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 surveillance, geoscience, and conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.
The In commemorating the SPC’s 70th anniversary, the 10th Pacific Community Conference agreed to establish the Pacific Community Centre for Ocean Science (PCCOS) to be hosted at SPC and become a true flagship for scientific excellence and a dedicated regional science information and knowledge hub. PCCOS leads the design of the SPC Ocean Flagship through consultation with SPC divisions and regional partners, as well as coordinating cross-divisional projects, implemented across SPC divisions (FAME, GEM, CCES). PCCOS is also implementing seed-projects/programmes such as the Pacific Islands Ocean Acidification Centre (PIOAC), the Pacific Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOP) Network and Placement Programme, the Pacific Islands Decade Coordination Centre (PI-DCC), and the Regional Alliance of the Global Ocean Observing System for the Pacific Islands (PIGOOS), that all have regional coordination mandates.
The role – Senior Programme Assistant – Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOP) & Ocean Acidification Monitoring (PIOAC) will be responsible to support the PCCOS work on Pacific Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOP), assisting with work of the Pacific Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOP) Network and Placement Programme. The position will also assist with the coordination of ocean acidification monitoring and capacity-building activities within PCCOS and GEM division in close collaboration with existing activities in other divisions.
The key responsibilities of the role include:
Pacific ECOP Placement Programme
- Assist with the implementation of the Pacific ECOP Placement Programme.
- Support the drafting and signature of Letter of Agreements (LOAs) for ECOP placement with SPC legal services and member governments.
- Update and share the Pacific ECOP onboarding package with new ECOPs.
- Contribute to the development of specific capacity building modules for ECOPs.
- Provide ongoing support to ECOP fellows in member governments to access information and contacts.
- Support the development and distribution of communication materials to effectively disseminate information about ECOP initiatives to a broad range of stakeholders.
Pacific ECOP Network development
- Contribute to the Pacific ECOP Network development.
- Contribute to the management of the Pacific ECOP mailing list by inviting new members and managing existing members.
- Support the creation and implementation of the Pacific ECOP Reference Group to plan upcoming ECOP activities.
- Provide information on the Pacific ECOP Network to the Global ECOP Programme for their monthly newsletters.
- Work with the PCCOS team to improve the visibility of Pacific ECOPs, the Network and various initiatives.
Other ECOP initiatives
- Assist with the coordination, planning, and execution of other ECOP initiatives, such as sending ECOPs to capacity building opportunities, scientific expeditions, conferences, symposiums or UN meetings.
- Assist with desktop research, surveys, case studies, data analysis, and report drafting.
- Support the documentation of lessons learned from ECOP initiatives and share them with relevant stakeholders.
- Help identify potential capacity strengthening opportunities for Pacific ECOPs and other like-minded programmes.
Support to Ocean Acidification Monitoring program
- Assist with coordination and management of OA data, in collaboration with data management personnel and partners to ensure accurate, complete, and consistent data, adherence to international standards and submission of OA data to OA data portals
- Provide assistance to fieldwork for OA monitoring and data collection, including the deployment of ocean acidification equipment, wave buoys, coastal temperature sensors, and other relevant instruments where appropriate. Conduct lab analysis for discreet water samples and assist in data analysis including reporting of data.
- Contribute to capacity-building activities to enhance partners’ skills and knowledge related to ocean monitoring where relevant.
For a more detailed account of the key responsibilities, please refer to the online job description.
…
Application procedure
Closing Date – 9 November 2025 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)
Job Reference: JM000913
Applicants must apply online at http://careers.spc.int/
…
Only Fijian citizens are eligible to apply for this role
…
Pacific Community, 25 October 2025. More information.
