Maritime Policy and Legal Adviser

Job Description

The role – Maritime Policy and Legal Adviser will provide strategic legal and policy advice to Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) on maritime governance and international maritime law. The Adviser plays a key role in driving legal and institutional reforms, including the development of model legislation, legislative roadmaps, and national implementation frameworks. The role ensures alignment with regional and global maritime obligations, while building legal capacity and supporting the development of sustainable and coordinated legal systems in Pacific SIDS.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Legal and Policy Advisory Services and Programme Support

• Provide technical advice and support on maritime legislation and policy, including alignment with international conventions (e.g. UNCLOS, MARPOL, SOLAS).
• Assist countries in drafting national maritime laws and regulations.
• Lead or contribute to the development of model legislation and national legislative roadmaps aligned with IMO conventions.
• Contributes to the design, implementation and reporting of programme and project activities related to maritime law and policy.
• Support the mobilisation of resources and integration of legal work across relevant initiatives.
• Review legal and policy documents and provide recommendations.

Capacity Building and Technical Assistance

• Design and deliver legal and policy training workshops.
• Build the legal and institutional capacity of national maritime administrations.
• Conduct capability assessments of national maritime administrations to inform legislative and institutional strengthening.
• Facilitate legal technical assistance missions to support national stakeholders.

Regional and International Representation

• Represent SPC and member countries in regional and international maritime meetings.
• Support member countries’ preparations for participation in IMO and other relevant meetings.
• Contribute to the development of regional legal frameworks and guidelines.
• Support the coordination of SPC-convened Ministerial and Heads of Maritime meetings, including preparation of papers and meeting outcomes. Engage with sub-regional groupings such as the Central Pacific Shipping Commission (CPSC) and providing legal support to cooperative maritime arrangements.

Knowledge Management and Information Sharing

• Develop briefing papers, legal opinions and policy briefs.
• Maintain up-to-date records of maritime legal frameworks in the region.
• Contribute to knowledge exchange and peer-learning initiatives.

People management

• Manage the performance and supervise a group of Assistants and Specialists.
• Influence staff and mediate between colleagues to resolve complex and contentious issues.
• Identify opportunities and organise capacity development activities for staff and stakeholders.
• Build a strong and effective team capable of providing the highest quality service to member countries and clients.
• Monitor the performance and workloads to ensure that objectives and deadlines are met.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• A master’s degree in relevant discipline such as maritime law or policy, or equivalent body of knowledge and experience.

Technical expertise

• At least 10 years of relevant experience in the field of maritime law or policy, legal drafting, research and advocacy related work.
• Demonstrated experience in setting priorities and meeting deadlines as well as working with minimal supervision.
• Given the diversity of technical subject matters, a broad-based knowledge of laws and legal systems of PICTS; international conventions, governments and regulatory procedures in PICTs.
• Proven maturity and discretion in dealing with government protocol, clients and staff.
• Ability to work as part of a team or independently, under limited direction with strong commitment, personal drive and initiative.

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 – until 31 March 2027 – subject to renewal depending on funding and performance

Remuneration – The Maritime Policy and Legal Adviser is a band 12 position in SPC’s 2025 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 3,743‒4,679 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 11,267–14,084 (USD 4,978–6,223; EUR 4,585–5,731). 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. 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 international employees based in Fiji – SPC provides a housing allowance of FJD 1,500–5,200 per month. 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: 10 August 2025 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)

Job Reference: TT000095

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. Briefly share your experience in providing support on maritime policy, legal advice and the drafting of maritime laws. Please refer to your experience working with developing countries, if any.
2. List down the 4 key IMO Conventions and briefly describe why you think they are important for the Pacific region.
3. What would be the next key action that countries should take to give full and complete effect of the convention they have acceded to?

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 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 Geoscience Energy and Maritime (GEM) Division provides advice, technical assistance,
research and training support to Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs). There are three (3) areas of scientific programming and two areas of focus within this division:

1. Oceans and Maritime Programme (OMP) – assists member countries with services that provide applied ocean science and knowledge for evidence-based policy-making and technical solutions for improved ocean and maritime governance, management and capacity development.
2. Georesources and Energy Programme (GEP) – assists member countries by applying technical knowledge in the areas of geoscience and sustainable energy use.
3. Disaster and Community Resilience Programme (DCRP) – assists member countries to demonstrate strengthened resilience through integrated action on disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, natural resource management and increased access to water and sanitation.

More information