Grants and Collaborations Officer

• 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 Operations and Management Directorate (OMD) provides corporate services to all SPC Divisions and Programmes. It consists of three key departments: Finance, Human Resources and Information Services. OMD is focused on improving the effectiveness of systems, policies and management to provide high-quality customer-oriented services.

The role – The Grants and Collaborations Officer will support the Grants and Collaborations Team in ensuring the effective and timely delivery of high-quality grant management services across SPC. This position will be responsible for providing essential support on a wide range of grant-related activities, assisting in the enhancement of stakeholder capacity and understanding of grants management processes, and contributing to the continuous improvement of grant systems and practices. The Grants and Collaborations Officer will work closely with their respective Team Leaders to foster strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring that grant activities meet the standards expected by SPC and our funders while aligning with SPC’s strategic objectives.

The key responsibilities of the role include the following:

Operations: Grants and Collaborations

• Ensure quality customer service is provided to SPC’s divisions undertaking grant and collaboration activities, and divisional relationships are maintained.
• Carry out pre-award processes, ensuring high-quality grant and collaboration proposals are awarded and consistent service provided across SPC.
• Carry out monitoring, reporting, and closure processes for grants and LOAs awarded ensuring consistent services provided to Divisions across SPC in successfully implementing Grants and collaboration activities.
• Enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of grants management by streamlining procedures, ensuring compliance with policies, and integrating best practices.

Advice and Guidance

• Provide informed advice to decision-makers (including relevant committees) on complex grant and collaboration matters, ensuring that all stakeholders' requirements are considered to deliver value outcomes.
• Offer advice and solutions to decision-makers on managing contractual and ethical considerations in grant and collaboration activities, ensuring integrity and adherence to SPC’s framework and standards.
• Risks are identified and escalated.

Reporting and Stakeholder Engagement

• Contribute to reporting for internal and external stakeholders.
• Foster strong, collaborative relationships with all SPC stakeholders, ensuring alignment and support for grants and collaborative activities.

Outreach, education and training

• Support with the development and delivery of training programs to internal and external stakeholders to enhance understanding and management of grants and collaborations, including pre-award and post-award processes, and as part of SPC’s performance enhancement work.
• Maintain open lines of communication with key stakeholders, building strong relationships to support the effective implementation of grants and collaborative initiatives.
• Publish regular updates online (and in person) with SPC’s divisions, including regular intranet news stories and other internal communication with key stakeholders

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in law, finance, procurement, administration or international development or a equivalent body of knowledge and experience.

Technical expertise

• At least 5 years of experience providing advice on grants, collaborations, project management or stakeholder engagement, financial or legal management in a public sector or not-for-profit environment.
• Strong ability to engage and collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including internal teams, external partners, and funders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present information clearly and persuasively to different audiences.
• Commitment to upholding ethical standards and ensuring transparency in all activities.
• Familiarity with grant management, donor compliance, or collaboration processes.

Language skills

• Excellent English communication skills (oral and written) with a working knowledge of French being an advantage.

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 funding and performance.

Remuneration – the Grants and Collaborations Officer is a Band 9 position in SPC’s 2024 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 3,209–3,915 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately XPF 474,675–579,141 (USD 4,268–5,207; EUR 3,978–4,853). An offer of appointment for an initial contract will be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration being given to experience and qualifications. Progression within the salary scale will be 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 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: 5 January 2025 – 11:00 pm (Noumea time)

Job Reference: KK000072

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. How do you approach developing and maintaining relationships with internal stakeholders (e.g., program and finance teams).
2. Can you provide an example of how you have worked with a finance department to ensure financial compliance for a grant?
3. What systems or tools do you use to track and manage grant data, and how do you ensure accuracy and accessibility for stakeholders?