Gender, Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) Officer

• 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 SPC’s Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (FAME) capability has been providing scientific and technical expertise to support fisheries management and sustainable development in the Pacific for over 65 years. The goal of SPC FAME is that the fisheries resources of the Pacific region are sustainably managed for economic growth, food security and environmental conservation. In pursuit of this goal, SPC FAME provides scientific and management advice to Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) and regional agencies to support the management of sustainable oceanic fisheries, coastal fisheries, marine ecosystems and aquaculture development. Along with addressing the challenges in the management of the region’s marine resources, there are also significant opportunities to derive greater economic and social benefits from them. Deriving greater benefits from the tuna fisheries, the development of aquaculture in the region, along with alternative livelihoods in coastal fisheries, hold significant potential. SPC FAME provides technical assistance to support PICTs to maximise these sustainable development opportunities in the marine sector and in some parts of the freshwater sector.

The role – Gender, Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) Officer will provide technical and coordination support to the Regional Tuna Programme – Programme Management Unit (RTP-PMU) to strengthen the integration of gender equality, human rights and environmental and social safeguards across programme implementation in line with the Green Climate Fund requirements. The role will support the RTP-PMU Gender and Human Rights Adviser in delivering programme commitments relating to the Gender Action Plan (GAP), Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), stakeholder engagement, grievance redress, capacity building, country support, and reporting.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Provide Gender and Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) support to programme implementation

• Provide technical support and guidance to relevant SPC teams, technical partners, and participating countries with mainstreaming and implementing the Programme’s Gender and ESS requirements.
• Support participating countries and technical partners to contextualise, operationalise and monitor the implementation of the Programme’s ESMP, GAP, Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) and Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) in line with national systems and local contexts.
• Support the RTP-PMU Gender and Human Rights Adviser to strengthen effective and practical Gender and ESS integration into the workplans of the different teams across the Programme in alignment with GCF requirements.
• Support multi-stakeholder collaborations, and help organise, co-facilitate and/or participate in meetings, workshops, missions and consultations to advance Gender and ESS integration across the Programme, and contribute to the overall function of the GCF-RTP PMU.

Support, co-design and co-deliver/deliver capacity building initiatives such as trainings, and co-develop tailored gender-responsive and ESS guidelines and instruments and for the Programme

• Co-develop and support delivery of Gender and ESS training materials tailored to the Pacific context and to the Programme needs while also aligned with GCF requirements.
• Co-deliver training and provide capacity building on Gender and ESS integration across the Programme to relevant SPC staff, implementing partners and participating countries.
• Provide technical support to the Programme Gender and Human Rights Adviser and consultants with developing tailored guidelines and tools for pragmatic Gender and ESS integration across programme work areas including gender-responsive stakeholder engagement instruments.
• Provide specialised guidance and trainings on GRM procedures to relevant SPC staff, technical partners and countries, as well as on the prevention, mitigation and effective response to instances of programme-related gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH).

Support national-level gender assessments and provide technical assistance to strengthen effective gender and ESS integration into policy, planning and action at national and sub-national levels for Programme beneficiaries

• Support national-level gender assessments and provide technical assistance, including gender- related and social-dimensions research for the Programme.
• Use findings from assessments and research to inform Gender and ESS activities and to influence Programme-related policy, planning and action at national and subnational levels.

Support Gender and ESS reporting in quarterly and annual reports required by SPC to the Accredited Entity

• Support the consolidation, verification and analysis of gender, social inclusion and safeguards information from Programme teams, partners and countries for quarterly, annual and ad hoc reporting.
• Support Gender and ESS reporting requirements from data collected at national levels, as articulated in the Programme GAP, ESMP, SEP and AGRM.
• Collaborate with and support the Programme MEL team, Gender and Human Rights Adviser, technical partners and participating countries in establishing and administering robust systems for sex‑disaggregated data and social dimensions and safeguards information to enhance the quality and coherence of programme‑wide Gender and ESS reporting in line with GCF requirements.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification in gender studies, social sciences, development studies, human rights, environmental or social safeguards, public policy or equivalent body of knowledge and experience.

Technical expertise

• At least 7 years of experience in ESS and GESI including gender analysis, planning, and integration within development or donor‑funded programmes.
• Experience working in Pacific Island countries, with proven ability to operate effectively in diverse, cross‑cultural and community‑based contexts.
• Strong safeguarding and social risk management expertise, including GBV and SEAH risk mitigation, survivor‑centred approaches, grievance handling, and case management in line with safeguarding best practice.
• Proven capacity to deliver results in complex programme environments, including design and facilitation of capacity‑building activities, compliance and reporting and excellent English communication skills.
• Willingness and demonstrated capacity to travel and undertake overseas assignments in SPC member countries, sometimes in challenging working conditions.          

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 Gender Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) Officer is a band 10 position in SPC’s 2026 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 2,703‒3,379 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 8,354–10,442 (USD 3,623-4,528; EUR 3,269-4,086). 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.

Application procedure

Closing Date: 2 August 2026 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)

Job Reference: TT000211

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. Can you describe your experience with implementing Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) and Gender Action Plans (GAPs) in development or infrastructure projects?
2. What are the main barriers to equitable participation of women, people with disabilities, and other marginalized groups in the Pacific’s fisheries sector?
3. How would you ensure that any fisheries development intervention is inclusive, gender-responsive, environmentally sustainable, and aligned with the ‘first do no harm’ principle?