Legal Counsel

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 Legal and Governance Team plays a critical role in overseeing governance, legal and risk management support and advice to SPC. The Team is heavily involved in improving the effectiveness of systems, policies and management to provide high-quality customer-oriented services and improve operational compliance.

The Legal Counsel will play a key role maintaining the integrity of SPC’s governance framework and SPC’s internal legal functions through provision of advice on employee relations, contracts, funding arrangements, matters of international law and other legal and governance issues. The Legal Counsel plays a critical role in improving and embedding SPC’s internal regulatory framework, working collaboratively with SPC staff members in all SPC locations to help achieve SPC’s strategic objectives, implement and improve operational policies and manage organisational change.

The key responsibilities of the role include the following:

Research and Advice

• Provides specialised legal advice, both written and oral, to all SPC divisions on SPC’s internal governance and legal framework.
• Prepares and review memoranda, instruments, contracts, templates and other legal documents.
• Handles a wide range of issues relating to international law, international administrative law and the relationship between international and domestic law as it impacts SPC’s operations.
• Performs extensive legal research and analysis and prepares legal opinions, briefs, reports and correspondence.
• Provides advice on any dispute or litigation across the organisation.

Policy, Guideline, Contract Development and Review

• Contributes to mitigating SPC’s legal risk through continued development and improvement of policies, guidelines, templates and processes.
• Contributes to components of the review, design and updating of SPC governance documents, policies and guidelines.

Outreach, Education and Training

• Provides outreach, education and training and raises awareness of SPC's governance framework, legal obligations and responsibilities to SPC staff and members.
• Mitigates SPC’s legal risk through education and training.
• Contributes to the development and presentation of training on governance and legal issues, processes and policies to multi-level audiences across SPC.

Collaborative Working

• Builds strong collaborative relationships internally throughout SPC and with external stakeholders. Participates in the development of "One OMD for one SPC".
• Participates actively in a collaborative and supportive environment within the Governance and Legal Affairs Team and across SPC.

Leadership and Mentoring

• Manage and supervise a Legal Officer. Ensure that the Legal Officer delivers on their KRAs. Contribute towards fostering a collaborative and supportive environment within the Governance and Legal Affairs Team and across SPC.
• Contribute in developing a “One SPC” culture within the Governance and Legal Affairs Team.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree of Laws (LLB) or equivalent body of knowledge and experience.
• Meets the professional requirements to practice law in one (1) or more jurisdictions of an SPC member country or territory, or similar legal system.

Technical expertise

• Demonstrable experience and understanding of legal issues facing inter-governmental agencies.
• At least 5-6 years PQE in providing legal advice on legal, governance, and organizational issues.
• Experience in a development organisation.
• Strong analytical and conceptual skills.
• Excellent legal analytical skills.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge in the legal systems of the member countries and territories of SPC.

Language skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication and negotiation skills in English.

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Ability to work well in a multi-cultural and gender-sensitive environment.

Salary, terms and conditions

Contract Duration – This vacant position is budgeted for 3 years and is subject to renewal depending on performance and funding.

Remuneration – The Legal Counsel is a band 10 position in SPC’s 2026 salary scale, with a starting salary range of SDR (special drawing rights) 3,727- 4,562 per month, which converts to approximately XPF 537,766-658,322 (USD 4,994-6,114; EUR 4,506-5,517). SPC salaries are not presently subject to income tax in New Caledonia. An offer of appointment for an initial contract will normally be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration being given to experience and qualifications. Progression within the salary scale is based on annual performance reviews.

Benefits for Staff in a position advertised internationally (EPAI) whose duty station is Noumea – SPC provides housing support 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 be given to the Pacific Islander. Applicants will be assured of complete confidentiality in line with SPC’s private policy.

Application procedure

Closing date: 30 August 2026 – 11:00 pm Noumea time

Job Reference: KK000120

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: (2.000 characters maximum per question)

1. Describe a policy, governance instrument, code of conduct, or internal regulatory framework that you personally developed, reviewed, or substantially revised. What was the issue being addressed, what was your approach to stakeholder consultation and drafting, and what impact did the final document have on the organisation?
2. This role requires developing legal awareness and promoting compliance across a diverse, multicultural organisation. Provide an example of a legal, governance, ethics, compliance, or workplace relations training programme or resource that you designed and delivered. Describe the objectives, your approach to communicating complex legal concepts to non-legal audiences, and how you assessed its effectiveness.
3. Without disclosing any confidential, privileged, or otherwise sensitive information, provide an example of a significant dispute, employment matter, investigation, arbitration, or litigation in which you played a leading role. Describe the legal and organisational risks involved, the strategy you recommended, how you worked with decision-makers and external stakeholders, and the outcome achieved.

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