Coastal Fisheries Scientist

• 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 Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (FAME) division is composed of three programmes: the Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Programme (CFAP); the Oceanic Fisheries Programme (OFP); and the Marine Ecosystems Programme (MEP). The Director’s Office provides implementation support and strategic direction across the three programmes and cross-cutting projects. Working with all 22 PICTs, SPC FAME has strong partnerships with regional, sub-regional and national entities working in the marine sector. SPC FAME staff are based in New Caledonia, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tonga, with most of the staff being based in New Caledonia.

The Coastal Fisheries Scientist will provide scientific and technical support and advice to governments, NGOs, stakeholders and the private sector in planning and implementing coastal fisheries and aquaculture science in support of evidence-based management activities covering finfish, invertebrates and their supporting habitats focused on the five GIZ project target Pacific Island Countries: Fiji, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

The key responsibilities of the role include the following:

Provide support and training to PICT members to enhance science capacity and capability in coastal living resources data collection, entry, quality control, analysis, interpretation and reporting in support of sustainable management

• Develop coastal fisheries survey (independent and dependent) training materials for countries through needs-based stakeholder consultations, taking into account gender, culture and human rights in the country or territory.
• Conducts training of local staff in-country and/or online in all areas of data collection, data management, analysis and reporting for coastal fisheries and associated habitats.
• Ensure there are no gender or social inclusion barriers to training activities.
• Supervise and oversee training and mentoring of Pacific Islands Fisheries Professionals (attachments) and other attachments as needed.

Contribute to the design and implementation of assessments of coastal living resources, the development and application of innovative tools and approaches for data collection, data management and reporting to inform coastal fisheries management.

• Develops and designs surveys based on standardised methodologies and lessons learned.
• Promotes the standardisation of data collection and assists with the expansion of standardised data collection and/or monitoring systems for coastal fisheries (finfish, invertebrates, habitat and catch and effort) and programmes at the national level, ensuring these are in line with management needs of each country or territory
• Provide input and support to the development and implementation of data systems, tools and approaches that will improve data collection and monitoring of coastal fisheries at the national and regional levels.
• Support PICTs to analyse available scientific data on coastal finfish and invertebrate fisheries and associated habitats to provide updates on the status of coastal fishery resources.
• Identifies gaps in scientific information needs and availability at the PICT level so that programmes and systems can be developed to address these needs.
• Ensures that all advice provided is in a simple, succinct and clear format for ease of understanding.

Promote inter-agency networking and cross-sectoral collaboration with partners in coastal fisheries and aquaculture science in support of evidence-based management

• Liaises, encourages collaboration and works with national, regional and international organisations, research institutes and NGOs on coastal finfish and invertebrate fishery issues.
• Develops and promotes collaboration with other sections/programmes/Divisions within SPC on issues such as food security, small-scale livelihoods, climate change adaptation, etc.

Contribute to Section administration and communication

• Works with the Senior Scientist to develop annual work plans and contributes to overall work planning for the Science Section.
• Maintains up to date corporate and administrative procedures including training data for all activities undertaken.
• Contributes where applicable to Programme, Divisional and Corporate publications, such as Fisheries Newsletters, annual reports, Programme reports to RTMCFA and HoF.
• Produces reports for all activities undertaken in the appropriate format for the activity, including technical reports and trip reports, and input to funding proposals, donor reports.
• Leads and/or contributes to peer-reviewed scientific publications that highlight results and/or developments of international interest.
• Fills in for coastal fisheries science staff and Science Section staff when they are on leave or duty travel, when required.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Postgraduate in fisheries science or in a discipline relevant to coastal fisheries assessment (finfish and invertebrates) or equivalent body of knowledge and experience

Technical expertise

• At least 8 years of direct relevant experience in Pacific Islands fisheries, particularly applied field research for the sustainable management of coastal finfish and invertebrate resources.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing standardised monitoring protocols for coastal finfish and invertebrate resources/fisheries and their associated habitat using a range of methodologies (e.g., underwater visual census, market and creel surveys, biological studies, etc.).
• Demonstrated capability for collaborating and working in an integrated programme involving colleagues from several different countries and cultures.
• Understanding of current Pacific Islands regional coastal fisheries management and science issues, and experience of working with gender issues relating to fisheries.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively and openly within a team dynamic.
• Proven ability to design, plan and facilitate workshops and other trainings.
• Experience working with MS 365 software, and software programmes for data entry and management.
• Experience working with different statistical and mapping software for data analysis.
• Experience working in data-poor situations for fisheries assessments.

Language skills

• Excellent communication skills (oral and written) with the capacity to engage scientific, government, public and community audiences.
• Excellent cross-culture communication.

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Willingness and demonstrated capacity to travel and undertake overseas assignments in SPC member PICTs, sometimes under difficult physical conditions.

Salary, terms and conditions

Contract Duration – This contract is budgeted until 15 August 2028 and is subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.

Remuneration – the Coastal Fisheries Scientist is a band 11 position in SPC’s 2026 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 3,245‒4,057 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 10,028–12,535 (USD 4,349–5,436; EUR 3,924–4,905). 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 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: 20 September 2026 – 11:00 pm (Noumea time)

Job Reference: CR000612

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.

Screening questions (maximum of 2.000 characters per question):

1. Describe how you would design and deliver training for fisheries where data, resources and technical capacity may be limited. How would you adapt your approach to overcome these constraints and ensure training is practical, needs-based and appropriate for Pacific Islands'?
2. What do you understand by ‘data limited fisheries’, and what innovative and appropriate assessment methods and tools might assist with addressing Pacific Islands’ coastal fisheries applied science needs?
3. What do you see as the current and emerging coastal science issues, needs and priorities in support of Pacific Islands’ coastal fisheries policy, management and sustainable development?