PO Box 240, Apia, Samoa
E: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
T: +685 21 929
F: +685 20 231
W: www.sprep.org
Post Description: Islands Biodiversity Officer (IBO)
Background
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional
Environment Programme (SPREP) is an independent
intergovernmental agency that provides assistance
and technical advisory services to Pacific Island
countries, territories and administrations in the
protection and management of their environment to
ensure they achieve sustainable development for
present and future generations. The organization
is based in Apia, Samoa and has a total staff
body of about 70 comprised of about even number
of professional and support staff. SPREP has a
total annual budget of about USD8
millions. SPREPs membership comprises 21
Pacific Island countries and territories and 4 developed countries1.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Islands Biodiversity Officer is responsible
to the Director through the Island Ecosystems
Programme Manager for the following principal duties:
§ Develop and implement a coherent
approach to biodiversity issues primarily within
the context of the work of SPREP with a
particular emphasis on strengthening support to
island members on terrestrial ecosystem
conservation, resource use issues, and terrestrial species conservation.
§ In collaboration with the Action
Strategy Adviser for Nature Conservation, Coastal
Management Adviser, and Invasive Species Officer
provide high quality advice and assistance to
Pacific island members and other international or
regional organisations in the area of responsibilities.
§ Develop, promote and oversee the
implementation of conceptual frameworks, methods
and tools for biodiversity conservation,
planning, management and training programmes,
appropriate to the Pacific islands region in
conjunction with other appropriate SPREP projects.
§ Assist management and members identify
priorities and appropriate funding mechanisms for
biodiversity conservation and management in the island members of SPREP.
§ Promote public awareness of
biodiversity issues, sustainable terrestrial
ecosystem management and species issues in
collaboration with relevant SPREP staff.
§ Where necessary, support countries with
regional and international conventions and
agreements, in terms of participation in
meetings, assistance with implementation and in
meeting their reporting responsibilities,
especially the Conventions on Biological
Diversity (CBD), Migratory Species (CMS), the
World Heritage, and Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
§ Provide support to member countries in
the implementation of the Island Biodiversity
Programme of Work following its adoption and the
Programme of Work on Protected Areas adopted in 2004.
§ Prepare annual work plans for the
biodiversity sub-programme in conjunction with
the Programme Manager and other relevant programme staff.
§ Develop in consultation with
appropriate SPREP staff, proposals and policies
related to biodiversity within SPREP, its island
members and other agencies, as well as
appropriate strategies for the implementation of projects.
§ Where required, serve as an expert
resource for relevant various regional committees and working groups.
§ Work collaboratively with the
Roundtable for Nature Conservation, NGO and IGO
partners on relevant biodiversity and species
issues, activities and programmes.
§ Assist with the preparation of
technical and feasibility studies and oversight
of terms of reference for consultants and project reviews.
§ Other related activities as required.
Required Qualifications and Experience
Essential
1. A tertiary qualification, in biodiversity
conservation, natural resource management or
related field from a recognised institution (a
post graduate qualification would be an advantage).
2. At least 10 years' relevant work
experience, with at least 5 years experience in biodiversity conservation.
3. Proven project and programme management experience.
4. Proven ability to prepare
technically sound programme proposals and
reports, meet programme deadlines (often under
difficult circumstances) and to secure and manage
project funds effectively and efficiently.
5. Proven ability to manage the work of consultants.
Highly Desirable
6. Proven ability to work as a part of an
inter-disciplinary and/or multi-cultural team and
to live and work within Pacific island communities.
7. Demonstrated interest and involvement in
the environmental, economic and social issues
affecting the region, particularly as they relate
to biodiversity conservation and terrestrial ecosystem management.
8. Suitably qualified candidates with
professional experience within the Pacific islands region.
Terms and Conditions
Duty Station:
Apia, Samoa.
Duration:
Appointment is for a term of 3 years initially
with renewal for a further period depending upon
the officers performance during the first term,
continuity of related programme activities and availability of funds.
Grade:
Appointment will be at the Grade I of SPREPs
authorised salary scale for professional staff.
Salary:
The basic salary range for this position is
expressed in International Monetary Fund Special
Drawing Rights (SDRs). The salary range is from
25,681 SDRs to a maximum of 35,084 SDRs
(including COLDA), depending on the successful
applicants qualifications and experience. In
November 2005, the equivalent salary in Samoan
Tala is SAT$100,901 to a maximum of SAT$137,845 per annum (including COLDA).
Adjustments:
Professional staff salaries and appropriate
allowances are paid in Samoan Tala and adjusted
every month based on the monthly average in the
value of the SDR relative to the Samoan Tala
(SAT) at the time the salary payment is
processed. SDR movement however is limited to
within 5% above or below a reference point set
annually. Remuneration is paid monthly in SAT
equivalent. The international currency exchange
rate at the time of writing is approximately USD1.00 = SAT2.77.
Term:
For those recruited from outside Samoa, the term
begins from the day the appointee leaves his or
her home to take up the appointment.
Appointment is subject to a satisfactory medical
examination, as well as a 6 months probationary period.
Termination is by way of either (i) completion of
term of contract or (ii) by way of one months notice by either party.
For staff recruited from outside Samoa, the following applies:
Relocation Expenses:
SPREP will meet certain appointment and
termination expenses for professional staff
recruited from outside Apia, Samoa, including
transport and accommodation en-route for the
appointee and accompanying dependent(s) between
home and Apia, and return, by the shortest and
most economical route. This includes:
- economy class airfares; and
- reasonable cost of packing, insuring,
shipping and unpacking furniture, household and personal effects as follows:
- 6m3 for the staff member;
- 2m3 for dependent spouse;
- 1m3 for each dependent child; and
- up to 20 kilos of excess baggage per person.
Establishment Grant:
A lump sum, of SDR1,100 is payable upon taking up
appointment and arrival in Apia.
Temporary Accommodation and Assistance:
On arrival in Apia, the appointee and
dependent(s) are entitled to temporary
accommodation at a suitable hotel or other fully furnished
accommodation for up to 6 working days.
Appointee will be assisted to settle into
Apia. This will include help in finding suitable rental accommodation.
School Holiday Travel:
One return economy class airfare between the
place of education or recognized home and Apia
each year (except the last) to enable a dependent
child being educated outside Samoa to visit
parents, or either parent to visit the child.
Home Leave Travel:
One return economy class airfare home after
completing 18 months of service (for a 3-year
term) except the last year, for the appointee and dependent(s).
Privileges and Immunities:
SPREP remuneration is tax-free for non-citizens
or non-residents of Samoa, including duty-free
importation of household and personal effects
which have been owned and used by them for no
less than six months, within 6 months of taking up appointment.
Repatriation allowance:
The appointee is entitled to a repatriation
allowance equivalent to two weeks salary, upon
successful completion of contract.
For ALL professional contract staff, the following applies:
Cost of living differential allowance:
Cost-of-living differential allowance reflects
the difference in the cost of living between Suva
and Apia. This allowance is reviewed
periodically based on data determined by an independent reviewer.
Education Allowance:
Education expenses maybe reimbursed against
actual receipts for dependent children, to cover
up to 75% of the actual cost of tuition and
boarding fees only. Currently the allowance is
up to a maximum of $15,600 per annum per child,
with a maximum of SAT46,800 per annum per family
of 3 or more eligible children.
Housing Assistance:
A rental assistance of 75% of the rent payable in
Samoa for expatriate executive furnished housing
is a component of remuneration for all
professional staff. This supplement is currently under review.
Annual Leave:
25 working days a year (up to a maximum accumulation of 50 days).
Sick Leave:
30 working days a year (up to a maximum accumulation of 90 days).
Other Leave:
Provisions also exist for maternity, family
(compassionate and paternity) and special (without pay) leave.
Duty Travel:
SPREP meets travelling expenses at prescribed
rates necessarily incurred by staff required to
travel away from Apia on official business.
Personal Accident Insurance:
All employees are covered by SPREPs 24 hour Life
and Personal Accident Insurance Policy.
Medical Insurance:
All employees and their dependents are entitled
to have all reasonable medical, dental and
optical expenses met by SPREP or by SPREPs medical insurance scheme.
Superannuation:
An expatriate contract staff member will receive
a superannuation allowance of 7% of basic
salary. For local contract staff, SPREP will pay
7% of basic salary to the Samoa National Provident Fund.
Definitions:
Dependent means the financially dependent
spouse or dependent child of an employee.
Dependent child means an employees unmarried
legally and financially dependent natural or legally adopted child who is:
- under the age of 16 years; or
- under the age of 19 years if undertaking
full-time study at a secondary school; or
- under the age of 22 years if enrolled and
undertaking full-time study at a university or
other tertiary institution; or
- mentally or physically incapacitated.
expatriate means a professional staff member,
not a citizen or permanent resident of Samoa, who
resides in Samoa only by virtue of employment with SPREP.
Equal Opportunities:
SPREP is an equal opportunities employer. Men
and women are equally eligible for all posts in SPREP.
General:
Appointment will be under the terms and
conditions of SPREPs Staff Regulations, a copy
of which will be made available to the successful applicant.
Applications
Applications should be accompanied by a detailed
curriculum vitae containing full personal details
(birthdate, sex, nationality, marital status,
number of dependents and age/s, health status,
home address, and full contact numbers);
qualifications and experience relevant for the
position; previous and current appointments with
salaries, names and contact
addresses/numbers/E-mail of three professional
referees who are prepared to provide
testimonials. References, if available, are to
accompany your application from three recent
employers and/or supervisors. In addition,
application should include copies of academic
qualifications. Application should also indicate
how soon you are available to start if successful, and must be addressed to:
The Director
SPREP Telephone: (685) 21 929
PO Box 240 Fax: (685) 20 231
Apia, Samoa E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Closing Date: 31 January 2006. Late applications will not be considered.
1 American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands,
Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France,
Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New
Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana
Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon
Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Sates of
America, Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna.
