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 Human Rights and Social Development (HRSD) Division has a vision for just, equitable and resilient Pacific societies. It aims to achieve this by advancing human rights, good governance, gender quality and social inclusion for all Pacific people, grounded in cultural values and principles.
In line with its vision, the work of the Division encompasses the following objectives:
Objective 1: Governance for human rights and social development: Strengthen inclusive, transparent and active governance for human rights and social development.
Objective 2: Gender equality and social inclusion: Mobilise, empower and build conditions for gender equality, equity and social inclusion in society and development.
Objective 3: Culture: Promote, preserve and protect positive expressions of culture.
Objective 4: Enhance knowledge, learning and innovative solutions to accelerate impact on human development priorities.
The role – Communications Officer will provide communications and visibility for PROJECT Governance and the Women in Leadership Programme.
The key responsibilities of the role include:
Development, implementation, and monitoring of a Strategic Communications Plan with a people centered approach
- Development/updating of Communication Plans for PROJECT Governance Strategic Communications Plan, SCE, and the WIL Programme
- Implementation of annual communications strategy
- Communicating the goals and key elements of the Strategic Plan to all sub-grantees and relevant stakeholders
- Regular Monitoring and Evaluation the Strategic Communications Plan
Supporting USAID and PROJECT Governance Communications and visibility activities
- Preparation of scene setters for US Embassy staff for PROJECT Governance activities
- Preparation of briefing notes for USAID missions to target PROJECT Governance Pacific Island Countries
- Support the development of Branding and Marketing Strategy
- Support the implementation of Branding and Marking Strategy
Developing, implementing and monitoring Social Citizenship Education Program communications and visibility activities
- Support the development of Branding and Marketing Strategy for social citizenship initiatives
- Implementation of Branding and Marking Strategy for social citizenship education
- Development and maintenance of SCE page within HRSD’s existing website
- Organisation of radio and/or TV interviews, and press conferences on social citizenship education events and assist SPC staff and project partners in prepping and messaging
Manage and implement Women in Leadership Programme Communication plan
- Implement Communications Plan for the WIL Programme
- Develop and implement visibility activities for the WIL Programme
- Manage the WIL Programme webpage within the SPC site
- Preparing and coordinating the review and approval process of media alerts and releases, and disseminating them to media outlets in a timely manner
For a more detailed account of the key responsibilities, please refer to the online job description.
Key selection criteria
Qualifications
- Degree in journalism or communications or equivalent.
Knowledge and experience
- At least six years of development communications- related experience
- Proven experience in designing communications materials for a range of audiences
- Experience in successfully working within a deadline-driven environment
- Experience designing and implementing communication strategies
- Ability to translate text-heavy documents or information into user-friendly visual materials
- Excellent computer skills across necessary applications including Adobe Creative Cloud applications
- Photography skills
- Creative flair
- An eye for detail
- Experience working within the Pacific or with Pacific communities outside of the Pacific
Language skills
- Exceptional English communication skills (oral and written) with competence in writing and delivering technical report and presentations.
Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness
- Strong interpersonal skills
- 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 Communications Officer is a Band 8 position in SPC’s 2023 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 2,044‒2,555 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 6,030–7,537 (USD 2,739–3,424; EUR 2,595–3,243). 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 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.
How to apply
Application procedure
Closing Date: 19 June 2023 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)
Job Reference: MC000015
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):
- Give one example of how you have previously used communications to drive positive change, ideally toward a development outcome. Please describe the impact this had.
- More development organisations now use creative and participatory ways to convey their messages to effectively engage stakeholders. List 3 ways you would communicate to meaningfully engage PROJECT Governance stakeholders and the tools and skills you would use to accomplish this.
- Often Governance and Technical concepts/languages and project results are communicated in ways that cannot be easily accessible for the general reader. Describe your approach to working with technical specialists and Governance/Human Rights experts to develop materials and products that are easy to read, influential and impactful?