Editing and Knowledge Officer

• Suva-based position (Fiji)
• 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 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 Operations and Management Directorate (OMD) provides corporate services to all SPC Divisions and Programmes. It consists of three key departments: Finance, Human Resources and Information Services. OMD is focused on improving the effectiveness of systems, policies and management to provide high-quality customer-oriented services.

The role – Editing and Knowledge Officer will deliver technical editing, proofreading and rapporteuring services within SPC Publishing Team and ensures the effective delivery of high-quality publishing projects for the entire organisation. This role will support the Coordinator – Editing to provide high-quality outsourcing of editing and rapporteuring services, the efficient cost recovery of editorial services and the customer service relationships with internal and external stakeholders. The Editor will also be the publishing focal point for library services and will manage the administration of SPC’s copyright, licensing, ISBN and CIP functions in close collaboration with SPC’s Information and Knowledge Management team.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

English editing and rapporteuring

• Provide high-quality editing services to SPC divisions, including copyediting, proofreading, writing and related research, as per the SPC style guide and publishing policies.
• Work collaboratively with SPC authors to ensure manuscripts meet corporate standards and policies.
• Support the rapporteuring services to the main governance meetings (CRGA and Conference), relying on the appropriate digital (IT/AI) tools for transcription as appropriate.

Publishing project management

• Support the management of the roster of consultant editors and rapporteurs in line with SPC’s procurement, finance, legal and publishing policies, and ensure they are upholding editorial quality and delivery timelines.
• Regularly revise and check documents from consultant editors and rapporteurs, and reports any issues, training suggestions or improvement points to the Coordinator-Editing.
• Collaborate on the regular updating of internal resource materials (e.g. style guides, author guidelines, service guides) with the Coordinator – Editing and the Manager IKM, Language and Publishing Services.

Full cost recovery and administration support

• Work with the Publishing team’s Coordination Assistant and Coordinator – Editing to develop coherent administrative workflows and to ensure the appropriate processing of quotations and invoices relevant to the editing work.
• Support the development and implementation of a robust publishing full cost recovery model (FCR) and the relevant administrative process for publishing FCR.

IKM processes and copyright

• Manage the completion stages of publishing projects, including ensuring that copyright clearances and permissions, CIP pages, ISBNs and barcodes as well as any editorial-related documentation, are completed in coordination with the Graphic Designer – Coordinator, SPC’s IKM team and the Publishing Coordination Assistant.
• Manage copyright-related queries and escalate as per the Copyright Guide.
• Annually review and update the SPC Copyright Guide, ensuring it reflects AI-related copyright issues or other industry-specific issues.

Technology, processes and training

• Provide input to ensure the review and streamlining of the Publishing Team’s workflow system/s, processes, and databases, including SharePoint, in collaboration with Coordinator – Editing, the Graphic Designer – Coordinator and the IKM Coordinator.
• Ensure the Publishing teams’ resources are being centralised and promoted internally on a regular basis, including through the intranet.
• Support the implementation and availability of the IT/AI tools necessary to guarantee the scientific and technical quality and accuracy of SPC documents, ensuring that editors (internal and external) have the resources and information they need to meet SPC’ quality standards.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• A university degree in linguistics, languages, journalism, publishing or a related field, or equivalent body of knowledge and experience.

Technical expertise

• At least eight years’ experience as an editor, preferably in a multilingual international organisation.
• At least 2 years’ experience in project management, including experience working with freelance consultants and working with a full cost recovery methodology.
• Demonstrable experience managing procurement processes and service contracts in an international organisation.
• Broad general knowledge and interest in SPC technical and scientific areas of work
• Proven ability to multitask and work quickly and efficiently under pressure in a busy editorial environment
• Experience in maintaining and managing editorial workflows, AI-based technologies and cost recovery processes.
• Demonstrable knowledge of publishing and knowledge management standards within international organisations, including related to copyright best practice and licensing issues.        

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 Editing and Knowledge Officer is a band 9 position in SPC’s 2025 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 2,399‒2,998 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 7,220–9,025 (USD 3,190–3,988; EUR 2,938–3,672). 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. 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: 14 December 2025 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)

Job Reference: TT000156

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 as an editor, ideally within a multilingual organisation? What types of documents have you worked on, and which tools have you used?
2. Do you have experience managing publishing projects, particularly involving freelance consultants?
3. Can you give an example of how you have contributed to maintaining or developing editorial workflows or knowledge management standards?