RECSI Project Officer

• Suva-based position (Fiji)
• Attractive expatriate package
• 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, education, public health, geoscience, and conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

The Public Health Division (PHD) supports member countries in attaining healthier Pacific Island people and communities by helping in public health surveillance, prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCD) and support for clinical services. The primary areas of focus of the division are to provide scientific and technical assistance and support the implementation of plans and programmes in member countries and territories. The primary goal for all PHD activities is to promote population health and well-being, prevent disease and injury, restore, and/or maintain health and reduce inequalities in health. PHD is primarily concerned with improving and protecting public (population) health, rather than individual treatment services as highlighted in the PHD Business Plan. The PHD is comprised of three programmes: Surveillance, Preparedness and Response Programme (SPRP), NCD Prevention and Control Programme (NCDPCP) and Clinical Services Programme (CSP).

The Regional Emergency and Critical Care Strengthening Initiative (RECSI) is a complex and comprehensive program of work designed to address key development objectives related to emergency and critical care provision in Timor-Leste and the Pacific region. RECSI aims to build on the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in relation to the need for local critical care capacity, and the value of resilient emergency care systems in detecting and responding to health emergencies. RECSI will also act as a mechanism for embedding the World Health Organisation’s emergency care systems framework across the region and progressing World Health Assembly resolutions 72.16 and 76.2. 

The role – Regional Emergency and Critical Care Systems Strengthening Initiative (RECSI) Project Officer will coordinate and provide logistical and operational support to RECSI program activities across the region including program administration, coordination and management; activity, travel and logistics management; financial and procurement and support services; and project communication and reporting.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Project administration, management and coordination

• Coordinate day-to-day administration and operations work for RECSI activities including but not limited to organizing meetings, taking notes and minutes, and organizing correspondence.
• Contribute to the development of project implementation plans and monitoring delivery of activities in alignment with RECSI objectives, DFAT requirements, and to meet the needs of consortium partners.
• Support the Clinical Leads Emergency and Critical Care in coordinating the Pacific regional working group.
• Collaborate with the program leads to develop and maintain strong, enabling relationships with local stakeholders, including in-country providers, suppliers, healthcare workers and staff.

Workshop, travel, logistics and administration support

• Coordinate the logistics and operational support for RECSI activities including travel, adhering to timelines, budgets, and SPC and RECSI policies and procedures.
• Provide logistical and welfare support to staff and training participants who have travel to central locations in Fiji to participate in RECSI activities including arrangement of travel itineraries, tickets, per diems, visa support documentation and other needs.

Financial and procurement support services

• Facilitate project payments, cash advances, and related acquittals and ensuring all expenditures are charged to the correct budget lines.
• Monitor project expenditure against approved budgets monthly.
• Assist with tracking and adjusting projects’ budgets and expenditure in collaboration with RECSI staff and the PHD Finance and Administration team.
• Support the preparation and review of budgets and project expenditure for RECSI activities in the Pacific Stream including submission of required reporting and documentation to the lead contractor in line with contractual requirements.

Project communication and reporting

• Support the coordination of monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) activities including required reporting documentation for program activities in the Pacific Stream in line with RECSI and SPC requirements.
• Assist the RECSI Management Team to adjust and maintain the projects’ MEL Framework and Plan.
• Assist staff with preparing internal and external project reporting and monitoring documentation.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• A degree in public health, health management/administration, project management or a related discipline.

Technical expertise

• At least 5 years of experience working in a similar context.
• Demonstrated capability of coordinating projects including budgeting and financial management, risk management, logistics and reporting.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively, both with project teams and variety of stakeholders.
• Strong time management and organizational skills to coordinate multiple activities concurrently and independently.
• Experience working with PC systems and MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint software, and software programmes for project management.         

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 Regional Emergency and Critical Care Systems Strengthening Initiative (RECSI) Project Officer is a band 8 position in SPC’s 2024 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 2,044‒2,555 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 6,091–7,614 (USD 2,719–3,398; EUR 2,534–3,167). 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 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 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: 17 November 2024 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)

Job Reference: JM000781

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.

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 providing travel and logistics management/administration for regional and national workshops and identify three lessons learned.
2. Please describe your experience in key project administration and management tasks noted in the job description including project planning and monitoring of implementation; tracking and reviewing budgets; and contributing to monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) including reporting.
3. What do you believe are the key elements for developing and maintaining good relationships with diverse stakeholders? Please provide an example of how you have applied these in the past?