Dear Colleagues,
Please find following Pacific Vacancies - Announcements No. 2001/ 35
For those interested in applying - Good luck!
Wilco Liebregts
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ECO-CONSULT PACIFIC NOW HAS MORE THAN 700 PACIFIC ISLAND SPECIALISTS ON ITS
DATABASE. IN ADDITION, WE ALSO HAVE AN EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF INDIVIDUALS AND
ORGANISATIONS IN THE PACIFIC REGION FROM WHERE WE CAN SOURCE EXPERTISE.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.pacificforum.com/ecoconsult
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ECO-CONSULT PACIFIC appreciates a reference to its Pacific Vacancy
Announcement Service if you decide to send in an application.
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TO : Representatives of Governments and Administrations
Routine Distribution No.: 01/03
FILE : STF 5/6/2 DATE : 28 March 2001
SUBJECT : RECRUITMENT OF CURATOR
OF THE REGIONAL GERMPLASM CENTRE
1. The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) invites application
for the position of Curator of the Regional Germplasm Centre with the SPC
Agriculture Programme, based in Suva, Fiji. Closing date for applications
will be 15 May 2001.
2. I would be grateful if Governments and Administrations could
advertise this post widely without incurring any cost to the Secretariat of
the Pacific Community.
3. A statement setting out the duties, responsibilities,
qualifications, experience and skills required for the position plus terms
and conditions of employment is attached to this Recruitment Notice.
Lourdes
T. Pangelinan
Director General
Attach.
Original text : English
SPC/Recruitment Notice No. 01/03
Page 1
SECRETARIAT OF THE PACIFIC COMMUNITY
DUTY STATEMENT
CURATOR - REGIONAL GERMPLASM CENTRE
BACKGROUND
The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Agriculture Programme based
in Suva, Fiji, has expanded its activities in germplasm and tissue culture
with the establishment of a Regional Germplasm Centre (RGC). This centre
provides an important service to the SPC member countries for the
conservation, research and distribution of disease free planting materials
of the major crops of the Pacific including bananas, taro, yams, and sweet
potatoes. There are also coconut embryo activities for the conservation of
the germplasm of this important regional species. The staffing structure of
the RGC include the RGC Adviser, the newly created position of curator, two
senior tissue culture technicians, and 2 laboratory assistants. SPC is
hoping to recruit an enthusiastic professional officer with extensive tissue
culture experience along with some management experience for the curator
position. The successful candidate will also receive hands on training in
the planning, management, training and technical backstopping role expected
of the curator position. The curator will work with a RGC Adviser for 2
years to develop the full range of skills needed for the position.
RESPONSIBLE TO: The Agriculture Adviser
SPECIFIC DUTIES
Under the guidance of the Tissue Culture Specialist, the Curator will:
1. Be responsible for the management of the SPC Regional Germplasm
Centre in:
* Conservation of the region's germplasm collection;
* Distribution of germplasm to countries within the region;
* Management of RGC staff to facilitate smooth operation of the RGC in
implementing activities;
* Participation in the development and maintenance of operational
procedures to ensure optimum conservation and utilization of germplasm;
* Assisting the RGC Tissue Culture Specialist with the development of
appropriate documentation and database systems for the accurate recording of
germplasm information; and
* Technical guidance for tissue culture technicians on matters related
to tissue culture and germplasm management.
1. Assist the RGC Tissue Culture Specialist provide technical support
and advice for other laboratories in the region;
2. Work with the RGC Tissue Culture Specialist for the development and
implementation of RGC related projects;
3. Work with the RGC Tissue Culture Specialist supervise RGC research
undertaken by staff and trainee attachments and Graduate Research Assistants
(GRA's);
4. Work with the RGC Tissue Culture Specialist to train RGC staff and
other tissue culture staff in the region.
SPC/Recruitment Notice No. 01/03
Page 2
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Education
Bachelors or Masters degree in Biological Sciences.
Experience
1. Experience with tissue culture of the important Pacific crops for at
least 5 years including tropical root and tuber crops and coconut embryo
culture. Experience with other minor species such as vanilla, pineapple also
useful but not required;
2. Knowledge of laboratory practices and procedures for tissue culture
and in vitro storage methodology;
3. Experience in database systems for germplasm;
4. Experience in a management position and proven ability to work
effectively with others in a team situation;
5. Experience with designing and implementing short-term training.
Other
Initiative and sound judgement and demonstrated ability to work in harmony
with persons of different national backgrounds.
SALARY AND ALLOWANCE
The starting salary for this position will be F$3,834 per month in the SPC
PO3 salary grade for staff based in Fiji. In addition, an Establishment
Grant will be payable to non-residents of Fiji. SPC emoluments are not
subject to income tax in Fiji at the present time. The international
currency exchange rate at the time of writing is approximately USD 1.00 =
F$2.15.
TENURE
The appointment will be for a period of three years in the first instance,
subject to the satisfactorily 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
Suva, Fiji.
ACCOMMODATION
A rental assistance of F$1,170 per month will be provided.
SPC/Recruitment Notice No. 01/03
Page 3
LEAVE
Leave will accrue at the rate of 25 working days per annum of active duty
service. For expatriate staff members, home leave fares are payable after
three years of service, and if contract is renewed.
SICK LEAVE
Thirty working days per annum.
MEDICAL BENEFITS
The SPC's Staff Medical Insurance, to which the appointee will contribute
1.5% of basic salary, reimburses doctors' fees, cost of prescribed
medicines, surgical and hospital costs, etc. up to certain percentages and
limits. Supplementary medical insurance is available to increase these
percentage reimbursements and limits.
PROVIDENT FUND
The appointee will be eligible for membership of the SPC's Staff Provident
Fund. Staff contribute eight per cent of basic salary to which SPC adds a
matching contribution.
FARES AND REMOVAL EXPENSES
For an appointee recruited outside Fiji, 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 work place.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
SPC is an equal opportunities 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.
SPC/Recruitment Notice No. 01/03
Page 4
ADDRESS
Applications should be addressed to the Senior Deputy Director General,
Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji, to
arrive by 15 May 2001. Applicants should provide full personal details,
describe their qualifications and experience, and explain how these suit
them for the specific requirements of the advertised position. Relevant
previous appointments, present position and salary, and the names and
addresses (including telephone, fax, e-mail contacts) of three referees
should also be provided. Testimonials may be provided with the application,
but are not considered a substitute for confidential referee's reports,
which will be commissioned directly by SPC.
Applications may alternatively, or additionally, be submitted by fax (No.
+679 370 021), or email to JimmieR@..., preferably in plain text or Rich
Text Format (RTF).
More can be learned about SPC and its Programmes and activities through the
website .
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PLEASE NOTE:
ECO-CONSULT PACIFIC provides this vacancy announcement to those specialists
on our database who have provided us with an email address. The service is
provided free of charge. Unless otherwise indicated, ECO-CONSULT PACIFIC is
not and will not be involved in the selection process, nor in any of the
negotiations for the position, and will not claim any charges from the
specialists.
The vacancies are obtained from regional and international organisations,
magazines, newspapers and colleagues. Although we will do our best to relate
to you the details on the positions as they have been provided to us, it is
possible that some information may be incorrect. ECO-CONSULT PACIFIC
advises those interested in a vacancy to contact the advertising
organisation directly for specific details on the position. ECO-CONSULT
PACIFIC will not accept any liability for incorrect information.
Although we now have more than 700 email recipients for 'Pacific Vacancies',
your address will remain confidential.
If you do not want to receive the vacancy announcements, please follow the
instructions to unsubscribe from the mailing list in this message. Of
course, you can always join again later....
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Eco-Consult Pacific
P.O. Box 5406
Raiwaqa Post Office, Suva
FIJI ISLANDS
Tel/Fax (679) - 322 607
