Noumea Convention Officer (Samoa Nationals and Permanent Residents Only)

---

Job Description

The Secretariat of the Pacific Region Environment Programme (SPREP) is the regional organisation established by the Governments and Administrations of the Pacific charged with protecting and managing the environment and natural resources of the Pacific. The head office is based in Apia, Samoa with other SPREP offices in Fiji, the Republic of the Marshalls Islands, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. SPREP has around 160 staff and has an annual budget of approximately USD51 million in 2026. The establishment of SPREP in 1993 sends a clear signal to the global community of the deep commitment of Pacific Island Governments and Administrations for better management of the environment within the context of sustainable development. The strategic direction for SPREP is clearly set out in the 2017-2026 SPREP Strategic Plan. The Plan outlines the mandate, vision and programmes for the organisation, and places strong emphasis on effective delivery of services to SPREP Member countries and territories.

• Provide support to the coordination of the Noumea Convention Secretariat’s functions ; • Support the Secretariat’s implementation of approved activities under the Noumea Convention Workplan and Budget; and • Provide secretariat, administrative and paralegal support to the Department

Outcomes

Organisational Stakeholders
1. Noumea Convention Secretariat
Effective discharge of the Secretariat’s role and functions Support the Department to effectively  discharge the roles and functions of the Secretariat of the Noumea Convention   Support the coordination of the Conference of the Parties Meetings and intersessional meetings for the Convention; Support the facilitation of conference services prior to, during and after the Conference of the Parties and/or intersessional meetings of the Parties Support the facilitation of activities to promote awareness of the linkages of the Noumea Convention to global MEAs support the consolidation of COP outcomes and decisions for implementation Facilitate and manage communications between the Parties and the Secretariat to ensure timely responses to the Parties
2. Noumea Workplan and Budget Implementation
Effectively implementation of the Noumea Convention Workplan and Budget Support  the implementation of the approved activities under the Noumea Convention Workplan and Budget Support  the development process of the Noumea Convention Communication Action Plan and Finance Strategy Provide administrative support to the Parties in their consultations and dialogue to progress the Noumea Convention Workplan and Budget Support the consolidation of outcomes from the consultations and/or dialogue for finalisation Provide regular updates on the procurement process to develop the Noumea Convention Communication Action Plan and Finance Strategy and identify issues that may give rise to any risks
3. Paralegal Support
Conduct legal research and prepare briefing materials for the Director Legal Services and Governing Bodies and Department; Assist in compilation of court files and filing submissions in court on any court cases undertaken by the Department; Assist in preparing materials for regional meetings, negotiations, workshops and consultations; Update and maintain the Registry for contracts, agreements and legal documents and monitor allocation and review timeframes; and Maintain legal templates and standard forms on the relevant databases and filing systems. Attend to filing of records and documents under the Department including liaising with the Knowledge Management in the transfer and uploading of these documents in the SPREP filing system.
4. Administration and logistical support
Provide administrative support to facilitate the coordination and effective discharge of the Secretariat’s roles and functions; Facilitate the requisition of goods and services required to progress the needs of the Parties and the Secretariat to progress the implementation of the Noumea Convention Workplan and Budget; Support the development and consolidation of updates on the Secretariat’s delivery of its services to the Noumea Convention Parties; Support the budget development for the Noumea Convention COP and intersessional meeting; Process payments and requisition of goods and services and ensure they are supplied and paid; Maintain inventory of office supplies and restock as required; Support the Director of Legal Services and Governing Bodies on overall coordination of the Noumea Convention.

Responsibilities - Critical Competencies

Competence	Description
Business
Documentation	Communicate using formal business writing.
Communication	Exchange information through verbal communication
Customer
Quality Focus	Deliver quality.
Organisational Values	Display the organisation's image and value standards.
People
Self-Management	Manage your priorities and objectives efficiently and effectively

Qualifications

Qualification	Discipline	Notes
Preferred
Bachelor Degree	Administration, Finance, Laws, Legal and Compliance, Management Studies

Work Knowledge and Experience

1. At least 3 years of experience in a similar role providing legal support, document preparation, and legal research including experience in a government ministry or public entity.
2. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a high command of spoken and written English, including inter-personal skills with demonstrated ability to maintain effective relationships with a diverse group of people and work as part of a team within a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural working environment.
3. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a high command of spoken and written English, including inter-personal skills with demonstrated ability to maintain effective relationships with a diverse group of people and work as part of a team within a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural working environment.
4. Excellent knowledge of current and emerging issues and challenges in administration and financial reporting and demands of a regional project in the Pacific islands region as well as good understanding and appreciation of environmental ethics, values and priorities.
5. Demonstrates initiative and ability to think outside the box in dealing with multiple tasks, demanding deadlines and with little supervision as well as excellent experience in Microsoft Office and general computing skills.
6. Good understanding and appreciation of team work and performance culture with a positive approach to diverse opportunities and challenges including commitment to continuous learning and development

Interactions

Interaction	Comments
Internal
Executive.	Assistance and Support
Senior Leadership Team..	Facilitation
Legal Services and Governing Bodies Department staff (Legal Officers, Advisers, Policy staff)	Meetings and discussions
All SPREP staff and programmes.	Coordination and collaboration
External
Public and visitors.	Information requests and dissemination
Vendors/Suppliers	Facilitation and coordination
SPREP Member Countries..	Monitoring, reporting and collaboration
Donors and Partners..
National Government counterparts.

Apply Now