Project Implementation Officer – International Trade Centre

Country: Fiji Organization: Pacific Community Closing date: 1 Nov 2026 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 Land Resources Division (LRD) provides effective expert scientific advice, capacity building and services on conservation, development and utilization of plant genetic resources, forest and landscape management, resilient agricultural systems, diversification of livelihood strategies and access to markets to maintain ecosystem services and improve land productivity and the food, nutrition security and resilience of Pacific communities. LRD has expertise in genetic resource conservation, resilient agriculture, biosecurity, pest and disease management, agricultural extension, plant pathology, entomology and animal health. It collaborates with governments, regional organisations, civil society and other SPC divisions to pinpoint the needs and priorities of Pacific countries and communities and provide technical expertise to address them. This mission is realized through four main thematic work areas, or pillars, and a progressively integrated approach to programming that works towards achieving SPC’s development goals. The role – Project Implementation Officer – International Trade Centre will support the implementation, coordination and delivery of the International Trade Centre (ITC) funded project EU-ACP Business Friendly: “Supporting value chains through inclusive policies, investment promotion, alliances and access to finance". The position is responsible for providing technical and operational support to the project, ensuring effective delivery of project outcomes across Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. The key responsibilities of the role include: Project Implementation, Coordination and Delivery • Engage with the Programme Leader to support the strategic planning, management and implementation of the project across Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. • Support the development and oversight of annual workplans, budgets, procurement plans and implementation schedules. • Ensure project activities are aligned with donor agreements, divisional priorities and approved workplans. • Provide implementation and coordination support to project staff, consultants and implementation partners. Support Stakeholder Partnerships, Alliances and Investment Facilitation • Provide input to the development and strengthening of public-private value chain alliances. • Participate in the facilitation of partnerships between farmers, MSMEs, exporters, buyers, investors and service providers. • Support implementation of the Alliances for Action methodology across value chains. • Coordinate regional and national stakeholder platforms and dialogue mechanisms. Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Reporting • Provide input on project monitoring, evaluation, learning and reporting systems. • Ensure implementation of the project MEL framework and workplan. • Monitor progress against project indicators, outputs and outcomes. • Prepare timely technical, narrative and donor reports. Financial Management, Procurement and Contract Administration • Support project financial planning, expenditure monitoring and forecasting. • Monitor budget performance and recommend resource allocation adjustments. • Contribute to procurement planning and implementation. • Ensure all procurement and contracting activities comply with SPC and donor requirements. For a more detailed account of the key responsibilities, please refer to the online job description. Key selection criteria Qualifications • Degree in Project Management, international development, agriculture or equivalent body of knowledge and experience. Technical expertise • At least 7-8 years' experience in international development, project or programme management, agricultural development, value chain development or partnership management. • Knowledge of Pacific agricultural value chains. • Demonstrated experience coordinating complex multi-country donor funded projects or programmes. • Strong experience in project planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting. • Proven experience in stakeholder engagement and partnership development. • Experience managing procurement, contracts and budgets. 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 – Until 30 September 2027 – subject to renewal depending on funding and performance. Remuneration – The Project Implementation Officer – International Trade Centre is a band 9 position in SPC’s 2026 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 2,399‒2,998 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 7,412–9,265 (USD 3,214–4,018; 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 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. Relocation airfares, excess luggage, health and life and disability insurances are available for employees. Employees are entitled to 25 working days of annual leave per annum and other types of leave, prorated on contract length 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: 1 November 2026 at 11:59pm (Fiji time) Job Reference: JM000999 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): • It is important that project activities are locally owned, and solutions are locally appropriate. Describe three approaches you can adopt to achieve this in a multi country coordinated initiative. • Provide a recent example of how you contributed to the successful implementation of a project, and the most important factors you considered in your monitoring of its success. • Describe a key challenge in the coconut value chain aligned to one of the project countries, How would you mitigate this challenge?