careers

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 Opportunities

Applications are invited to fill the Ocean Engagement Officer vacant international position at the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner (OPOC), initially based at the Secretariat in Suva, Fiji and later moving to its permanent office based in Palau. The establishment of OPOC, with dedicated professional support, would provide the necessary high-level representation and commitment that is urgently required to ensure dedicated advocacy and attention to ocean priorities, decisions and processes at national, regional and international levels.

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 Pacific Ocean Alliance (POA), including the finalisation of the POA Charter, in accordance with role as envisaged by the Forum Leaders Mandate.
• Responsible for OPOC’s dealing with POA including the organisation of meetings and maintenance of the POA database and national ocean policy focal point contacts.
• Ensure effective utilisation 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 Forum Officials Sub Committee on International Engagement and Advocacy, Counsel of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) Ocean Taskforce on ocean advocacy messaging of the region at key global and regional ocean events.

Applicant should have a University Degree in Politics/Public Policy, International Relations, Communications, or other related discipline with experience working in a policy and/or advocacy agency and possess an excellent oral and written communication skills

Candidate with experience of working with oceans and / or development challenges in the Pacific region and likewise experience of attendance and involvement in high-level meetings of technical / political nature.

The Benefits

The position carries a competitive and attractive remuneration and benefits package including allowances for housing and education; and medical, accident and life insurance coverage. The salary range is from SDR 28,750 to 32,437 - Band 9-10 of our Salary scale (Equivalent to FJD 86,779 to 97,908 on 1 March 2025 foreign exchange rate).

How to Apply

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

To be eligible for the international positions, applicants must be nationals of Forum member countries*

Deadline for applications is at 5pm (Fiji time), 30 May 2025.

The Forum Secretariat – Officer of the Pacific Oceans Commissioner is an Equal Opportunity Employer

*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.