Grants and Collaborations Team Leader – Performance Enhancement

Country: Fiji Organization: Pacific Community Closing date: 15 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 Operations and Integration (O&I) collective delivers essential enabling services that support the organisation’s scientific and technical portfolio. Our key functions include corporate services, programme support, partnerships, resource mobilisation, and strategic engagement. These services are coordinated through our regional and satellite offices across the Pacific and Europe. Additionally, the O&I collective leads a dedicated workstream focused on organisational change and transformation to drive continuous improvement and adaptability. The role – Grants and Collaborations Team Leader – Performance Enhancement will lead a small team within the Grants and Collaborations Team to ensure the effective and timely delivery of high-quality grant management services across SPC. The incumbent will provide expert advice and support on complex grant-related activities, strengthen grants management processes, and drive continuous improvements in grant systems and practices. The Team Leader will also play a key role in fostering strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring grant activities meet SPC’s standards, comply with funder requirements and contribute to the achievement of SPC’s strategic objectives. The key responsibilities of the role include: Systems and processes: Grants Performance, Quality and Continuous Improvement • Lead the development and implementation of initiatives to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, quality and consistency of SPC's grants and collaborations function. • Develop practical improvement plans and oversee their implementation, monitoring progress and reporting results to the Grants and Collaborations Manager. • Identify and implement improvements to Grants and Collaboration Tools and Systems: Enhance the tools and systems used for managing grants and collaborations, ensuring they support better understanding, compliance, and efficiency across SPC. • Monitor the performance of grants management processes and identify trends, bottlenecks, control weaknesses, recurring issues and opportunities for improvement. • Establish and maintain appropriate performance indicators, service standards and quality measures for the Grants and Collaborations function. Systems, Data, Digitalisation and Process Improvement • Lead the review and improvement of grants and collaborations systems, tools and workflows including supporting the evaluation, selection and implementation of a Grants Management System (GMS) including definition of business requirements and integration with Business Central (PR-to-Pay); and contribute to the transition to a Centre-Led operating model for grants management. • Identify opportunities for automation, digitalisation and improved use of technology across the grants lifecycle. • Work with ICT and relevant business units to define business requirements for grants management systems and digital solutions. • Promote the use of reliable grants data to support operational management, performance monitoring, reporting and decision-making. • Develop and maintain appropriate management information, dashboards and performance reports. Advice and Guidance • Provide expert advice on SPC grants and collaborations processes: Provide expert advice to the Grants and Collaborations Manager and senior management on grants management performance, risk, systems and process improvement. • Provide advice to decision-makers on complex grant and collaboration Issues: Provide evidence-based advice to relevant committees and decision-makers on systemic grants management issues and proposed improvements. • Brief decision-makers on trends, performance issues, risks and opportunities for improvement. • Prepare high-quality reports, briefing notes, dashboards and management information for internal stakeholders. • Support the Grants and Collaborations Manager in preparing reports for senior management, the Executive, governing bodies and the Audit and Risk Committee. Management of staff • Team leadership and supervision: Lead the staff, ensuring clear direction, support, and motivation is provided to staff. • Recruitment and staffing: Lead the recruitment and selection process ensuring that staffing level and capabilities are appropriate to meet operational needs. • Performance management, training and development: • manage the performance management process for staff ensuring that team performance goals are aligned with SPC objectives. • manage the training and development needs for staff ensuring continuous learning and skill development within the team. Outreach, education and training • Develop mechanisms to capture, share and institutionalise lessons learned across the Grants and Collaborations Team. • Lead communication and change-management activities associated with new or revised grants processes, systems and requirements. • Provide capacity building: Lead the development and delivery of training programs to internal and external stakeholders to enhance understanding and management of grants and collaborations, including pre-award and post-award processes, and as part of SPC’s performance enhancement work. • Build collaborative relationships: Lead on fostering strong, collaborative relationships with all SPC stakeholders, ensuring alignment and support for grants and collaborative activities. • Ensure effective communication: Lead on maintaining open and effective lines of communication with key stakeholders, building strong relationships to support the effective implementation of grants and collaborative initiatives. For a more detailed account of the key responsibilities, please refer to the online job description. Key selection criteria Qualifications • A postgraduate qualification in a relevant field such as law, finance, grants management, business administration or international development or equivalent body of knowledge and experience. Technical expertise • At least 7–8 years of relevant experience in grants management, programme/project management, business administration, finance, risk management, compliance, process improvement, international development, law or a related field. • Demonstrated experience leading or coordinating teams and/or complex cross-functional initiatives. • Demonstrated experience reviewing and improving organisational processes, systems or operating procedures. • Experience in performance monitoring, data analysis and management reporting. • Experience developing guidance, procedures, tools and training materials. • Demonstrated ability to translate complex information into practical recommendations. 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 – 3 years – subject to renewal depending on funding and performance. Remuneration – The Grants and Collaborations Team Leader – Performance Enhancement is a band 11 position in SPC’s 2026 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 3,245‒4,057 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 10,028–12,535 (USD 4,349–5,436; EUR 3,924–4,905). 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. 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 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 Closing Date: 15 November 2026 at 11:59pm (Fiji time) Job Reference: JM001006 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): • Please provide an example of a grant, programme or business process you have improved. Briefly describe the issue, the improvement you introduced and the outcome. • Please provide an example of when you introduced a change to an established process or way of working. How did you engage the people affected by the change? • Please provide an example of how you have used data, dashboards or management information to identify an issue, trend or risk and inform an improvement.