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 – Senior Programme Officer will lead the planning, coordination, and implementation of projects within PHD, with a primary focus on effective project management, delivery, and operational oversight. This includes high level strategic and technical planning, day to day coordination of activities, oversight of operations and finances, performance and quality assurance, and reporting to SPC and donors such as the World Bank and other partners. The role will also support the implementation of the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) approach, ensuring alignment with the PHD Business Plan 2026–2031 through appropriate monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities.
The key responsibilities of the role include:
Project Planning and Execution
- Plan and manage projects to ensure delivery within approved scope, budget and timelines.
- Identify, assess and manage project issues and risks.
- Manage changes to project scope and schedules through appropriate governance processes.
- Establish and maintain a shared understanding of project objectives, deliverables and success criteria.
- Coordinate inputs from programme teams and stakeholders ensuring project goals and outcomes are met.
- Ensure procurement activities comply with SPC and donor policies and contribute to project outcomes.
- Maintain effective stakeholder engagement and satisfaction throughout the project lifecycle.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Communication
- Support coordination of divisional monitoring and reporting against the MEL Plan and Results Monitoring Framework (RMF).
- Contribute to the preparation and consolidation of One‑PHD progress reports for SPC leadership and external stakeholders**.**
- Assist in data collection, analysis, and use to demonstrate country and regional‑level results and impact.
- Support the development and application of project M&E frameworks, indicators, and data collection approaches in collaboration with the Programme Manager and MEL officer.
- Contribute to ensuring reporting aligns with donor and governance requirements.
- Support the documentation and sharing of lessons learned, best practices, and knowledge products using SPC systems
- Assist in communication activities and stakeholder engagement, ensuring professional representation of PHD.
Ways of Working and Coordination
- Contribute actively to divisional ways of working and implementation of the PHD business plan.
- Strengthen coordination and collaboration across programmes and support functions.
- Modelling collaborative, respectful and accountable ways of working.
- Support efficient use of divisional resources including staffing, financial and procurement inputs.
Financial Management, Reporting and Procurement Support
- Support the management of project expenditure to ensure activities are implemented within approved budgets and costs are monitored.
- Assist in the preparation and delivery of timely, accurate reporting on expenditure and budget variances to relevant stakeholders.
- Contribute to the development and maintenance of accurate, complete, and up‑to‑date project budgets and financial reports in collaboration with the Finance Team Leader.
- Support compliance with donor, organisational, audit, and contractual requirements related to financial management and procurement processes.
- Facilitate timely procurement processes (e.g. contracting and payment), ensure compliance with procedures and minimise delays to project implementation.
For a more detailed account of the key responsibilities, please refer to the online job description.
Key selection criteria
Qualifications
- Postgraduate degree in project management, MEL, public sector or business administration, health or related field; or equivalent body of knowledge and experience.
Technical expertise
- At least 7 years of relevant experience in project management, preferably within the health and the development sector.
- Experience in monitoring and evaluation, including development and use of theories of change, logical frameworks, performance indicators, monitoring and reporting against progress, and facilitating reflection, learning and adaptation with project stakeholders.
- Experience in financial reporting, compliance and business processes for donor funded projects.
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 Senior Programme Officer is a band 10 position in SPC’s 2026 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 2,703‒3,379 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 8,354–10,442 (USD 3,623-4,528; EUR 3,269-4,086). 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: 2 August at 11:59pm (Fiji time)
Job Reference: TT000212
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):
- How would you plan, coordinate, and deliver multiple projects to ensure alignment with organisational priorities?
- How would you implement a MEL approach to track performance and ensure continuous improvement?
- What key actions would you take to ensure strong financial management, compliance, and donor reporting?