Inland Aquaculture Specialist

• Suva, Fiji or Port Vila, Vanuatu based position
• Attractive expatriate package
• Join the principal development organisation in the region

Description

The Pacific Community (SPC) is the principal scientific and technical organisation in the Pacific region, supporting development since 1947. We are an international development organisation owned and governed by our 27 country and territory members. In pursuit of sustainable development to benefit Pacific people, our organisation works across more than 25 sectors. We are known for our knowledge and innovation in such areas as fisheries science, public health, geoscience, and conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

The SPC’s Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (FAME) capability has been providing scientific and technical expertise to support fisheries management and sustainable development in the Pacific for over 65 years. The goal of SPC FAME is that the fisheries resources of the Pacific region are sustainably managed for economic growth, food security and environmental conservation. In pursuit of this goal, SPC FAME provides scientific and management advice to Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) and regional agencies to support the management of sustainable oceanic fisheries, coastal fisheries, marine ecosystems and aquaculture development. Along with addressing the challenges in the management of the region’s marine resources, there are also significant opportunities to derive greater economic and social benefits from them. Deriving greater benefits from the tuna fisheries, the development of aquaculture in the region, along with alternative livelihoods in coastal fisheries, hold significant potential. SPC FAME provides technical assistance to support PICTs to maximise these sustainable development opportunities in the marine sector and in some parts of the freshwater sector.

SPC FAME is composed of three programmes: the Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Programme (CFAP); the Oceanic Fisheries Programme (OFP); and the Marine Ecosystems Programme (MEP). The Director’s Office provides implementation support and strategic direction across the three programmes and cross-cutting projects. Working with all 22 PICTs, SPC FAME has strong partnerships with regional, sub-regional and national entities working in the marine sector. SPC FAME staff are based in New Caledonia, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tonga, with most of the staff being based in New Caledonia.

The role – Inland Aquaculture Specialist will provide technical assistance, support and advice to governments, stakeholders, and private sector in planning and implementing inland aquaculture activities (also known as “land-based aquaculture” or “onshore aquaculture”) in the Pacific region.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Increase the skills and knowledge base in the SPC region to maximise the return on investments in aquaculture through innovative, profitable, sustainable, inclusive and biosecure approaches

• Assist PICTs to assess the economic benefit of investments in inland aquaculture.
• Provide technical and advisory support to governments, communities and the private sector to enable sustainable and commercially viable inland aquaculture development.
• Design and implement targeted technical assistance projects in inland aquaculture incorporating aquatic biosecurity, in response to member requests.
• Facilitate the development, adaptation, uptake and transfer of appropriate inland aquaculture technologies between PICTs, including low-cost, climate resilient and energy efficient production systems.

Improve capacity for strategic policy, planning and administration to establish clear priorities and enable the aquaculture sector to meet current and future needs

• Provide accurate and timely information on inland aquaculture activities and issues.
• Contribute technical and strategic inputs to the implementation, and periodic review of the Pacific Regional Aquaculture Strategy (PRAS) as it relates to inland aquaculture.
• Provide regional and technical advice upon which to develop policy and regulatory frameworks that enable sustainable inland aquaculture development while safeguarding biosecurity and environmental integrity.
• Ensure participatory processes and stakeholder consultations using socially inclusive and culturally appropriate approaches in the formulation of inland aquaculture components of plans and policies.

Promote inter-agency networking and cross-sectoral collaboration in aquaculture

• Maintain links and provide advice or supervisory support (as appropriate), in inland aquaculture to other CROP organisations and PICT educational or research organisations.
• Collaborate with other relevant agencies, external donors and international organisations, such as Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research ACIAR, Food and Agricultural Organisation FAO, World Organisation for Animal Health WOAH, etc.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of joint and co-financed programmes and projects in inland aquaculture and aquatic biosecurity, ensuring complementarity, efficiency, and value-for-money.
• Participate in One SPC integrated programmes across other sections and divisions within SPC on issues, such as for the SPC Key Focus Areas of Resilience and Climate Action, Natural Resources and Biodiversity, Food Systems, Equity, Education and Social Development, Sustainable Economies and Livelihoods, and Planetary Health.

Section management, administration and communication

• Support the Adviser to develop, implement and review the annual work plans and work plan reports for the Aquaculture Section.
• Maintain up to date corporate and administrative procedures for all activities undertaken.
• Support PRAS monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) through accurate documentation of outputs, outcomes, and performance indicators relevant to inland aquaculture and applied aquatic biosecurity.
• Contribute where applicable to Programme, Divisional and Corporate publications, such as Fisheries Newsletters, annual reports, and Divisional reports for CRGA.

For a more detailed account of the key responsibilities, please refer to the online job description.

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a field relevant to inland aquaculture or equivalent body of knowledge and experience.

Technical expertise

• At least 8 years of practical hands-on experience in the field of inland aquaculture.
• Experience in working with Pacific Island private sector and government systems.
• Excellent skills in cross-cultural communication (written and oral) and teamwork with people from different ethnic and educational backgrounds.
• Experience in writing reports, reporting against project work plans and managing project expenditure.
• Demonstrated experience in working as part of a team or alone with minimal supervision.
• Willingness to travel and undertake overseas assignments in SPC member countries.
• Experience working with PC computer systems and MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint software.

Language skills

• Excellent English communication skills (oral and written) with a working knowledge of French being an advantage.

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Ability to work in a multicultural, inclusive and equitable environment.

Salary, terms and conditions

Contract Duration – 3 years – subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.

Remuneration – The Inland Aquaculture Specialist is a band 11 position in SPC’s 2026 salary scale.

For a Suva based position – a starting salary range of 3,245‒4,057 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 10,028–12,535 (USD 4,349–5,436; EUR 3,924–4,905). Remuneration of expatriate SPC staff members is not subject to income tax in Fiji; Fiji nationals employed by SPC in Fiji will be subject to income tax.

For a Port Vila based position – a starting salary range of 3,816–4,722 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately USD 5,113– 6,328. SPC salaries are not presently subject to income tax in Vanuatu.

An offer of appointment for an initial contract will normally be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration given to experience and qualifications. Progression within the salary scale will be based on annual performance reviews.

Benefits for Staff in a position advertised internationally (EPAI) whose duty station is Suva or Port Vila – SPC provides a housing allowance in Suva or Port Vila. Establishment and repatriation grant, removal expenses, airfares, home leave travel, health and life and disability insurances and education allowances are available for eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Employees are entitled to 25 working days of annual leave per annum and other types of leave, and access to SPC’s Provident Fund (contributing 8% of salary, to which SPC adds a 10% contribution).

Languages – SPC’s working languages are English and French.

Recruitment principles – SPC’s recruitment is based on merit and fairness, and candidates are competing in a selection process that is fair, transparent and non-discriminatory. SPC is an equal-opportunity employer, and is committed to cultural and gender diversity, including bilingualism, and will seek to attract and appoint candidates who respect these values. Due attention is given to gender equity and the maintenance of strong representation from Pacific Island professionals. If two interviewed candidates are ranked equal by the selection panel, preference will be given to the Pacific Islander. Applicants will be assured of complete confidentiality in line with SPC’s Privacy Policy.

Application procedure

Closing Date: 5 July 2026 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)

Job Reference: TT000204

Applicants must apply online at http://careers.spc.int/

Hard copies of applications will not be accepted.

For your application to be considered, you must provide us with:

• an updated resume with contact details for three professional referees
• a cover letter detailing your skills, experience and interest in this position
• responses to all screening questions

Your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed at shortlisting stage if all the above documents are not provided. Applicants should not attach copies of qualifications or letters of reference. Please ensure your documents are in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format.

For international staff in Fiji, only one foreign national per family can be employed with an entity operating in Fiji at any one given time. SPC may assist on a case-by-case basis with submissions to Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their consideration and final approval. SPC cannot and does not make any guarantee whatsoever of approval for such applications to Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs and where an application is approved, the spouse or partner will subject to such terms and conditions as may be set from time to time by the Ministry.

SPC does not charge a fee to consider your application and will never ask for your banking or financial information during the recruitment process.

Screening Questions (maximum of 2,000 characters per question):

1. Describe your personal experience of, and your preferred approaches towards, training to increase the skills and knowledge of government, private-sector and community practitioners of inland aquaculture in the Pacific islands countries and territories. Describe your experience in leading or co-leading resource mobilisation effort in International Development.
2. Explain, giving reasons, which species/commodities you think provide the best basis for successful inland aquaculture in the Pacific island countries and territories, and describe your experience of any that you have personally worked with.
3. Briefly describe your personal experience in inter-agency networking and cross-sectoral collaboration in inland aquaculture?

Position Description