Deputy Director - Statistics for Development Division (Leadership and Governance)

• Suva-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 Statistics for Development Division’s (SDD) goal is to help the Pacific Island Countries and Territories achieve “highly competent and sustainable national statistics systems that meet national and international statistics needs for evidence-based policy, planning and monitoring.” SDD has a regional statistical system leadership and coordination role; and also supports the region directly in data infrastructure, collection, statistical methodology, analysis and dissemination.

The role – the Deputy Director – Statistics for Development Division (Leadership and Governance) will Support the Director through strategic resource mobilisation, planning and management. Catalyse and lead governance, engagement and coordination across the regional statistical system including senior levels of member country and territory agencies, donors and development partners.  On-site leadership for stakeholders and divisional staff based in Suva.

The key responsibilities of the role include the following:

Management and leadership

• Represents the Director when he/she is absent, in terms of senior external representation, driving divisional efficiency and effectiveness, and active contribution to SPC leadership discussions.
• Lead directly and indirectly SDD staff in Suva and represent internally the division with relation to issues such as networking, relations with other SPC divisions, office space, etc.
• Make a tangible contribution to the divisional leadership team’s collective management and direction of the division.
• Ensure resources (staff, consultants, interns etc.) are recruited and managed well, and contribute to results.
• Manage donor-funded projects in the team, execute and deliver high quality outputs.
• Ensure direct reports provide feedback that – when balanced with other information – suggests they are managed fairly and in a way that promotes effectiveness, efficiency and growth.

Ways of working

• Contribute in leading and inspiring improvement to ‘ways of working’ across the division.
• Ensure demonstrable contribution of the Leadership and Governance team to organisational or ‘ways of working’ objectives in the division business plan.

Delivery of team work program

• Deliver with the Leadership and Governance team ambitious yet realistic annual work plans.
• Ensure finance and Administration team works well to support the rest of the division.
• Make sure the teams deliver high quality outputs and outcomes in their areas.
• Ensure SPC is recognised international as a thought leader and centre of best practice for statistics governance and coordination.

Engagement and resource mobilization

• Drive and lead strategic thinking, planning and resource mobilisation for statistics in the region and for SDD.
• Produce business plans, budgets and reports for the division as required in their various cycles.
• Establish positive relationships with key stakeholders – in member countries, donors, and implementation partners, particularly Suva-based for whom this role is the key contact and representative of the division.
• Make sure public speaking, writing and national and regional media engagement leads to positive feedback and growing trust and understanding of issues in areas relevant to the role.
• Ensure constructive discussions are held with possible donors, leads are followed up and where necessary and possible business cases generated and approved.
• Ideas are generated and rigorously explored for generating further resources for statistics in the region, not necessarily limited to the Manager’s own team or SPC.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Masters degree in statistics, public sector management, or other academic discipline related to the substantive work of the Statistics for Development Division.

Technical expertise

• 15 years of relevant experience including 10+ in a managerial role.
• Strong relationship management, influence and engagement experience and success in leading teams of professionals.
• Senior experience in resource mobilisation, planning and budgeting.
• Experience in the collection, production and/or use of official statistics.
• A good understanding of the challenges developing countries (particularly small island states) face, in the collection, production and use of official statistics.

Language skills

• Excellent oral and written English language communication.

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Demonstrated ability to work with people from different national and cultural backgrounds.

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 – Deputy Director – Statistics for Development Division (Leadership and Governance) is a band 14 position in SPC’s 2024 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 4,784‒5,980 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 14,255–17,820 (USD 6,362–7,953; EUR 5,930–7,412). 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 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: 1 December 2024 – 11:00 pm (Noumea time)

Job Reference: KK000064

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. Briefly outline your most relevant organisational leadership experience in roles relating to official statistics
2. Briefly outline some of your experience in strategic engagement and influence with external stakeholders on sensitive issues
3. What do you see as the key opportunities for improving use of official statistics for decision-making in the Pacific?