- Suva-based position (Fiji)
- 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 organisation works across more than 25 sectors. We are known for our knowledge and innovation in such areas as fisheries science, public health, geoscience, and conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.
The Geoscience Energy and Maritime (GEM) Division provides advice, technical assistance, research and training support to Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs). There are four (4) areas of scientific programming within this division:
- Oceans and Maritime Programme (OMP) – assists member countries with services that provide applied ocean science and knowledge for evidence-based policy-making and technical solutions for improved ocean and maritime governance, management and capacity development.
- Georesources and Energy Programme (GEP) – assists member countries by applying technical knowledge in the areas of geoscience and sustainable energy use.
- Disaster and Community Resilience Programme (DCRP) – assists member countries to demonstrate strengthened resilience through integrated action on disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, natural resource management and increased access to water and sanitation.
- Earth and Ocean Observation Services – Promoting spatial data and systems analysis and capacity to improve decision-making to improve resilience and sustainable resource management.
The role – Project Officer – Clean Seas will monitor the overall implementation of projects to ensure planned results and milestones are being met; track progress against results frameworks; lead project and resource management, project planning and technical coordination, stakeholder engagement, monitoring and evaluation, implementation of capacity development as well as project reporting and communication.
The key responsibilities of the role include:
Project and Resource Coordination
- Develop and maintain project schedules and ensure timely completion.
- Support with the management of project resources such as budget, materials and personnel.
- Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies.
- Support in developing the project team capabilities through training, courses, events, etc.).
Project Planning and Technical Coordination
- Coordinate project activities including but not limited to travel, logistics and administration support.
- Provide support in the development of proposals, abstracts and papers related to the project.
- Conduct technical and academic research.
- Organise and facilitate project meetings both internally and externally.
Stakeholder Engagement, Monitoring and Evaluation
- Track and evaluate project performance and engagement.
- Quality assurance – conduct due diligence checks to ensure that project outputs are delivered in compliance with project commitments.
- Manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Ensure projects monitoring and evaluation activities are undertaken in compliance with both SPC and donor requirements.
Capacity Development Strategy – Development and Implementation
- Assist with the preparation of a capacity development strategy for the project.
- Support the development of workshop content.
- Deliver capacity development workshops in project countries through course material development, teaching, reviewing and facilitating.
- Support the team in development of e-learning materials and course modules.
Project Reporting and Communication
- Prepare progress reports, briefs, and any other documentation required by stakeholders.
- Create and maintain comprehensive project documentation.
- Ensure all project documentations are accessible.
- Create and/ or assist in curation of content for the communications team (publications, webinars, website content, social media, etc.).
For a more detailed account of the key responsibilities, please refer to the online job description.
Key selection criteria
Qualifications
- Degree in science, remote sensing, environmental management, GIS or equivalent body of knowledge and experience.
Technical expertise
- 7-8 years of experience in a similar role working with remote sensing and / or plastics.
- Experience leading a project and people.
- Python programming.
- Proficiency in QGIS.
- Experience working with various data types.
- Experience working with NGO’s, donors and member countries.
- Experience in facilitating capacity building workshops.
Language skills
- Excellent English communication skills (oral and written) with a working knowledge of French being an advantage.
Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness
- Ability to work in a multicultural, inclusive and equitable environment.
Salary, terms and conditions
Contract Duration – Until 30 April 2028 – subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.
Remuneration – The Project Officer – Clean Seas is a band 9 position in SPC’s 2026 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 2,399‒2,998 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 7,412–9,265 (USD 3,214–4,018; EUR 2,900–3,625). 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 Staff in a position advertised internationally (EPAI) whose duty station is Suva – SPC provides a housing allowance of FJD 1,500–5,200 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: 23 August 2026 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)
Job Reference: JM000962
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):
- Can you tell us about a time when you used GIS modelling to monitor environmental pollution or plastics?
- Can you tell us about a time when you have had to use both Python and AI for a GIS application? What were the steps you took and how did you critically assess the AI outputs?
- If you had to identify waste dumpsites using a supervised classification, what would be the steps you would take?
