Pest and Disease Management Adviser

SPC - Secretariat of the Pacific Community

Suva, Fiji

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, education, public health, geoscience, and conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

The Land Resources Division (LRD) provides effective expert scientific advice, capacity building and services on conservation, development and utilization of plant genetic resources, forest and landscape management, resilient agricultural systems, diversification of livelihood strategies and access to markets to maintain ecosystem services and improve land productivity and the food, nutrition security and resilience of Pacific communities. LRD has expertise in genetic resource conservation, resilient agriculture, biosecurity, pest and disease management, agricultural extension, plant pathology, entomology and animal health. It collaborates with governments, regional organisations, civil society and other SPC divisions to pinpoint the needs and priorities of Pacific countries and communities and provide technical expertise to address them. This mission is realized through four main thematic work areas, or pillars, and a progressively integrated approach to programming that works towards achieving SPC’s development goals.

The role - Pest and Disease Management Adviser is responsible for providing overall strategic and technical advisory to member countries and LRD supporting policy interventions and research on pest and disease management, including integrating plant health systems (monitoring, prevention, etc.) and promoting effective Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The Adviser is also responsible for overseeing the LRD Plant Health Laboratory, including diagnostic operations, IPM development, and the evaluation of certain control products

The key responsibilities of the role include

Resource Mobilisation

Integrate activities in plant health across LRD programs, including those located in SPC subregional offices;
Develop and coordinate multidisciplinary grant proposals related to plant health lab sustainability, in close collaboration with scientists from LRD programmes and regional and international partners.

Research Policy and Technical Advisory

Actively provide policy advice and assistance to PICTs in areas related to plant health and their relation to public health;
Provide advice on linkages between climate change and pest and disease risks;
Provide timely and accurate advice, and technical assistance to PICTs, on all matters relating to the plant health;
Ensure timely provision of strategic technical advice and appropriate technical assistance and support to member PICTs and key international stakeholders on Integrated Pests management;
Ensure effective and timely response to crop pests and disease problems in the region through promotion of integrated pests and disease management.

Coordination and communication

Organise and conduct, in collaboration with LRD programmes, regional and subregional meetings and workshops to improve the coordination and implementation of plant health activities in the region;
Establish and maintain close working relationships with other regional and international plant health organisations, universities and other training institutions for the benefit of the region;
Convene regional committee for pesticide registration.

Planning, monitoring, and evaluation

Ensure technical advice provided by LRD in plant health is relevant and accurate;
Ensuring research in plant health follows best practice protocols;
Ensure that the plant health laboratory's various biosecurity accreditations are properly renewed.

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

Master’s degree in agricultural science and plant health/pesticide risk management or related field or an equivalent body of knowledge and experience.

Technical expertise

Minimum of 10 years of experience in a similar role;
Expertise in research relevant to plant health, pest and disease management;
Expert in pesticide risk management;
Understanding of national and regional issues related to plant health and pest and disease management.
Experience in computational and statistical tools for the management of agricultural information.
Demonstrated ability to publish in international peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Experience in fund-raising, proposal preparation and project management.
Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to motivate inspire and promote teamwork in an interdisciplinary, multicultural, and regional context.