Director - Statistic for Development Division (SDD)

• Noumea 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 26 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 Statistics for Development Division (SDD) is based in SPC’s headquarter in Noumea, New Caledonia. The division employs approximately 20 staff all of whom are all based in Noumea. SDD’s goal is to strengthen the capacity of Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) national statistical systems by providing technical support through coordination with technical partners and donors. As part of SDD’s role and functions, it has adopted a regional statistical system leadership and coordination role as well as strengthening its technical assistance and support to data collection, analysis and dissemination. This direction has been implemented as part of the Ten-Year Pacific Statistics Strategy (TYPSS) 2011-2020 and this role is a key position in driving these developments forward in respect to gender and human rights statistics in the region.

The role – the Director, Statistics for Development Division will lead and manage a multi-disciplinary team, coordinating the delivery of quality statistical advice and support to SPC’s member country’s National Statistics Offices and National Statistical Systems (NSS) across five key areas: population and housing censuses and household surveys; economic and social statistics, administrative collections (CRVS), information management, data analysis and data dissemination. He/she will advance the quality, timeliness and delivery and use of official statistics produced by member country’s National Statistics Offices and will aim at advancing SDD as SPC’s statistical leader and Pacific region’s data experts.

The key responsibilities of the role include the following:

1. Leadership, management and technical oversight of the SDD

• Providing vision and leadership to the Statistics for Development Division (SDD), and strategic and policy advice on broader regional statistical development matters.
• Providing policy advice on regional demographic and socio-economic development issues and challenges.
• Undertakes business and strategic planning to ensure that the work for the SDD meets the needs of SPC members and other key SDD clients and stakeholders.

2. Statistical System Leader role

• Positioning SDD as the region’s principal coordination agency for the development, production, analysis and dissemination of key core statistics.
• Maintaining regular discussions with relevant financial (DFAT, MFAT, World Bank) and Development partners (ABS, ADB, SNZ, PARIS21, PFTAC, UNPA, UNESCO, UNESCAP, UNICEF) on statistical development initiatives and work programs in the region.
• Attendance and contribution to the SDG Taskforce meetings.

3. Manage SDD’s Census and Survey support unit

• Managing the operations of the SDD unit responsible for coordinating the delivery of statistical support to NSOs.
• Servicing the work of the Methods Board.

4. Support to SPC Senior Leadership Team

• Contributing to SPC Senior Leadership Team in development of corporate policy and plans.
• Attending and effectively contributing to regular SLT meetings.

5. Funding and donor liaison

• Maintaining ongoing advocacy to sustain regional and international awareness and recognition of national data and information needs of PICTs.
• Oversees the development of significant new project initiatives to help achieve tangible results that are in line with TYPSS 2, SDD’s Business Plan and Results Framework – (2022-2024).

6. Integrated Programming

• Lead/contribute to the development and implementation of inter-divisional programme and SPC integrated programming approach for the inclusion of data dissemination.
• Leads and actively promotes integrated programming across the division and supports SDD development programming across the organization.
• Support to SPC Senior Leadership Team in contributing a statistics perspective to strengthening of SPC programming approach, including the Organisational Appraisal Group.

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

Key selection criteria

1. Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree in statistics, demography, economics (or other academic discipline related to substantive work of the Statistics for Development Division).

2. Technical expertise

• At least 15 years of work experience in Official Statistics Compilation.
• At least 10 years of demonstrated leadership and management experience in a public sector or research environment, including financial management.
• Proven history of successfully building and leading multi-disciplinary teams, including people of different national and cultural backgrounds, and demonstrated ability to manage professional, technical, and program support staff in a team environment, ensuring everyone's role contributes to successful team outputs.
• Proven track record in designing and managing projects pertaining to data collection, analysis and dissemination, and the development of innovative ways of effectively communicating results.
• Sound understanding of key development issues pertaining to the Pacific Island region and the role that data and analytics, as well as good information management plays in addressing these issues.
• High-level verbal and written communication skills and the capacity to effectively represent SPC at regional and international forums.

3. Language skills

• Excellent communication skills (oral and written) in English, with French being desirable.

4. Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Excellent interpersonal skills, a team player, with the ability to network and work effectively in a multicultural setting.
• Cultural sensitivity and a demonstrated understanding of developing country environments.
• Knowledge of Pacific Island countries and territories is an advantage.

Salary, terms and conditions

Contract Duration – This vacant position is budgeted for 3 years and is subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.

Due to the current travel restrictions caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, and the priority SPC places on its staff safety, health and well-being, please note that there may be delays in taking up the appointment. These matters will be discussed thoroughly with successful candidates. In most cases, any appointment and on-boarding would only commence when relocation to the duty station is permitted.

Remuneration – the Director, Statistics for Development Division is a band 15 position in SPC’s 2021 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 7,190–8,892 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately XPF 1,052,517–1,301,558 (USD 9,995–12,359; EUR 8,820–10,907). An offer of appointment for an initial contract will normally be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration being given to experience and qualifications. Progression within the salary scale is based on annual performance reviews. SPC salaries are not presently subject to income tax in New Caledonia.

Benefits for international staff employees based in New Caledonia – SPC provides subsidised housing in Noumea. 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 matching 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: 15 of December 2021 – 11:00 pm (Noumea time)

Job Reference: AL000439

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

Please ensure your documents are in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format.

All positions at SPC have specific screening questions. If you do not respond to all of the screening questions, your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed at shortlisting stage.

Screening questions (maximum of 2.000 characters per question):

1. Data collection and dissemination in a COVID-19 environment – What are the challenges and opportunities. Please give two examples from your work.
2. How can we better assist countries with reporting on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals? What are some of the challenges and how can we address these?
3. Your thoughts on the importance of Statistics Literacy and how would you contribute towards its improvement among key users.