• Suva-based position (Fiji)
• Attractive expatriate package
• Join the principal development organisation in the Pacific region

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 Management Directorate (OMD) provides corporate services to all SPC Divisions and Programmes. It consists of three key departments: Finance, Human Resources and Information Services. OMD is focused on improving the effectiveness of systems, policies and management to provide high-quality customer-oriented services.

The role – The ICT Manager will be responsible for managing and overseeing SPC’s ICT service delivery and IT Infrastructure across all SPC sites. This includes specific responsibility for providing including technical and operational support to staff with a focus on excellent customer service. The Manager will be responsible for implementing cost recovery of IT services, managing the customer service relationship with internal and external stakeholders, identifying and making use of opportunities for outsourcing and ensuring the team meets its business reporting obligations.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Provide leadership that ensures effective service delivery of ICT services and management of ICT infrastructure in all SPC locations

• Staff are managed and supervised to achieve objectives and to create an environment that promotes high performance, collaboration, staff development and succession planning
• Structure is adapted and modified as need requires

Provide high quality ICT services, manage and optimise ICT infrastructure, business applications and identify and mitigate ICT risks (within known resource constraints)

• Lead lifecycle of SPC main business applications, including payroll, FMIS, HRIS, Scientific compute etc
• Security and integrity of the SPC corporate network and data communication systems is assured (including telecommunications, data centres and links and leased lines)
• System deployment addresses the complete aspect of ICT systems lifecycle

Maintain a financial business model that ensures that the ICT services are financially sustainable, well managed and cost recovered as appropriate

• The integrated full cost recovery business model is maintained for ICT services
• ICT budget is managed and regularly reviewed, and services are cost recovered
• Resources and equipment are well managed and replaced as needed

Manage client relationships for all ICT services

• Client relationships with internal stakeholders are actively managed
• Clients needs are well understood and catered for
• Opportunities for training clients to reduce the burden on ICT services are identified and acted upon

Cross-collaboration with other Managers and teams across the Operations Management Directorate (OMD) and SPC to implement system and process improvements

• Opportunities for synergies and (business) systems improvements are identified and acted upon
• Collaboration occurs between ICT and other OMD teams to improve processes
• ICT support during conferences and other events is coordinated across teams

Ensure section’s compliance with all SPC’s legal obligations, policies and procedures and build SPC’s compliance with any ICT specific policies

• ICT systems conform to required aspects of best practice
• ICT security and mandated external security and auditing requirements and protocols confirm to requirements
• ICT section adheres to all SPC policies, including procurement and travel

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Specialised degree in computer science or a relevant field, or equivalent vocational certificates and work experience that is relevant and current

Technical expertise  

• At least 12 years’ relevant experience in managing a comprehensive ICT service for a medium sized organisation, preferably in multiple locations
• At least 5 years of experience in staff management, team leadership, project development and project management
• Demonstrated management skills, including general, people and financial management
• Current experience with SPC’s ICT computing technologies including VMware, Windows Server. Cisco and HP products
• Experience with ICT best practice, especially security
• Demonstrated experience in ICT policy development at corporate and broader levels
• Excellent negotiation skills
• Ability to work collaboratively and across teams to achieve systems improvements
• Experience in ICT policy development at corporate and broader levels

Language skills

• Excellent English communication skills (oral and written)

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Excellent interpersonal and representational skills with experience in building and maintaining effective working relationships with a range of different individuals and organisations

Salary, terms and conditions

Contract Duration – 3 years – subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.

Remuneration – The ICT Manager is a Band 13 position in SPC’s 2023 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 4,087‒5,109 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 12,057–15,071 (USD 5,477–6,846; EUR 5,188–6,485). 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.

Application procedure

Closing Date: 28 May 2023 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)

Job Reference: MC000005

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):

1. What experience do you have managing an IT team of 25-30 people and overseeing technology infrastructure and cybersecurity?
2. What is your experience with implementing and managing enterprise software solutions and video conferencing solutions.
3. Describe a time when you successfully managed a project from conception to completion. What was your role in the project, and what steps did you take to ensure its success?