Knowledge Management and Engagement Officer 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 surveillance, geoscience, and conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

The Geoscience Energy and Maritime Division provides advice, technical assistance, research and training support to Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs). There are three (3) areas of scientific programming and two areas of focus within this division:

Oceans and Maritime Programme (OMP) – assists member countries with services that provide applied ocean science and knowledge for evidence-based policy-making and technical solutions for improved ocean and maritime governance, management and capacity development.
Georesources and Energy Programme (GEP) – assists member countries by applying technical knowledge in the areas of geoscience and sustainable energy use.
Disaster and Community Resilience Programme (DCRP) – assists member countries to demonstrate strengthened resilience through integrated action on disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, natural resource management and increased access to water and sanitation.

The Knowledge Management and Engagement Officer will play a lead role in supporting content development, dissemination, strategy implementation and capacity support on the Climate Resilient Marine Spatial Planning project and the Pacific Solutions Integrated Ocean Management programme implemented by GEM-OMP and the Pacific Community Centre for Ocean Science (PCCOS). The role will also provide training support to staff and country stakeholders on awareness raising, including in schools, digital communications and stakeholder engagement strategies for integrated ocean management and marine spatial planning.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Multimedia content creation

Lead the development of original written content about ocean management and project activities.
Produce short video material (interviews and quick messages).
Arrange and lead interviews with relevant stakeholders to create people-centered knowledge products.
Create new pages on the PCCOS website and regularly update content on existing pages.

Event coordination and visibility

Coordinate planning for key ocean management events, including workshops, conferences, meetings, knowledge exchanges, and milestone celebrations at national and regional levels and develop concept notes, programmes and agendas.
Contribute to coordination of messaging around major cross-CROP events (e.g., UN Ocean Conference, UNFCCC COP, PIF Leaders Meeting, Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development).
Ensure that SPC ocean management outputs, collaterals and awareness raising materials are designed for and shared during project events.

Training and Country Support

Provide regular training to SPC staff and country stakeholders on knowledge management, awareness raising and stakeholder engagement.
Serve as an expert advisor to SPC staff and partners regarding knowledge management, awareness raising and stakeholder engagement.
Support country stakeholders in developing strategic communication activities and awareness raising strategies.

Knowledge management

Coordinate the development and update knowledge and communications products (e.g., factsheets, press releases, videos, web stories).
Arrange and lead interviews with relevant stakeholders for monitoring, evaluation and knowledge management purposes.
Identify, document and share lessons, learning, outcomes and impacts of ocean management processes in the Pacific.
Provide strategic advice in coordination with the IOM Adviser and support as required to the broader OMP and PCCOS.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as graphic design, communications, journalism, mass communications or public relations

Technical expertise

At least 5 years of experience in communications with at least 3 years in an international context.
Excellent design and editing skills with a portfolio of published work available for review including video, digital, written and recorded work
Pacific media understanding and partnership coordination experience in the Pacific.
Photography and/or video skills with a portfolio of work available for review.
Fluency in social media strategy and content development.
Capacity to engage with government, public and community audiences.
Willingness and demonstrated capacity to travel and undertake overseas assignments in SPC member countries, sometimes under difficult physical conditions.

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 – This vacant position is budgeted until 30 September 2025 and is subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.

Remuneration – The Knowledge Management and Engagement 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

Closing Date – 6 June 2023 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)

Job Reference: JM000428

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 the 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 the 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 Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs and where an application is approved, the spouse or partner will be 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):

In the context of the Pacific, what are the key issues and challenges related to stakeholder engagement when working on Integrated Ocean Management (IOM) and Marine Spatial Planning (MSP)? How would you approach these challenges?
What tools and approaches would you suggest to best capture and manage knowledge gained through the change processes including awareness campaigns, stakeholder workshops, participatory planning, webinars, learning exchange events and other capacity building activities at national and regional levels in the Pacific Islands? Please provide examples.
In your own view and experiences, what technical expertise and attributes are required to ensure that project visibility and impact reach the intended audience and stakeholders?