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News: Subregional Animal Health Specialist (Micronesia)
Posted by: JimEdwards on Jan 17, 2008 - 07:32 PM
Job Opportunities
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1. The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) invites
applications for the position of Subregional Animal Health Specialist (Micronesia).The closing date for applications is 29 February 2008.
2. The attached statement sets out the duties, responsibilities,
qualifications, experience and skills required for the position plus the terms and conditions of employment. This is a three-year appointment, with the possibility of renewal of contract subject to performance and continued funding availability.
3. Recruitment for the position will follow standard selection
procedures, with the successful candidate being chosen by the Director-General on the basis of merit.
Dr Jimmie Rodgers
Director-General
Attach.
Original text: English
SECRETARIAT OF THE PACIFIC COMMUNITY
POSITION DESCRIPTION
SUBREGIONAL ANIMAL HEALTH SPECIALIST (MICRONESIA)
BACKGROUND
The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) is an intergovernmental regional organisation that provides technical and policy advice and assistance, training and research services to its Pacific Island members. It works in a wide range of sectors, including natural resources (agriculture, fisheries and forestry), health, statistics, human development, social issues, and information and communication technology. Established in 1947 as an international organisation, SPC has 26 member countries and territories. English and French are its working languages. The organisation has been expanding rapidly and now has approximately 340 staff and a total annual budget of XPF (French Pacific francs) 4.3 billion (approximately USD55 million).
SPC's headquarters is in Noumea, New Caledonia. It also has a large regional office in Suva, Fiji Islands, and a small regional office in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). A corporate review of the organisation in 2005 stated that SPC 'has gained a reputation for providing real solutions to real problems' in the Pacific. The organisation's goal is to provide high-quality services with professionalism, integrity and pragmatism. Additional information on SPC can be found on its website: www.spc.int.
The Pacific Regional Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Project (PRIPPP) had its genesis in the first reports of outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strain H5N1 towards the end of 2003. By early
2004 HPAI had spread to a number of countries in Southeast Asia and was rapidly becoming a pandemic. From there it spread to central Asia and on to Europe, threatening to become a truly global avian pandemic and possibly giving birth to a human pandemic. While some countries in Southeast Asia have successfully controlled HPAI, in others the disease has become endemic. Many millions of birds have been killed by the disease or have been slaughtered in attempts to control it.
SPC has worked on developing PRIPPP as a regional project to sustainably address pandemic influenza preparedness, specifically for HPAI.
Consultations with the World Health Organization's Western Pacific Regional Office (WHO/WPRO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), AusAID, NZAID and Pacific Island country and territory (PICT) specialists led to a consultative workshop to finalise PRIPPP's design.
Key PRIPPP activities include a review of national/territorial planning and testing through simulation exercises, establishing linkages with reference diagnostic laboratories, establishing surveillance systems, and reinforcing communication linkages with all relevant agencies and stakeholders.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Subregional Animal Health Specialist will be responsible to the Animal Health and Production (AHP) Adviser, SPC Land Resources Division.
The position is responsible for the planning, development and implementation of PRIPPP programmes in PICTs in the Micronesian subregion, in collaboration with the AHP team and other national, regional and international organisations, such as OIE. The position will be based at SPC's regional office in Pohnpei, FSM.
The Subregional Animal Health Specialist will have the following core duties and responsibilities:
* Contribute to the development of a situation analysis of the
Pacific Island region with regard to threats from emerging infectious diseases of animals, particularly avian influenza.
* Contribute to the development of regional and national disease
surveillance networks to facilitate early detection, reporting and management of emerging infectious diseases of animals that have public health significance, particularly avian influenza.
* Assist in the development of animal health information systems
at both regional and national levels to facilitate systematic and regular reporting of disease surveillance outcomes that is consistent with international guidelines.
* Provide input into the design of animal disease surveys,
including for avian influenza, to facilitate efficient and cost-effective use of limited resources at both national and regional levels.
* Provide training at both national and regional levels in the
application of animal disease information systems, including data entry, Emergency Response Plans (ERP), data analysis, and report preparation and submission, to underpin the development and strengthening of animal disease surveillance and reporting systems across the Pacific Island region.
* In collaboration with relevant national authorities, prepare
emergency management training materials and activities for use in national, subregional and regional workshops to develop and strengthen influenza preparedness in animal health and public health sectors in PICTs as required.
* Work with the Training Specialist and the Communication
Specialist in the production of technical materials for training curriculums and the development of communication strategies for national, subregional and regional programmes.
* Conduct regional and national emergency preparedness testing
exercises in PICTs and provide exercise debriefing for participants, and coordinate the development of post-exercise evaluation reports with recommendations for further strengthening of avian and human influenza preparedness.
* Assist in the development of a regional communication strategy
to enhance emerging infectious disease preparedness (across the animal and public health sectors), particularly for avian and human influenza.
* Plan, identify and update advocacy tools accordingly, drawing
wherever possible on existing materials, and disseminate them to national and regional decision-makers as appropriate.
* Contribute to the development of a regional culture of
continuous improvement in relevant animal and public health networks towards surveillance, early detection and diagnosis of emerging infectious diseases with public health significance, and encourage the development of synergistic networks of shared services and expertise within the region.
* Establish and foster collaborative linkages with relevant
regional public health networks (e.g. the Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network - PPHSN) to facilitate cooperation at regional and national levels in the early detection and management of emerging infectious diseases of animals that have public health significance.
* Assist in the preparation of regional strategies for the
management of emerging infectious diseases, such as avian influenza, that are consistent with international guidelines.
* Assist in the preparation of national emergency response plans
for avian influenza (and other emerging infectious diseases) in PICTs via various communication forums, including in-country meetings, workshop presentations and electronic communication as required.
* In conjunction with relevant animal health and public health
sector specialists, prepare disease surveillance, detection, diagnosis and management training materials and activities for delivery in national and regional workshops to develop and strengthen emerging infectious disease preparedness, particularly for avian and human influenza, in animal health and public health sectors in PICTs as required.
* In conjunction with animal health and public health sector
trainers, contribute to the delivery of national and regional emergency preparedness exercises in PICTs for emerging infectious diseases, particularly avian and human influenza, and contribute to exercise debriefings for participants and to the development of post-exercise evaluation reports with recommendations for further strengthening of disease preparedness at both national and regional levels.
* Contribute to resource mobilisation in order to strengthen
emergency preparedness in the agricultural sector for emerging infectious diseases with public health significance, particularly avian influenza.
* Support and provide leadership in regional and national
responses to emerging infectious disease incursions, should an outbreak of disease occur in the region during the project.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Essential
* University degree in veterinary science / veterinary medicine
and surgery.
* Postgraduate qualifications in epidemiology or a related area.
* Experience in information gathering, assessment and analysis
relevant to the potential introduction, establishment and spread of significant animal pests and/or diseases of international concern, such as avian influenza.
* Experience in the development of emergency management
(preparedness and response) plans for significant animal pests and/or diseases of international concern.
* Proven ability to design and implement disease surveillance and
monitoring programmes.
* Knowledge of international standards and guidelines relevant to
the management and reporting of animal pests and/or diseases of international concern, including diseases with public health significance.
* Experience in the development and management of animal health
information systems.
* Demonstrated experience in working both independently and as a
team member to meet deadlines.
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
* Experience in working in developing countries and fostering
intra- and inter-institutional cooperation, particularly in the area of capacity building.
* Fluency in English.
Desirable
* Work experience in and knowledge of the Pacific region (highly
desirable)
* Good practical knowledge of French.
* Experience in the development and delivery of training
activities relevant to animal pest and/or disease surveillance, detection, diagnosis and management.
* Knowledge of project management (including financial
accountability).
SALARY, TERMS AND CONDITIONS
SALARY AND ALLOWANCES
The starting salary will depend on experience and qualifications and will be in Grade J of SPC's salary scale.
Salaries for staff recruited internationally are set in SDR (Special Drawing Rights) and paid in the local currency, i.e. the US dollar in FSM. The salary range for this grade is SDR 3613-4763 per month. At prevailing exchange rates these amounts convert to approximately
USD5691-7502 per month (SDR 1.00 = USD 1.57520).
The organisation subsidises housing. A housing allowance of either USD 1000 per month, or 75 per cent of the total monthly rental up to a limit of USD 2000 per month, will be provided.
In addition, an establishment grant will be payable to non-residents of FSM. Where appropriate, an education allowance will be paid.
SPC remuneration is not subject to income tax in FSM at the present time.
TENURE
The appointment will be for a period of three years in the first instance, subject to the satisfactory completion of a one-year probationary period. The contract may be renewed for a further period subject to performance and continued funding availability.
DUTY STATION
Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.
LEAVE
Leave will accrue at the rate of 25 working days per annum. For expatriate staff members, home leave fares are payable after 18 months of service.
Sick leave is 30 working days per annum.
MEDICAL BENEFITS
SPC's Staff Medical Insurance provides basic medical insurance cover for staff and their dependants. Supplementary medical insurance cover can be purchased at staff expense with our insurer to increase the level of cover for those staff who wish to do so.
PROVIDENT FUND
The appointee will be eligible for membership of SPC's Staff Provident Fund. Staff contribute 8 per cent of basic salary, to which SPC adds a matching contribution.
FARES AND REMOVAL EXPENSES
For an appointee recruited outside FSM, air fares by the most direct/and or economic route for the appointee and recognised dependants, and reasonable removal expenses by sea of personal and household effects, will be met by SPC on appointment and termination.
COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT
SPC has a standardised computing environment based on Microsoft Office running under Microsoft Windows.
SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT
Smoking is not permitted in the workplace.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
SPC is an equal-opportunity employer. Recruitment to SPC staff vacancies is based entirely on merit, but in cases where two shortlisted candidates are judged to be of equal rank by the selection committee, preference will be given to Pacific Island nationals.
ADDRESS
Applications should be addressed to the Deputy Director-General, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji, to arrive by 29 February 2008.
Applicants should provide their curriculum vitae and address the selection criteria for the position in their covering letter. They should also provide names and contact details of three referees.
Applications may be submitted by fax (+679 3 370 021) or email (recruitsuva@spc.int - preferably as an electronic attachment in Microsoft Word format).
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