• 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 Geoscience Energy and Maritime (GEM) Division provides advice, technical assistance, research and training support to Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs). There are four (4) areas of scientific programming within this division:

  1. Oceans and Maritime Programme (OMP) – assists member countries with services that provide applied ocean science and knowledge for evidence-based policy-making and technical solutions for improved ocean and maritime governance, management and capacity development.
  2. Georesources and Energy Programme (GEP) – assists member countries by applying technical knowledge in the areas of geoscience and sustainable energy use.
  3. Disaster and Community Resilience Programme (DCRP) – assists member countries to demonstrate strengthened resilience through integrated action on disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, natural resource management and increased access to water and sanitation.
  4. Earth and Ocean Observation Services – Promoting spatial data and systems analysis and capacity to improve decision-making to improve resilience and sustainable resource management.

The role – Senior Communications and Digital Engagement Officer is a high-performing technical and delivery role that drives the GEM Division’s digital communications presence and supports the full range of strategic communications and engagement functions. The position leads the creative design, management and continuous improvement of GEM’s digital communications ecosystem including social media, web, multimedia, and digital knowledge products while contributing expert support across corporate communications compliance, crisis response, stakeholder engagement, and science-to-action content development.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Digital Communications Leadership and Innovation

  • Developing and implementing a divisional digital communications strategy that covers social media, web, multimedia and digital knowledge products, aligned with SPC’s corporate brand, One SPC guidelines and GEM’s strategic communications objectives.
  • Owning and enforcing GEM’s digital asset management workflow (including ResourceSpace), ensuring photos/video/products are uploaded, named, tagged and quality-checked with complete metadata, and that divisional assets are packaged and shared for re-use across GEM and SCOE.
  • Developing and maintaining standard operating procedures (SOPs) for content gathering missions (pre-briefing, shot lists, consent/clearance checks as required, daily upload discipline, and post-mission curation and dissemination)
  • Leading web content management for GEM programme pages, ensuring content is current, accurate, accessible, and search-optimised.

Science-to-Action Content Development and Translation

  • Developing compelling, evidence-informed communications products across formats, including feature stories, case studies, technical briefs, policy summaries, infographics, presentations and donor reports that translate GEM’s scientific and technical work into content that diverse audiences can understand and act on.
  • Collaborating with the Team Leader PMEL and Adaptive Management with the Programme MEL Advisers to translate evidence, learning and evaluation findings into accessible communications products that influence internal decisions and external policy dialogue.
  • Designing and/or coordinating the production of high-quality “executive-ready” collateral (one-pagers, briefing handouts, print-ready summaries, and event cards/invitations) that meet formal layout standards for senior stakeholders.
  • Providing editorial and visual “polish” support to divisional presentation materials (e.g., aesthetic adjustments, layout refinement), ensuring consistency with brand standards and audience expectations.

Crisis Communications Support and Media Monitoring

  • Supporting GEM’s crisis communications capability, including maintaining readiness materials, monitoring obligations, and pre-developed content and templates for activation during disasters and emergencies.
  • Serving as a divisional communications point-of-contact for media follow-up where required, coordinating inbound queries, ensuring correct spokesperson routing, and facilitating technical input without listing technical staff as primary media contacts.
  • Supporting rapid drafting and consolidation of “ready-to-use” briefing content (talking points/bullets) for leadership needs when requested.
  • Leading GEM’s media monitoring function during normal operations and crisis activations, including tracking relevant news, social media and regional media coverage of GEM’s work and the contexts in which it operates.

Stakeholder Engagement, Events and Knowledge Management

  • Supporting strategic stakeholder engagement and relationship management with member countries, CROP agencies, donors and regional and international partners, including drafting engagement materials, coordinating correspondence and contributing to partner communications.
  • Planning and delivering communications for high-level events including Ministerial Convenings, regional forums, learning events and donor engagements, ensuring that these are supported by professional, purposeful and impactful communications.
  • Coordinating production workflows with Publications/designers/external vendors, including managing inputs (e.g., photos organised by product/report), design file handovers, and tracking progress through to final outputs.
  • Maintaining event-ready digital files and operational communications support packs (logos, banners, run-of-show collateral as needed) to enable consistent event theming and fast mobilisation.

Corporate Compliance, Team Support and Acting Responsibilities

  • Supporting GEM’s compliance with SPC corporate communications standards, brand guidelines, and One SPC communications frameworks in all work produced by the team, including reviewing and advising on materials produced by programme communications staff.
  • Maintaining working knowledge of SPC’s institutional communications landscape, including SCOE priorities, divisional communications requirements, and cross-divisional coordination mechanisms, to be able to represent GEM’s communications function effectively at any time.
  • Contributing to team planning, workplan coordination and operational management of the Strategic Communications and Engagement function, including supporting the Team Leader to manage team workflows, coordinating across matrix-managed communications advisers, and maintaining an overview of divisional communications activity.
  • Assuming full acting responsibility for the Team Leader’s divisional communications functions during absences, including team coordination, corporate compliance, crisis communications, and external representation, with authority to make operational decisions within delegated parameters.

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

 

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, digital media, marketing, international development or a related field, or equivalent body of knowledge and experience

Technical expertise

  • At least 5 years of progressive experience in communications, digital engagement and knowledge management in the development sector, international organisation or a related context.
  • Demonstrated experience managing organisational social media accounts, web content and digital knowledge products at a high standard.
  • Proven ability to translate complex scientific, technical or policy content into accessible, engaging communications for diverse audiences.
  • Experience developing multimedia content including video, photography, infographics and data visualisations       

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 – This position is funded for 3 years – subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.

Remuneration – The Senior Communications and Digital Engagement Officer is a band 9 position in SPC’s 2026 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 2,399‒2,998 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 7,412–9,265 (USD 3,214–4,018; EUR 2,900–3,625). 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. Relocation airfares, excess luggage, health and life and disability insurances are available for employees. Employees are entitled to 25 working days of annual leave per annum and other types of leave, prorated on contract length 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: 31 May 2026 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)

Job Reference: TT000194

 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. Describe a communication product, campaign or digital content piece you personally developed that turned complex technical, scientific or policy information into accessible content. What was the original material, who was the audience, what did you write or produce, and how did you decide what to simplify, retain or leave out?
  2. Describe your experience creating communications for Pacific audiences, communities, governments, regional organisations, donors or development partners. If your experience is from a different context, explain what is transferable, what would need to change, and how you would make your content appropriate for Pacific audiences.
  3. GEM is preparing communications for a high-level regional event, but the agenda, speakers, technical inputs and partner requirements are still changing. You are responsible for digital content, social media, web updates, visual assets and event-ready materials. How would you organise your work before, during and after the event to ensure content is accurate, approved, accessible, on-brand and useful for future reuse?

Position Description

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.