job
Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) Officer
Organization Pacific CommunityLocation New Caledonia (France)Type FULL TIMEPosted 13 May 2026Deadline 14 Jun 2026
Program/Project ManagementClimate Change and Environment
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Full 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 **Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Programme (CCES)** was established to enable SPC to strengthen and streamline its actions on climate change by bringing together work already undertaken by the organisation under a coherent strategic and technical leadership. In addition, it leads the actions of SPC on climate change and environmental sustainability, works with the Organisation’s regional and international partners and promotes the integration of these issues into all development activities conducted by the Organisation’s divisions.
**The role –** the **Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) Officer** will contribute to the relevant implementation of ESS throughout SPC projects implementation in partnership and collaboration with relevant stakeholders. This role will ensure that SPC enhances its environmental and social risks assessment and management throughout climate related projects. This role will support the strengthening of SPC’s safeguards at SPC level through the enhancement and assistance to SPC’s Environmental and Social Management System. The ESS Officer will contribute, as part of the SER support team to reduce SPC’s projects environmental footprint, enhance resource efficiency and biodiversity sustainability throughout project implementation, additionally to ensuring adequate social responsibility inclusion. This position will align SPC projects environmental standards with international standards, enhance current systems, and reporting to promote SPC climate change projects’ continuous improvement in environmental performance and compliance with SPC’s SER policy.
The key responsibilities of the role include the following:
**Compliance & Standards Enforcement: Risk Screening & Assessment**
- Assess project environmental and social risks at project design stage with the project manager: Providing technical clearance to ESS instruments throughout various phases of the project cycle;
- Support divisions in the design of environmental and social safeguards plan as part of the design of SPC projects, including support divisions in the design of Environmental Impact Assessment & Social Impact assessment;
- Coordinate the screening of projects through SPC SER helpdesk and ensure coordination with GESI Officer when needed;
- Under the leadership of the SER Senior Advisor, contribute to the regular review and continuous improvement of SPC Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS);
- Enhance the process for collection, consolidation, and validation of ESS data from SPC projects;
- Support divisions and programmes in developing and using environmental indicators to monitor their own ESS progress, compatible with SPC project MEL currently existing and ensure organizational upgrade around reporting over project ESS;
- Ensure SPC projects meet environmental obligations under its SER Policy and ensure compliance with both national legislation and international standards applied by current partners (UN agencies, GEF, GCF, AF etc.).
**Developing & Enhancing Key Safeguard Instruments**
- Under the leadership of the SER Senior Adviser, coordinate with stakeholders the finalization of SPC’s Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS), and the development of SPC templates for its implementation;
- Support streamlining of project ESS related documents: design of SPC templates for Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM), and Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), in collaboration with relevant divisions;
- Support the SER Senior Adviser in consultation with the SER Coordination team in defining the KPIs to monitor the implementation of the policy for Pillar 2 of the Manual of SER policies.
**Training and Capacity Building**
- Finalize the ESMS definition and with the support from the SER communication officer, pursue the engagement with all divisions to enhance the uptake by divisions of this process;
- Provide support and design material aiming at sharing knowledge with project implementation teams to ensure compliance with environmental and social safeguards policies and procedures, through the SER helpdesk;
- Create relevant training and capacity building material to ensure progress over ESS uptake at organizational level, with an emphasis on scientific and technical divisions;
- Reach out to relevant divisions and stakeholders to ensure standardized approach to ESS through strategic planning and portfolio management.
For a more detailed account of the key responsibilities, please **refer to the online job description**.
**Key selection criteria**
**Qualifications**
- Bachelor’s degree in environmental science/engineering, sustainability management, Environmental Engineering, project management, or a related field or equivalent body of knowledge and experience
**Technical expertise**
- Minimum of 7 years’ relevant experience in environmental management, sustainability, or environmental and social risk mitigation at project level
- Strong knowledge in environmental and social safeguards at project level
- Demonstrated experience in project management knowledge
- Demonstrated ability to manage projects, budgets, and procurement processes in line with institutional procedures
- Excellent analytical, coordination, and problem-solving skills
- Ability to work collaboratively across divisions and build effective internal and external partnerships
- Self-motivated, proactive, and able to manage multiple priorities with limited resources
**Language skills**
- SPC working languages are English and French; excellent English (oral and written) required
**Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness**
- Knowledge of Pacific Island countries and territories is an advantage
**Salary, terms and conditions**
**Contract Duration** – This contract is budgeted for 3 years and is subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.
**Remuneration** – the **Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) Officer** is a band 9 position in SPC’s 2026 salary scale, with a starting salary range of SDR (special drawing rights) 3,350-4,092 per month, which converts to approximately XPF 483,424-590,374 (USD 4,489-5,483; EUR 4,051-4,947). 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.
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