Communications Officer – PEUMP Programme PMU (Maternity Cover) At Pacific Community

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 Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (FAME) Division includes the Oceanic Fisheries Programme (OFP) and Coastal Fisheries Programme (CFP). CFP’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 systems (national and community-based). It provides a regional framework for sustainable aquaculture, including planning, research and development, 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 food security, sustain livelihoods, promote economic growth and assist climate change adaptation.

The Pacific European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) Programme is a 4-year project, in partnership with the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), with the University of the South Pacific (USP) implementing one component under a separate agreement with the EU. The programme is funded by the European Union and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). SPC is implementing three areas specifically the Programme Management Unit (PMU), oceanic science, and coastal science and management components. The PEUMP Programme will work in all 15 Pacific-ACP countries including Timor-Leste.

The Communications Officer – PEUMPwill lead the implementation, coordination and collaboration of the PEUMP Communications Strategy, Communications Plan, Visibility Plan and supporting knowledge management across all seven components, the implementing partners and the 15 Pacific-ACP countries. The aim of the role is to raise the profile of the PEUMP programme using multiple outreach strategies and innovative approaches to reach key audiences. This includes the fostering of strong partnerships with the donors, EU and Sweden, and the beneficiary countries.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Lead the strategic direction of all Programme communication

• Review and revise the PEUMP Communications and Visibility Strategy (when required) with implementing partners in line with participating countries and donor requirements.
• Assess existing and design innovative communication approaches under the Strategy to reach target audiences at regional, national and community level.

Manage operational implementation of all communication activities

• Develop the Annual Communications Work plan and lead the implementation of communication activities, processes, systems, and templates for use by the PEUMP Programme and distribution across implementation partners in line with corporate and donor branding requirements.
• Develop innovative, effective, consistent, relevant, appropriate and valid content for multiple communication tools targeting the different PEUMP audiences at regional, country and community level.

Forge reliable and trusting inter-agency Partnerships and Relationships

• Facilitate trusting and constructive inter-agency collaboration and coordination through strong communication/knowledge relationships with stakeholders, participating countries, international donors (EU and Sweden), partner agencies (FFA, SPREP and USP) and the broader research, science and development community implementing agencies and partners.
• Public diplomacy of key relationships and engagement with target audiences to increase effective implementation of the Programme’s goals and objectives towards sustainable development for participating countries and the region.

Support Information and Knowledge Management activities

• Support recording, storing and, in particular the sharing of relevant information, research and scientific data and published evidence from the PEUMP Programme with stakeholders, participating countries, international partner agencies and the broader research, science and development community.
• Manage the PEUMP website and integration with other knowledge management sites and other PEUMP partner sites, in line with programme, corporate and donor branding requirements.

Provide guidance and coordination including Communications capacity building for consistent and high-quality performance

• Instill best practice and high-quality comms performance across the Programme through advice, mentoring and coaching of participating stakeholders.
• Develop a media toolkit and guidelines for guiding the implementation partners and strengthening public relations for the PEUMP programme.

PEUMP Programme PMU Administration

• Author Communications and Visibility reporting including input into the Annual report, across the seven components in a timely manner and to high-quality standards
• Contribute where applicable to Programme, Divisional and Corporate publications, such as Fisheries Newsletters and PEUMP programme articles and reports.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Post Graduate degree or equivalent experience in communications, media, journalism or related discipline.

Technical expertise

• At least 7 years relevant experience in designing and implementing communication and visibility strategies, workplans and activities in large and complex programmes.
• Demonstrated experience in devising and steering effective communication and visibility implementation approaches, systems, tools and templates.
• Demonstrated leadership ability in effecting and maintaining strong stakeholder engagement and cross-organisational partnerships.
• Demonstrated experience in creating and publishing scientific and/or technical content including web-based, social and digital media including experience in establishing effective regional media network partnerships for programme messaging.
• Demonstrated writing skills to develop communication contents for press-releases and other short communication materials (i.e., factsheets, country project fiches, texts for digital media)
• Training and facilitation experience, with knowledge of the basic principles of training and education in communications

Language skills

• Excellent English communication skills (oral and written)

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Ability to work in a multicultural, inclusive and equitable environment

Salary, terms and conditions

Contract Duration – 4 months

Remuneration – The Communications Officer is a Band 9 position in SPC’s 2023 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 2,284‒2,856 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 6,739–8,424 (USD 3,061–3,826; 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 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.