Monitoring Control and Surveillance Officer (Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture)

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 20 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 Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (FAME) Division includes the Oceanic Fisheries Programme (OFP) and Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Programme (CFAP). CFAP’s goal is to ensure that inshore fisheries, nearshore fisheries and aquaculture in Pacific Island countries and territories are managed and developed sustainably. The programme assists governments and administrations to develop scientifically informed and socially achievable coastal fisheries management policies and procedures (national and community-based). It provides support for sustainable aquaculture, including planning, research and development, aquatic biosecurity and trade, for Pacific Island governments, the private sector and other stakeholders. It assists in developing sustainable nearshore fisheries in Pacific Island countries and territories to provide for food security, sustainable livelihoods, economic growth and assist climate change adaptation. 

The Monitoring Control and Surveillance Officer (Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture) will provide, support and assist the training of national MCS officers and community wardens responsible for coastal fisheries and aquaculture monitoring, control and surveillance within the Pacific island countries and territories, to help ensure effective coastal fisheries and aquaculture management across the Pacific islands region by raising the profile of compliance with coastal fisheries and aquaculture regulations. 

The key responsibilities of the role include the following: 

• Facilitate and support the training of new national coastal fisheries and aquaculture MCS officers and assist with the ongoing training and mentoring of existing fisheries officers as they develop their MCS careers
• Facilitate and support training of community-based fish wardens and community compliance officers using the Professional Certificate in Community Compliance as a basic guiding approach to training
• Assist with developing specific training materials for individual countries through stakeholder consultations based on their needs, and taking into account gender, culture and human rights needs in the PICTs
• Section administration and communication. 

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

Key selection criteria 

Qualifications 

• Postgraduate degree or equivalent in a field relevant to natural resource management with a focus on monitoring control and surveillance 

Knowledge and experience 

• At least 7 years’ practical experience with monitoring, control and surveillance, preferably in the Pacific.
• Experience in training and mentoring counterparts and supervising attachments and junior staff.
• Previous interaction with and knowledge of MCS in the Pacific region.
• Demonstrated experience in training, writing reports, reporting against project work plans and managing project expenditure. 

Essential skills 

• Demonstrated experience in working as part of a team or alone with minimal supervision
• Proven ability to assist with the facilitation of stakeholder consultations to reach a workable solution
• Willingness to travel and work in the Pacific region for extended periods, sometimes under difficult conditions
• Excellent computer skills across necessary applications such as Excel, PowerPoint, Word, TEAMs, etc.  

Language skills 

• Excellent skills in cross-cultural oral and written communication and teamwork in English, with the capacity to engage effectively with scientific, government, public and community audiences 

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness 

• Demonstrated capacity to work with people from different technical skills and cultural backgrounds.
• Knowledge of Pacific Island countries and territories is an advantage

Salary, terms and conditions 

Contract Duration – 3 years

Due to the current travel restrictions caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, and the priority SPC places on its staff safety, health and well-being, please note that there may be delays in taking up the appointment. These matters will be discussed thoroughly with successful candidates. In most cases, any appointment and on-boarding would only commence when relocation to the duty station is permitted.

Remuneration – The Monitoring Control and Surveillance Officer (Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture) is a Band 10 position in SPC’s 2022 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 2,512?3,140 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 7,410–9,263 (USD 3,592–4,490; EUR 3,014–3,768). 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 are 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 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 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 – 27 March 2022 at 11:59pm Fiji time

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
• contact details for three professional referees
• a cover letter detailing your skills, experience and interest in this position
• responses to all screening questions

Please ensure your documents are in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format.

Applicants should not attach copies of qualifications or letters of reference. These documents may be requested at a later stage.

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 the Fijian 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.

Please ensure that you respond to all the screening questions.  If you do not respond to the screening questions, your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed at shortlisting stage.

Screening Questions (maximum of 2.000 characters per question): 

1. Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing is a significant problem in offshore tuna fisheries and receives appropriate funding and resources from Pacific Island governments to address the issues. Coastal fisheries by comparison does not receive the same attention from governments despite small scale IUU and minor infringements being common. Explain why this anomaly exists and the steps you would take to address this situation.
2. During stakeholder consultations and informal meetings is it often difficult to ensure the views of minority groups such as youth, women and disabled individuals are heard. Explain how you would hold a consultation process to ensure minority groups are given a fair chance to speak within the cultural norms of many Pacific countries
3. Explain how you accommodate the four key ways that people learn during training and learning workshops, and provide an example of a workshop/training session you have managed or facilitated during your career.

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