Job Description
- Do you have a background in maritime law, maritime operations, fisheries policy or similar?
- Important opportunity to provide policy advice and recommendations to an intergovernmental organisation in the Pacific!
- Subject to exchange rates, excellent base salary from US$56,862.00 to US$85,294.00 (tax free for citizens in most countries) commensurate with your skills and experience!
- Make the ultimate sea change and help support the Pacific Island Community!
About the Organisation
The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) is an intergovernmental organisation working to strengthen national capacity and regional solidarity so Pacific nations can manage, control, and develop their tuna fisheries now and in the future.
Based in Honiara, Solomon Islands, FFA’s 17-member nations are Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
FFA was established to help countries sustainably manage the fishery resources within their 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). FFA is an advisory body providing expertise, technical assistance and other support to its members who make sovereign decisions about their tuna resources and participate in regional decision making on tuna management through bodies such as the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).
Since 1979, FFA has facilitated regional cooperation so that all Pacific countries benefit from the sustainable use of tuna – worth over USD $3 billion a year, and important for many people’s livelihoods in the Pacific.
About the Opportunity
FFA is now looking for a full-time Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) Policy Advisor to join their team in Honiara, in the Solomon Islands on a three-year fixed term contract, with possibility for renewal pending performance appraisals and availability of funding.
Reporting to the Director Fisheries Operation, the successful applicant will be primarily responsible for providing high level regional and national MCS policy advice and overseeing the implementation of the Regional MCS Strategy.
Some of the key responsibilities will include (but not be limited to):
- Providing MCS policy input into all aspects of regional and national MCS work
- Providing recommendations to FFA’s Executive Management on the effective utilization of the Agency’s MCS resources to support core Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Strategy (RMCSS) implementation actions/activities at the FFA Secretariat and within FFA member countries;
- Providing advice for the strategic utilization of regional MCS resources used to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing;
- Promoting/participating in capacity building at national and regional levels to improve MCS monitoring and date integration analysis;
- Liaising with the Compliance Policy Advisor to monitor and oversee the implementation of the RMCSS through Activity and Strategic monitoring; and
- Coordinating Fisheries Operations’ implementation of the FFA Strategic Plan.
About You
To be successful in this role, you must have extensive experience of at least 5 years in the management and/or fisheries compliance and MCS at a national or regional level. Furthermore, you will have relevant tertiary qualifications in maritime law, maritime operations, fisheries policy or a similar discipline.
Working within an intergovernmental organisation, you must have experience in capacity building at regional and/or national levels to improve fisheries MCS. You will also need to possess an understanding of the role of information and communication technology in MCS operations while having a strong understanding of the practical aspects of MCS and a broader vision of processes for its improvement.
As you will be responsible for the development of MCS policy advice across a range of international and national frameworks and stakeholders, your highly developed interpersonal verbal and written communication/presentation skills will be crucial to your success.
The ideal candidate will possess an ability to identify and implement policy/capacity/risk initiatives in regards to national and regional MCS programs and frameworks while being self-driven, thorough, and in possession of a strong desire to learn and grow.
Most importantly, FFA is looking for a dedicated professional able to navigate the complex international frameworks that the FFA operates within, who is able to manage complex and competing demands while diligently maintaining relationships with all stakeholders.
About the Benefits
If you are looking to make the ultimate sea change and experience life on the leading edge of Pacific development, this is the opportunity for you!
On offer for the successful candidate is a salary commencing from USD$77,992.00 (with Base salary and basic allowances), tax free for citizens of most countries depending on proven experience and qualifications.
You will also have superannuation paid at 7.5% into either a nominated fund or as an additional cash supplement. FFA reimburses all reasonable medical, dental, and optical expenses for yourself and dependants. Insurance coverage is also provided for personal accident, life, medical & repatriation.
Education for dependent children will be reimbursed at 75% of tuition fees (Conditions apply). If your dependent child is educated overseas, paid school travel may be available for you or your child to visit each other once a year.
Accommodation assistance is also available.
Additionally, relocation expenses will be paid, with an establishment grant paid on arrival in Honiara. Annual airfares back to the country of repatriation will be provided, and a repatriation allowance of 2 weeks’ base salary on return to home-base at the end of the contract. There is also a retention incentive of 21% of your base salary which will be paid on the completion of your three-year contract.
On top of all this, you will have access to 6 weeks of annual leave each year, giving you plenty of time to explore this stunning part of the world!
To apply for the position all candidates must submit the following to the email recruitment@ffa.int
- Cover Letter addressed to the Manager Human Resources and Administration
- Application Form
- Curriculum Vitae
Closing date: December 4, 2026
For more information regarding the position, please click the link: https://www.ffa.int/jobs/mcs-policy-advisor/