Coordinator - Design

Job Description

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 unique organisation works across more than 25 sectors. We are known for our knowledge and innovation in such areas as fisheries science, public health surveillance, geoscience, and conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

The Operations and Management Directorate (OMD) provides corporate services to all SPC Divisions and Programmes. It consists of three key departments: Finance, Human Resources and Information Services. OMD is focused on improving the effectiveness of systems, policies and management to provide high-quality customer-oriented services.

The role – the Coordinator – Design will be responsible for coordinating all design, layout and illustration functions within SPC’s Publishing Services team, to ensure the effective delivery of publishing projects and reporting activities for the entire organisation. This role is also responsible for the administrative oversight of the design team’s full cost recovery model, freelance rosters, workflows and tools and knowledge management responsibilities.

The key responsibilities of the role include the following:

Coordination of design and printery workflow and administration

• Coordinate SPC’s design workflow with the Coordinator – Editing by ensuring clear project milestones, communication protocols and project timelines are in place at all project stages
• Manage the consultant graphic designers in line with SPC’s procurement, finance, legal and visual identity policies, and ensure they uphold design quality and delivery timelines
• Keep up to date on advances in AI to improve efficiency and quality of design, ensuring that designers (internal and external) have the resources and information they need to meet SPC’ quality standards
• Ensure quality control measures are in place through the implementation of systematic review processes at each workflow transition point and ensuring that design integrity is met alongside client expectations
• Oversee the regular updating of internal resource materials (e.g. visual identity, service guides)
• Maintain SPC’s scientific and corporate integrity through design due diligence
• Collaborate with SPC authors and designers to select formats and layouts that support readability and accessibility in all SPC publications

Design and visual identity

• Work collaboratively with SPC authors to ensure design projects and documents meet corporate standards and policies
• Providing design and layout support for maintenance of SPC’s visual identity, advising programmes about these guidelines, and applying them in design work
• Advise on and develop high-quality design briefs with SPC staff before projects begin
• Ensure consistent branding in SPC’s governance, corporate and technical documents
• Maintains strong internal stakeholder relationships with SPC’s corporate communications team and designers in the divisions
• Further build, lead and maintain the SPC Design Community of Practice, in cooperation with the team’s designers, to promote and standardize SPC branding and visual identity
• Preparing and checking pre-press files, liaising with the SPC Printery and/or with outside printers, and checking proofs and the final product for quality control before distribution

Full cost recovery and budget

• Develop, implement and monitor robust design and printing full internal cost recovery models (charge back SPC divisions for design and printing services).
• Oversee the development of an administrative process for printery and design FCRs and ensures that they are accurately administered in collaboration with the SPC Finance team.
• Work with the Manager – IKM, Publishing and Language Services to define the publishing team’s annual budget and resource requirements, and ensure the publishing budget is monitored, updated and reviewed on a regular basis.

Team management

• Provide day-to-day management of the direct reports.
• Lead the performance appraisal and process for design and printery staff.
• Lead procurement processes aimed for freelance designers.

Technology, processes and training, and support to spc’s information and knowledge management policies and processes

• Coordinate and ensure regular maintenance of the Publishing Team’s workflow system/s, processes and databases, including SharePoint, in collaboration with the design and printery team members.
• Regularly review and streamline publishing workflow processes in collaboration with the Coordinator – Editing and the Print Production Coordinator.
• Work closely with the Manager – IKM, Publishing and Language Services to assess, develop and implement new AI and automation tools to create technical and administrative efficiencies.
• Preparing and presenting training as well as other outreach materials for SPC staff on art and design at SPC and in the Pacific
• Ensure SPC’s publications and governance documentation is produced, distributed and archived according to established IKM policies.
• Ensure regular liaison with SPC’s IKM team regarding any copyright issues.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree in graphic design or equivalent body of knowledge and experience

Technical expertise

• At least ten years’ experience as a Graphic Designer on scientific and technical publications
• At least 5 years’ experience managing small-to-medium intercultural teams, including recruitment, delivering performance reviews and developing staff
• At least 5 years’ coordinating and/or project management experience in a busy corporate, NGO/IGO or agency /publishing projects, and managing freelance and short-term staff
• Demonstrated high-level skills in using Adobe Creative suite, with as focus on InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Acrobat
• Demonstrable experience designing/laying out bilingual publishing products and working with a translation team
• Strong theoretical and practical knowledge of technical graphic design principles and elements, including typography, font selection and RGB and CMYK know-how
• Strong knowledge of pre-press and printing design requirements
• Strong knowledge of accessibility principles for design
• Proven ability to multitask and work quickly and efficiently under pressure
• Experience in designing and implementing new workflows, technologies and cost recovery models

Language skills

• Fluent and professional communication skills in English

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Knowledge of Pacific Island countries and territories is an advantage.

Salary, terms and conditions

Contract Duration – This vacant position is budgeted for 3 years and is subject to renewal depending on performance and funding.

Remuneration – The Coordinator – Design is a band 11 position in SPC’s 2025 salary scale with a starting salary range of SDR (special drawing rights) 4,397-5,400 per month, which converts to approximately XPF 642,655-789,288 (USD 5,848-7,182; EUR 5,385-6,614).SPC salaries are not presently subject to income tax in New Caledonia. 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 Noumea – SPC provides housing support in Noumea. 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 bilinguism, 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 begiven to the Pacific Islander. Applicants will be assured of complete confidentiality in line with SPC’s private policy.

Application procedure

Closing date: 14 December 2025 – 11:00 pm (Noumea time)

Job Reference: CR000517

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.

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. Explain why you think graphic design is important to SPC’s mission.
2. How do you ensure design quality and consistency across multiple projects and stakeholders, especially when managing freelance designers?
3. Can you share an experience where you had to manage competing demands and tight deadlines with limited resources? How did you prioritise and communicate with stakeholders?
   

About the Organization

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 unique organisation works across more than 25 sectors. We are known for our knowledge and innovation in such areas as fisheries science, public health surveillance, geoscience, and conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.