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, and ensures that employment selection upholds its values and commitment to Forum membership, gender balance and building a diverse and inclusive organisation. PIFS is committed to achieving gender balance and being fully representative of our member countries.  Our workforce is currently over 50% female, and we have representatives from twelve of the eighteen Forum member countries. 

To achieve greater workforce representation from our member countries we strongly encourage applicants from the following countries to apply: Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Nauru, Niue, New Caledonia and Palau 

The Opportunity

The Forum Secretariat invites suitably experienced and qualified individuals to apply for the position of Ocean Engagement Officer. The role will report to the Engagement Adviser to advance the responsibilities of the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner and work closely with staff across the Secretariat. Responsibilities include, but not limited to: 

• Facilitate the proper and effective governance of POA, including the finalization of the POA Charter, in accordance with role as envisaged by the Forum Leaders Mandate.
• Responsible for OPOC’s dealing with POA including the organization of meetings and maintenance of the POA database and national ocean policy focal point contacts.
• Ensure effective utilization of POA to address issues of national, regional and global importance.
• Engaging POA Stakeholders to ensure the advocacy of existing regional ocean priorities by Leaders and by the Pacific Ocean Commissioner.
• Engaging POA Stakeholders to coordinate through various mechanisms such as the FOC Sub Committee on International Engagement and Advocacy, CROP Ocean Taskforce on ocean advocacy messaging of the region at key global and regional ocean events.

Applicants should have University Degree in Politics/Public Policy, International Relations, Communications, or other related discipline with experience working in a policy and/or advocacy agency and working with oceans and / or development challenges in the Pacific region.        

Candidates with experience of attendance and involvement in high-level meetings of technical / political nature including managing stakeholder relationships and developing stakeholder engagement plans.

The Benefits

The position carries a competitive and attractive remuneration and benefits package including medical and life insurance, education, and housing allowance. The position is placed at our Officer level with a starting base salary range from
SDR 27,907 to 31,486 per annum equivalent to (FJD 83,554 to 94,269) at Band 9 to 10 on our salary scale. Amounts are based on 1 July foreign exchange rate, but your final salary will be dependent on foreign exchange rates at the time of payment.

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply through our website: www.forumsec.org where an information package containing the position description and full remuneration details is available. Candidates must include in either their application or Curriculum Vitae the full contact details of three referees. For non-Fijian nationals, this salary may be tax-free. To be eligible for this position, the applicant must be a national of a Forum member country*. Applicants must be willing to travel periodically via economy class.

Deadline for applications is at 5pm (Fiji time), Friday 29 September 2023.

*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.