in all their diversity, are safe and equitably share in resources, opportunities and decision-making, with men and boys. There are three outcomes: (1) Women’s leadership promoted; (2) Women’s rights realised; and (3) Pacific regional partners increase the effectiveness of regional gender equality efforts. Joining PWL at SPC, other central partners include PWL Enabling Services (PWLES); AIR (Amplify – Invest – Reach) partnership of women’s funds, civil society organisations and coalitions; and the Australian Government’s direct relationships with development partners for regional programmes, such as the United Nations (UN).

 

The role – Research Assistant will manage the Toksave Pacific Gender Resource. This role will implement Toksave-related activities under the PWL at SPC programme, including technical assistance as required for PWL at SPC research activities. There will be opportunities to learn and develop in this role, including building technical and operational skills in line with skills development within the organization.

 

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Support delivery of the PWL at SPC Research Strategy

• Support the delivery of the PWL at SPC Research Strategy by providing support for publications, coordination of events and capacity building opportunities for emerging Pacific women researchers.
• Work closely with the PWL at SPC Research Officer and other research mechanisms in HRSD to ensure timely and appropriate information is gathered to support PWL at SPC events.

Communication  

• Support Toksave’s communications strategy which includes weekly automated emails highlighting new research – sent to members and newsletter subscribers.
• Ad hoc emails notifying the community of new events added to Toksave’s What’s On page and posting information and updates through Toksave’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.
• Respond to queries submitted through the Toksave web form, email or social media messages.

Outreach

• Contact and network with Pacific gender researchers to increase Toksave’s membership and submissions.
• Coordinate Toksave branded events such as panel discussions and forums, focusing on the latest Pacific gender research and lessons from implementation.

Website Management and Administration

• Use the existing, user-friendly Content Management System (CMS) to develop and publish content to the website, while working with the external technical web supplier to oversee any maintenance or coordination required for the back end of the website.
• Write content and gather images and infographics for populating the website.
• Website content management including updating and maintaining the content and researchers to ensure adherence to the portal’s guidelines.

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

 

 

Key selection criteria

 

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as gender, social policy development studies, communications or information systems.

Technical expertise

• At least 3-4 years’ experience in a related field.
• Experience in managing media content, including social media.
• Experience in managing and working on websites/data management.
• Experience in coordinating events, both online and face to face.
• MS program suite including Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Familiarity with graphic design tools.                                                                                        

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 – Until 30 June 2026 – subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.

 

Remuneration – The Research Assistant is a band 7 position in SPC’s 2024 salary scale, with a commencing taxable salary range of FJD 2,287-2,859 per month, plus local staff benefits. 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.

 

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 – 4 August 2024 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)

Job Reference: JM000711

 

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. What experience have you had in information storage and management, particularly with online portals and databases? Please provide some examples from your experience of challenges faced and how you were able to overcome them.
2. Please describe research assistance you have provided in the past, particularly if you have had experience with gender-specific research? This includes administration tasks for researchers, collating data and evidence and support facilitation.
3. Please outline your experience in stakeholder engagement and coordination, particularly in the leadup to events. What have you learnt from this experience?

Position Description