• Noumea or Suva-based position
• Attractive expatriate package
• Join the principal development organisation in the 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 unique 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 Statistics for Development Division (SDD)’s goal is to help the Pacific Island Countries and Territories achieve “highly competent and sustainable national statistics systems that meet national and international statistics needs for evidence-based policy, planning and monitoring.” SDD has a regional statistical system leadership and coordination role; and also supports the region directly in data infrastructure, collection, statistical methodology, analysis and dissemination.

The role – the Senior Web Developer will design, develop and maintain web platforms managed by the Statistics for Development Division, Including significant integration with the Pacific Data Hub. Support web development across SPC and provide technical assistance to SPC’s 22 member countries and territories.

The key responsibilities of the role include the following:

Ways of working

Demonstrable contribution is made as an individual and team-member to the organisational or ‘ways of working’ objectives in the division business plan. These include:

• Provide support to increase the adoption of GitHub within SDD for source code management and business process modernisation.
• Support and collaborate with other SPC divisions to ensure sharing of web developments and expertise.
• Participate in webinars/conferences on behalf of SDD/PDH.

Web development and integration

• Ensure SDD has a clean, modern, data and content driven Drupal website which follows SPC corporate styling.
• Ensure users are finding the information/data they are looking for on SDD’s website and are being retained as future users because their needs are being addressed.
• Maintain code/plugins to be compatible, up-to-date and safe from code vulnerabilities.
• Ensure all software/platform updates are duly applied to limit vulnerabilities for hackers.
• Implement customisations for the PDH Microdata Library (NADA) where necessary.
• Develop drupal and WordPress plugins and ensure similar functionality across the two content management systems.
• Launch and manage new web development projects (Requirements analysis, time management, budgeting, project management, documentation).

Web server administration and management

• Manage a range of server environments (Cloudways, Vultr) in collaboration with SDD’s Infrastructure Engineer.
• Consult regularly monitoring tools for up/downtime, performance and analytics.
• Manage all SPC-hosted Survey Solution servers, both for SPC and member countries, including creation and shutdown of servers; security management and critical support during field data collection activities.
• Provide and manage WordPress (both multisite and single instance) environments to members ; legacy Joomla environments are maintained for the remaining few countries who have not yet transitioned to WordPress.
• Manage the PDH Microdata Library (NADA) server with regular upgrades installed and provide support to users regarding new features.

Provide NSOs and partners with website technical assistance and training

• Ensure National Statistics Office (NSO) websites/pages are operational and up to date for the majority of Pacific NSOs and address their needs, while encouraging improved access to data and statistics for decision making.
• Provide technical assistance for web admins, developers and dissemination specialists via video conferencing and collaboration tools, mentorships, local attachments and local or in-country workshops.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Degree in computer science or a related subject.
• Professional technical qualifications in software development and maintenance.

Technical expertise

• A minimum of 8 to 10 years of demonstrated experience in implementation of medium- to large-scale web and desktop applications with a strong emphasis on standards and data exchange via API.
• At least 8 years of demonstrated experience developing and managing Drupal and WordPress CMS’s (including the development of plugins to connect to external APIs).
• At least 5 years demonstrated experience developing web applications using ReactJS, JavaScript framework, PHP.
• Experience working with relational databases such as SQL Server and MySQL.
• Experience undertaking system administration tasks with containerised software solutions.
• Experience working in a web-based data dissemination environment.
• Excellent project management skills – particularly in dealing with complex client IT/web requests/expectations.
• Experience managing external vendors.

Language skills

• Fluency in English.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Ability to work in a multicultural and multilingual environment.
• Ability to work innovatively and independently but in close collaboration with national and stakeholder partners on specialised technical issues.

Salary, terms and conditions

Contract Duration – This vacant position is budgeted until 30 June 2027 and is subject to renewal depending on performance and funding.

Remuneration – The Senior Web Developer is a band 10 position in SPC’s 2024 salary scale.

For a Noumea based position – a starting salary range of 3,568–4,364 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately XPF 527,770–645,457 (USD 4,745–5,804; EUR 4,423–5,409). SPC salaries are not presently subject to income tax in New Caledonia.

For a Suva based position – a starting salary range of 2,575‒3,218 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 7,672–9,591 (USD 3,424–4,280; EUR 3,191–3,989). 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.

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.

Benefits for international staff employees – SPC provides a housing allowance (or subsidised housing in Noumea). 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 bilinguism, 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 begiven to the Pacific Islander. Applicants will be assured of complete confidentiality in line with SPC’s private policy.

Application procedure

Closing date: 14 July 2024 – 11:00 pm (Noumea time)

Job Reference: CR000234

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.

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. Describe your experience with front-end and back-end web development languages, JavaScript frameworks, and CMS customisations?
2. In the Statistics for Development Division we are mainly working with Drupal and WordPress CMS'. In what instances would you recommend the use of one over the other?
3. What do you understand the key challenges would be when supporting member government’s national statistics offices to develop and maintain their websites?