Non-Communicable Disease Adviser – Legislation At Pacific Community

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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 Public Health Division (PHD) employs around 40 staff based in Noumea and Suva. It supports members in developing healthier Pacific Island people and communities. The primary focus of the division is to provide scientific and technical assistance and to 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 diseases, 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.

The role – Non-Communicable Disease Adviser – Legislation will lead in strengthening NCD related legislation to effectively address NCD at the regional and national level, with a particular focus on key NCD risk factors (including tobacco and alcohol use, and consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages) through providing legislative drafting support, developing supporting materials related to legislation, building capacity, and providing legal advice for implementation and enforcement in collaboration with the respective government ministries.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Lead in strengthening NCD related legislation to effectively address NCD at the regional and national level, with a particular focus on key NCD risk factors including tobacco and alcohol use, and consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages

  • Lead as responsible person from SPC to support regional initiatives and establish network to strengthen NCD related legislation.
  • Lead in supporting PICTs in conducting legislation gap analysis and legislation priorities identified in the Pacific Monitoring Alliance for NCD Action (MANA) Dashboards.
  • Lead in drafting new NCD related legislation or amending existing legislation in line with the Pacific Legislative Framework for NCD and/or related Frameworks.
  • Work closely with relevant government ministries in developing and drafting NCD related legislations (e.g., Attorney General’s office or Parliamentary Counsel)

Lead in developing supporting materials to strengthen the implementation of the Pacific Legislative Framework for NCD and/or related Legal Framework, including explanatory memorandum and cabinet paper for the legislation.

  • Lead in developing materials including explanatory memorandum, legislation implementation plan and cabinet paper for the draft legislation.
  • Provide advice and support PICTs in submission of draft legislation or regulation for cabinet endorsement.
  • Identify gaps in the Pacific Legislative Framework for NCD and refine/expand the Framework with any emerging priority issues raised by PICTs, in collaboration with partner agencies and academic institutions.

Provide legal advice and support for the implementation and enforcement of legislation in collaboration with respective government ministries.

  • Provide legal advice to the responsible PICTs ministries for the implementation and enforcement of the endorsed legislation.
  • Collaborate and work with relevant government ministers and private sectors for the implementation of the endorsed legislation.
  • Provide legal advice and support for any issues or problems arising from the implementation and enforcement of legislation.

Contribute to build capacity to strengthen the development and implementation of legislation at the national and regional level.

  • Contribute to the assessment of regional and in-country legal capacities to address NCD.
  • Provide training, mentoring and professional support to PICTs on legislative drafting.
  • Liaise with relevant academic institutions or partner agencies to identify professional development opportunities for PICTs.

Contribute as an active member of the NCD team for programme planning, reporting, information sharing and publication.

  • Contribute to annual work plan development, budgeting, and funding application.
  • Monitor to meet work plan target indicators and evaluate outcomes.
  • Contribute to NCD information, education, and communication resources development, updating websites, and publications of technical reports and scientific papers.
  • Promote harmonization of NCD activities by building partnerships, sharing information and networking.
  • Assist NCD Team Leader as required.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

  • Must have a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and/ or Master’s degree in a relevant field such as public health, health system, health promotion or health education or equivalent body of knowledge and experience.

Technical expertise

  • At least 7 years of relevant work experience in public health law and meets the professional requirements to practice law in one (1) or more jurisdictions of an SPC member country or territory, or similar legal system.
  • Demonstrated extensive experience in producing high quality health and NCD related legislation (including tax-related legislation, e.g., Tobacco and alcohol control, food supply and control system, enabling environments etc.).
  • Demonstrated extensive experience in legislative drafting.
  • In-depth knowledge and understanding of Pacific Island laws (Constitutions, statutes, subsidiary laws)
  • Experience working within an AG’s Chambers, Law Reform Authority, or similar organisation.
  • Ability to advise and implement a sector-wide response to public health issues particularly in the areas of NCD legislation.
  • Willingness to travel frequently (up to 30% of the time) in the Pacific region and international.

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 – 3 years – subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.

Remuneration – The Non-Communicable Disease Adviser – Legislation is a band 11 position in SPC’s 2026 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 3,245‒4,057 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 10,028–12,535 (USD 4,349–5,436; EUR 3,924–4,905). 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. 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.

How to apply

Application procedure

Closing Date: 19 July 2026 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)

Job Reference: TT000207

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. Describe your experience supporting the development, drafting, or amendment of public health legislation in Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs), or comparable small island developing states. In your response mention countries you have worked in, type of legislation and your specific role in the legislative process.
  2. Provide a specific example of where you led or contributed to the development of legislation from initial analysis through to approval (e.g. Cabinet or Parliament) in the Pacific. Your response should include how you conducted the legal and policy gap analysis; how you work with government counterparts and what was your role in preparing legislative drafting instructions, explanatory memo or cabinet papers.
  3. Describe your experience supporting the implementation and enforcement of public health legislation, including building national capacity. In your response do mention if you led in any training or institutional strengthening; how you addressed implementation challenges (limited legal in-country capacity, compliance etc) and examples of working with countries to operationalise legislation.