Vacancies for the Regional Project Coordination Unit - Fiji Islands

The Council of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) recently approved the regional Sustainable Integrated Water Resources and Wastewater Management Project (Pacific IWRM) for implementation. The Pacific IWRM Project will start in 2008 and will run for five years to 2013 with a total contribution from the GEF of US$10.7 million. The Project will help fourteen Pacific Island Countries address problems of pollution entering ground and surface water, as well as support improved management of clean water for drinking and sanitation.

Applications are invited for four positions within the Regional Project Coordination Unit (PCU). The regional PCU will be based within the Community Lifelines Programme of the Secretariat of the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), located in Suva, Fiji Islands. The PCU will provide a technical support, coordination, supervision, and management function for the implementation of the Pacific IWRM Project and will operate in accordance with the rules and procedures of Implementing Agencies UNDP/UNEP, Executing Agency SOPAC, and the GEF.

The PCU will be headed by a Regional Project Manager who will have overall responsibility for the project including preparation of the overall project Annual Work Plan, financial and technical management of the project, including reporting to UN Agencies and project stakeholders. The incumbent will act as the Secretary, and be accountable to the Regional Project Steering Committee.

The Project Manager will be supported by three advisers:

1. Environmental Engineer/Management Adviser
The Environmental Engineer/Environmental Management Specialist will assume direct responsibility for the technical delivery of the regional and national project components of the project, working with other members of the PCU as the principal technical project post.

2. Communications/Community Assessment and Participation Adviser
The Communications/Community Assessment and Participation Specialist will assume direct responsibility for the substantial community assessment, participation, information, monitoring and evaluation, communication(s) and education activities of the project.

3. Financial Adviser
The Financial Adviser will assume direct responsibility for the financial management of the Pacific IWRM Project. Close liaison will be required with the National project delivery teams (14 National Project Managers and National Assistants) and other regional partners.

Applicants for technical positions should have a broad understanding of development issues and their applicability to the Pacific region, and possess a high level of interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity. SOPAC is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from suitably qualified women and men.

The salary and benefit package offered for all positions is commensurate with terms and conditions of the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific.

The deadline for applications is Friday 25th July 2008, 17:00 local Suva time. Please refer to the Instructions for Applicants for further information.

All interested applicants are encouraged to contact the IWRM Team at:
iwrm@sopac.org for further information. Further information on National Demonstration Projects is available from: http://www.sopac.org/IWRM+Outputs