careers

The Pacific Islands Forum

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) is an Employer of Choice in the region, aiming to recruit and employ staff based on merit and organisational needs. The Secretariat’s employment selection upholds its values and commitment to Forum membership, gender balance and building a diverse and inclusive organisation. The PIFS is committed to achieving gender balance and being fully representative of our Member countries*. The Secretariat’s workforce is currently over 50% female, with representatives from 15 of the 18 Forum member countries.

The Opportunity – International Legal Officer

Applications are invited to fill this vacant international position at the Secretariat in Suva, Fiji.

The International Legal Officer’s role is to support the legal functions of the Secretariat, by providing support to the Legal Counsel (LC), through the Deputy Legal Counsel (DLC), in the discharge of the duties and responsibilities associated with the Key Responsibility Areas assigned to the LC. At the same time, the International Legal Officer will also cover other legal related matters, including supporting the DLC as and when required. 

The key responsibilities are summarised as:

• Support the work of the Legal Counsel
• Key areas of support: international law & corporate law
• Undertaking other delegated legal duties
• Corporate Accountabilities

Applicants should have an LLB degree from a recognised institution. An advanced degree in international law, international relations, or diplomacy, is desirable but not essential.

A minimum of five years of demonstrated experience and knowledge in the legal systems of Forum Members, and likewise an awareness of regional and international legal issues relevant to the work of the Forum Secretariat, is required.

The Package

The position carries a competitive and attractive remuneration and benefits package including allowances for housing and education; and medical, accident and life insurance coverage. This position is based on Band 10 of the PIFS salary scale. The starting salary for the position is SDR 32,924 per annum, which is equivalent to FJD 102,122 based on 1 January 2026 foreign exchange rate.

How to apply

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply through the PIFS website: www.forumsec.org where an information package containing the position description and full remuneration details are available. Candidates must include in either their application or Curriculum Vitae the full contact details of three referees.

To be eligible for the position, applicants must be nationals of Forum member countries. The Forum Secretariat is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The deadline for applications is 27 April, 5pm (Fiji Time).

*Member States of the Pacific Islands Forum: Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.