JOB DESCRIPTION
| Job Title: | Paediatrician Specialist |
|---|---|
| Division/Programme and Section/Project: | Clinical Services Programme, Public Health Division |
| Location | Funafuti, Tuvalu |
| Reporting to: | Team Leader, Clinical Services Programme |
| Number of Direct Reports | None |
| Purpose of Role: | To lead and provide technical assistance in paediatric Clinical Services delivery. |
| Date: | October 2026 |
Organisational Context and Organisation Chart
SPC is the principal scientific and technical organisation in the Pacific region, proudly supporting development since 1947. We are an international development organisation owned and governed by our 27 country and territory members. We work for the well-being of Pacific people through the effective and innovative application of science and knowledge, guided by a deep understanding of Pacific Island contexts and cultures. (https://www.spc.int/).
The Public Health Division (PHD) employs around 32 staff based in Noumea, New Caledonia and Suva, Fiji. It supports member countries in attaining healthier Pacific Island people and communities by helping in public health surveillance, prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases and support for clinical services. The primary goal for all PHD activities is to promote population health and well-being, prevent disease and injury, restore, and/or maintain health and reduce inequalities in health. The PHD is comprised of three programmes: Surveillance, Preparedness and Response Programme (SPRP), NCD Prevention and Control Programme (NCDPCP) and Clinical Services Programme (CSP).
The position is located within the Clinical Services Programme.
This position will be based at the Princess Margaret hospital (PMH), Ministry of Health, Social Welfare and Gender Affairs (MOH), Funafuti, Tuvalu. Since the deployment of medical specialists to Tuvalu in November 2023, there are as yet, no locally qualified surgeons, physicians or paediatricians on the island of Tuvalu with a population of 10,876, a population growth of +0.91% and a GDP of USD 5575 per capita¹. The SPC clinician workforce 2022 data reported an increase in number of doctors in Tuvalu since 2012, however this is still low with WHO reporting a medical doctor per 10,000 population ratio of 12². There have been efforts to train clinicians in discipline specific areas at Pacific academic institutes such as the Fiji National University, however the new specialist trained graduates tend to opt for work in other Pacific Island countries that provide a better working package rather than return to Tuvalu.
² World Health Organisation Global Health Observatory Data Repository
https://apps.who.int/gho/data/view.main.UHCHRHv
Service provision has been on locum basis especially for surgery; however, the paediatrician and internal medicine specialist have never been filled. Tuvalu is looking to onshore medical specialists to improve care at home and reduce expenditure on offshore medical referrals. This project is aimed at strengthening clinical services delivery through deployment of medical specialists in country. It is envisaged that the deployed specialist will provide mentoring and skills transfer to domestic clinicians during their stay in country.
Key Result Areas (KRAs):
The position encompasses the following major functions or Key Result Areas (KRAs):
- Patient Care.
- Primary Care and Public Health Related Activities
- Clinical Governance
- Programme planning and Management
The requirements in the above Key Result Areas (KRAs) are broadly identified below.
| Jobholder is accountable for | Jobholder is successful when |
|---|---|
| KRA 1. Improve Patient Care (40%) - Provide clinical care for paediatric referrals, in-patient and out-patient assessments, and management of children requiring specialist paediatric care. - Deliver paediatric services within PMH, Tuvalu MOH and working across the health continuum to enhance primary care practices and provide advice to primary care clinicians. - Develop and lead in the Paediatric on-call roster, including after hours and weekends, and contribute to the ongoing care of paediatric in-patients. - development and maintenance of the duty roster, ensuring adherence to schedules. | - There is effective provision of paediatric referrals, in-patient and out-patient assessments, and management of children requiring specialist paediatric care. - There is accomplishment in the delivery of paediatric services including provision of health continuum to enhance primary care practices and provide advice to primary care clinicians. - There is effective participation in paediatric on-call roster, including after hours and weekends, and contribute to the ongoing care of paediatric in-patients. - Ward consultations for Paediatric patients with other medical doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals is accomplished and as necessary, |
| Jobholder is accountable for | Jobholder is successful when |
|---|---|
| - ○ organize and lead routine staff activities, including daily rounds and weekly clinical staff meetings. - • Conduct routine ward consultations for Paediatric patients with other medical doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals as necessary, ensuring adherence to Tuvalu MOH clinical practice guidelines. | ensuring adherence to Tuvalu MOH clinical practice guidelines. |
| KRA 2. Support and Facilitate Primary Care and Public Health Related Activities (20%) | |
| - • Facilitate and support Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) prevention and screening programmes at hospital, schools, and communities. - • Conduct school health screening programs e.g. skin infections, dental care, growth and weight monitoring checks etc. - • Conduct out-of- school and community health screening programs for children and adolescents. - • Develop/Update RHD management algorithm and standards of practice (SOPs) in hospitals and clinics, including management of throat infections and rheumatic fever, skin infections, dental care, growth and weight monitoring checks etc. - • Manage referrals from school health screening programs. - • Facilitate and conduct outer island paediatric outreach visits (aligned to MOH requirements). | - • Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) prevention and screening programmes at hospital, schools, and communities are successfully completed. - • School health screening programs are conducted. - • Out-of-school and community health screening programs for children and adolescents are conducted. - • RHD management algorithm SOPs are developed and implemented for hospitals and clinics, including management of throat infections and rheumatic fever, skin infections, dental care, growth and weight monitoring checks etc. - • Referrals are managed and treated appropriately. - • Outer islands outreach visits accomplished. |
| KRA 3. Clinical Governance (20%) | |
| - • Develop Clinical Practice Guidelines for paediatrics including paediatric emergencies. - • Conduct paediatric clinical audits with guidance from the local team on priority areas. - • Participate in and provide input to the hospital's senior management meetings (e.g., Medical Board, Health Advisory Committee, Therapeutic Committee, etc.) to address paediatric services concerns and issues. - • Contribute to the planning and development of paediatric services to achieve effective, efficient, and integrated care in Tuvalu. - • Implement continuous quality improvement of paediatric inpatient, outpatient, and special clinics and services. | - • Paediatric Clinical practice guidelines, SOPs, treatment protocols etc are developed. - • Paediatric clinical audits conducted, analysed and recommendations reported to improve paediatric case management. - • Paediatric services concerns and issues are addressed. - • Participated and facilitated in planning and development of paediatric service delivery in Tuvalu. - • There is improved paediatric quality of care, and service provision. |
| KRA 4: Programme planning and management (20%) | |
| - • Facilitate annual workplan and budget in paediatric services delivery. - • Ensure the delivery of high and consistent quality paediatrics services in Tuvalu. - • Prepare and submit monthly paediatric reports to Tuvalu MOH and SPC. - • Supervise and mentor clinical staff, including interns, registrars, and nurses in paediatric service delivery. | - • Paediatric annual workplan and budget completed. - • There is consistent quality paediatric services delivered in Tuvalu. - • Monthly paediatric reports compiled and reported. - • Clinical staff, including interns, registrars, and nurses are adequately supervised in paediatrics. - • Refresher courses and relevant training for |
| Jobholder is accountable for | Jobholder is successful when |
|---|---|
| - Conduct refresher courses and provide relevant training for doctors, nurses, and other health professionals. - Perform any other tasks as required by in country supervisor and SPC. | - doctors, nurses, and other health professionals are conducted and reported. - Other tasks performed as required by in country supervisor and SPC. |
Note
The above performance standards are provided as a guide only. The precise performance measures for this position will need further discussion between the jobholder and supervisor as part of the performance development process.
Work complexity:
| Most challenging duties typically undertaken: |
|---|
| - Ability to lead, manage and facilitate in country paediatric service delivery including paediatric meetings, audits, offshore referrals, capacity building of local staff. - Ability to provide policy advice and guidance in relation to development and strengthening of paediatric services for Tuvalu. - Possess strong communication skills for briefings, presentations, training and workshops. - Strong writing and analytical skills for development of reports, conference papers, briefing papers and strategic communications, including annual work planning and budgeting activities. - Developing a good working relationship with in-country counterparts and ensuring participation of countries in paediatric regional programmes. - Implementing activities as and when required by in country supervisor and SPC – Director PHD, CSP Team Leader. |
Functional Relationships & Relationship Skills:
| Key internal and/or external contacts | Nature of the contact most typical |
|---|---|
| External | |
| - Tuvalu MOH Minister of Health, Secretary of Health, Deputy Secretary of Health - In country paediatric stakeholders e.g. NGOs, other Ministries, Faith based organisations - PICT MOHs, technical working groups, counterparts and key implementing partners - Regional bodies and technical working groups - General public | - Requesting and providing information, providing training and advice, resolving conflicts, explaining, gaining cooperation - Professional advising, liaising, facilitating, negotiating, feedback, consulting, sharing information, strengthening partnerships - Coordination of communication and activities with relevant bodies/Ministries etc |
| Internal | |
| - PHD Director, Principal Adviser, Team Leaders and colleagues - Colleagues and Teams across SPC technical divisions - Crosscutting and taskforce teams - Section’s Managers and staff of the Operations and Management Division, especially in ICT, translation, interpretation and publication services | - Facilitating, giving and receiving information, resolving minor conflicts, advising, explaining, gaining cooperation and cooperating - Coordination |
Level of Delegation:
Routine Expenditure Budget: 0 EUR
Budget Sign off Authority without requiring approval from direct supervisor: 50 EUR
Personal Specification:
This section is designed to capture the expertise required for the role at the 100% fully effective level. (This does not necessarily reflect what the current position holder has.) This may be a combination of knowledge / experience, qualifications or equivalent level of learning through experience or key skills, attributes or job specific competencies.
Qualifications
| Essential: | Desirable: |
|---|---|
| - Master of Medicine (MMed) in Paediatrics. | - A Masters/fellowship in a clinical or public health discipline |
Knowledge / Experience
| Essential: | Desirable: |
|---|---|
| - At least 10 years of work experience in clinical services in the Pacific. - Minimum of 3 years' experience post MMed. - Significant experience in managing and/or leading paediatric services delivery. - Demonstrated extensive work experience in clinical services planning and development. - Demonstrated ability to implement a sector-wide response to clinical services issues. - Demonstrated experience in the development of paediatric services policies and programmes. - Demonstrated excellent understanding of project management principles. - Experience working in Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). - Advanced written and oral communication skills in English. - Willingness to travel and conduct paediatric services to outer islands. | - Understanding of Pacific cultures. - Previous working experience in a developing country, ideally in the Pacific region. - Leadership and managerial experience in Clinical Services. |
Key Skills /Attributes / Job Specific Competencies
The position would typically need to have the following levels in relation to the skills/attributes/competencies listed in the table below to be considered 100% 'fully effective'.
| Levels | Skills/attributes/competencies |
|---|---|
| Expert level (i.e., the person needs to be an expert in these skills/attributes/competencies) | - Professional skills – developing and implementing appropriate paediatric clinical Services programs at different levels (regional, national and community levels) - Assessment of paediatric clinical Services programmes and determination of in-country needs |
| - Mentoring skills – effective mentoring to provide technical support to multi-sectoral stakeholders - Written and spoken English - Developing and evaluating paediatric clinical Services policies and programmes - Setting priorities with minimal supervision | |
|---|---|
| Advanced level (i.e., the person needs to have an advanced level with these skills/attributes/competencies) | - Advocacy skills – strong advocacy skills to engage effectively at different level - Ability to promote evidence based best practice for paediatric clinical Services - Interpersonal skills – ability to work with a diverse team |
| Working Knowledge (i.e., the person needs to have a working knowledge with these skills/attributes/competencies) | - Project management - Principles of development effectiveness - Development of funding applications and research protocols |
| Awareness (i.e., the person needs to be aware in relation to these skills/attributes/competencies) | - SPC Regulations and Policies - Goals and mandates of member countries, partner agencies and organizations |
Key Behaviours
All employees are measured against the following *Key Behaviours** as part of Performance Development:*
- Change and Innovation
- Interpersonal Skills
- Teamwork
- Promotion of Equity and Equality
- Judgement
- Building Individual Capacity
Personal Attributes
- Ability to engage and motivate people
- Clear and effective communicator
- Ability to think creatively and solve problems
- Ability to sum up the situation and make decisions quickly if required
- Able to handle high pressure, high workload environments
Change to Job Description:
From time to time it may be necessary to consider changes in the job description in response to the changing nature of our work environment – including technological requirements or statutory changes. Such change may be initiated as necessary by SPC. This Job Description may be reviewed as part of the preparation for performance planning for the annual performance cycle.