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EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENT SPECIALIST – LITERACY (Early Grades)
1. The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) invites applications for the position of Educational Assessment Specialist – Literacy (Early Grades) with the South Pacific Board for Educational Assessment (SPBEA). The closing date for applications is 15 August 2010

2. The attached statement sets out the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, experience and skills required for the position, plus the terms and conditions of employment. This is an eighteen months contract position based in Suva, Fiji, and is renewable subject to performance and continued funding availability.

3. Recruitment for the position will follow standard selection procedures, with the successful candidate being chosen by the Director-General on the basis of merit.

Jimmie Rodgers
Director-General

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1. The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) invites applications for the position of Educational Assessment Specialist – Numeracy (Early Grades) with the South Pacific Board for Educational Assessment (SPBEA). The closing date for applications is 15 August 2010.

2. The attached statement sets out the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, experience and skills required for the position, plus the terms and conditions of employment. This is an eighteen month contract position based in Suva, Fiji, and is renewable subject to performance and continued funding availability.

3. Recruitment for the position will follow standard selection procedures, with the successful candidate being chosen by the Director-General on the basis of merit.

Jimmie Rodgers
Director-General

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1. The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) invites applications for the position of Educational Assessment Specialist – Numeracy (Years 4-8) with the South Pacific Board for Educational Assessment (SPBEA). The closing date for applications is 15 August 2010

2. The attached statement sets out the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, experience and skills required for the position, plus the terms and conditions of employment. This is an eighteen months contract position based in Suva, Fiji, and is renewable subject to performance and continued funding availability.

3. Recruitment for the position will follow standard selection procedures, with the successful candidate being chosen by the Director-General on the basis of merit.

Jimmie Rodgers
Director-General

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2. Training
• Train counterparts in SPBEA and PIC assessment units in
o the principles and skills of instrumentation for Years 4 – 8 literacy assessment;
o analysis and interpretation of assessment results;
o adapting and using customised software that supports the assessment of literacy; and
o designing and developing intervention strategies to address needed improvements in literacy skills that are determined from the assessment results
• Develop a training manual to be used by SPBEA counterparts during as well as after the project period.

a.Provide training for SPBEA and in-country educational personnel in Years 4-8 literacy instrumentation, monitoring, research and advisory activities.
b. Develop training materials and manuals for Years 4-8literacy assessment
c.Support training and research activities in Years 4-8 literacy in the countries

3. Research - designing and conducting research activities in Years 4-8 literacy assessment
a. Provide research services and training on the assessment of Years 4-8 literacy standards to member countries
b. Design and conduct research using ears 4-8 literacy data
c. Develop repository and resource centre for Years 4-8 literacy and its assessment
d. Provide professional advice on matters related to Years 4-8 literacy to SPBEA and the member countries

4. Supporting literacy activities
a. Provide strategic direction on literacy assessment in the Pacific
b. Design intervention strategies to address issues highlighted in assessment and research reports
c. Provide advice on follow-up intervention based on Years 4-8 literacy data

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• Post Graduate degree in Educational Assessment
• Bachelor degree in English/Mathematics or related areas with professional teacher training
  
  

Desirable

• PhD in Education
  
  

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
Essential

• More than five years’ teaching experience
• More than five years’ experience on working in the area of literacy and numeracy training including assessment techniques.
• More than five years’ experience in the use of Microsoft Office products.
• Demonstrated ability in the provision of user training and support, particularly for numeracyliteracy.
• Good customer relations and communication skills (written and oral).
• Good working knowledge of English.
  
  

Desirable

• Experience working in the Pacific.
• Demonstrated work experience with producing system and user manual documentation for deployed applications.
  

SALARY, TERMS AND CONDITIONS
SALARY AND ALLOWANCES
The starting salary will depend on experience and qualifications. The position is currently in Grade I of SPC’s salary scale.
Salaries for staff recruited internationally are set in SDR (Special Drawing Rights) and paid in the local currency, i.e. Fijian dollar (FJD) in Fiji Islands The salary range for this grade is SDR 2,046-2,865 per month. At prevailing exchange rates these amounts convert into approximately FJD 6,038 -8,456 per month (USD 3,054–4,277; € 2,366–3,314).

SPC remuneration is not subject to income tax in Fiji Islands, however, will apply to Fiji nationals appointed to SPBEA positions.
SPC subsidises housing. A housing allowance of 75 per cent of the total rental, up to a limit of FJD 2,625 per month, will be provided. The minimum housing allowance payable is FJD 1,170 per month.

In addition, an establishment grant will be payable to non-residents of Fiji Islands. Where appropriate, an education allowance will be paid.

TENURE
The appointment is for a period of eighteen months, with the possibility of renewal for a further period depending on performance and continued funding availability.

DUTY STATION
Suva, Fiji.

LEAVE
Annual Leave will accrue at the rate of 25 working days per annum of active duty.
Sick leave is 30 working days per annum.

MEDICAL BENEFITS
SPC’s Staff Medical Insurance reimburses doctors’ fees, cost of prescribed medicines, surgical and hospital costs, etc. up to certain percentages and limits. Supplementary medical insurance is available to increase these percentage reimbursements and limits.

PROVIDENT FUND
The appointee will be eligible for membership of SPC’s Staff Provident Fund. Staff members contribute 8 per cent of their base salary, to which SPC adds a matching contribution.

FARES AND REMOVAL EXPENSES
For an appointee recruited outside Fiji, the cost of air fares by the most direct and/or economic route for the appointee and recognised dependants, and reasonable removal expenses by sea of personal and household effects, will be met by SPC on appointment and termination.

COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT
SPC has a standardised computing environment based on Microsoft Office running under Microsoft Windows.

SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT
Smoking is not permitted in the work place.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
SPC is an equal-opportunity employer. Recruitment is based on merit. If two short-listed candidates are judged to be equally qualified, preference will be given to Pacific Island nationals.

ADDRESS AND CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS
Applications should be addressed to the Deputy Director-General (Suva Regional Office), Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji Islands, to arrive by 15 August 2010.

Applicants should provide their curriculum vitae and specifically address how their qualifications, knowledge and experience demonstrate their ability to successfully undertake the duties and responsibilities of the position in their covering letter. They should also provide names and contact details of three referees. Applications that do not specifically address the selection criteria will not be considered.

Applications may be submitted by fax (+679 3370 021) or email recruitsuva(AT)spc.int , preferably as an electronic attachment in Microsoft Word format).

1. Numeracy Assessment (Early Grade/Year 2)
• Review and support current SPBEA monitoring of numeracy work in Year 2.
• Design, develop and support construction of assessment instruments that produce reliable and valid data on student numeracy standards in Year 2.
• Monitor the implementation of Years 2 numeracy assessment instruments within each country.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of numeracy assessment instruments.

2. Training
• Train counterparts in SPBEA and PIC assessment units in
o the principles and skills of instrumentation for Year 2 numeracy assessment;
o analysis and interpretation of assessment results;
o adapting and using customised software that supports the assessment of numeracy; and
o designing and developing intervention strategies to address needed improvements in numeracy skills that are determined from the assessment results
• Develop a training manual to be used by SPBEA counterparts during as well as after the project period.

3. Researching
• Design, develop and implement a systematic action research that accompanies numeracy assessment in Year 2.
• Support SPBEA counterparts in development of research knowledge and skills.
• Monitor standards of learning and teaching in Year 2 numeracy in SPBEA countries through data capture, analysis and interpretations.

4. Reporting
• Report on the instruments, results and standards of Year 2 numeracy assessments in all member countries.
• Report on interventions strategies that are instituted to improve levels of Year 2 numeracy in member countries.
• Report on counterpart training strategies that are instituted to enhance the assessment capacity of SPBEA counterpart.
• Report on the effectiveness of numeracy assessment instruments

5. Interventions into teaching and learning
• Design and develop support numeracy activities, both in measurement and intervention, which facilitate teaching and learning of numeracy for Year 2.
• Provide prompt and high-quality support to SPBEA counterpart as well as PIC curriculum officers in development of interventions into teaching and learning.
• Support work with country panels on Assessment Resource Tool for Teaching and Learning of Numeracy in early grade years.

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
QUALIFICATIONS

Essential
• Post Graduate degree in Educational Assessment
Graduate degree in English/Mathematics or related areas with professional teacher training

Desirable
• PhD in education

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
Essential
More than five years’ teaching experience
More than five years’ experience on working in the area of literacy and numeracy training in early grade years
More than five years’ experience in the use of Microsoft Office products.
Demonstrated ability in the provision of user training and support, particularly for numeracy.
Good customer relations and communication skills (written and oral).
Good working knowledge of English.
Ability to work to and meet multiple project deadlines

Desirable
Demonstrated work experience with producing system and user manual documentation for deployed applications.

SALARY, TERMS AND CONDITIONS
SALARY AND ALLOWANCES
The starting salary will depend on experience and qualifications. The position is currently in Grade I of SPC’s salary scale.
Salaries for staff recruited internationally are set in SDR (Special Drawing Rights) and paid in the local currency, i.e. Fijian dollar (FJD) in Fiji Islands The salary range for this grade is SDR 2,046-2,865 per month. At prevailing exchange rates these amounts convert into approximately FJD 6,038 -8,456 per month (USD 3,054–4,277; € 2,366–3,314).

SPC remuneration is not subject to income tax in Fiji Islands, however, will apply to Fiji nationals appointed to SPBEA positions.
SPC subsidises housing. A housing allowance of 75 per cent of the total rental, up to a limit of FJD 2,625 per month, will be provided. The minimum housing allowance payable is FJD 1,170 per month.

In addition, an establishment grant will be payable to non-residents of Fiji Islands. Where appropriate, an education allowance will be paid.

TENURE
The appointment is for a period of eighteen months, with the possibility of renewal for a further period depending on performance and continued funding availability.

DUTY STATION
Suva, Fiji.

LEAVE
Annual Leave will accrue at the rate of 25 working days per annum of active duty.
Sick leave is 30 working days per annum.

MEDICAL BENEFITS
SPC’s Staff Medical Insurance reimburses doctors’ fees, cost of prescribed medicines, surgical and hospital costs, etc. up to certain percentages and limits. Supplementary medical insurance is available to increase these percentage reimbursements and limits.

PROVIDENT FUND
The appointee will be eligible for membership of SPC’s Staff Provident Fund. Staff members contribute 8 per cent of their base salary, to which SPC adds a matching contribution.

FARES AND REMOVAL EXPENSES
For an appointee recruited outside Fiji, the cost of air fares by the most direct and/or economic route for the appointee and recognised dependants, and reasonable removal expenses by sea of personal and household effects, will be met by SPC on appointment and termination.

COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT
SPC has a standardised computing environment based on Microsoft Office running under Microsoft Windows.

SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT
Smoking is not permitted in the work place.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
SPC is an equal-opportunity employer. Recruitment is based on merit. If two short-listed candidates are judged to be equally qualified, preference will be given to Pacific Island nationals.

ADDRESS AND CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS
Applications should be addressed to the Deputy Director-General (Suva Regional Office), Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji Islands, to arrive by 15 August 2010.

Applicants should provide their curriculum vitae and specifically address how their qualifications, knowledge and experience demonstrate their ability to successfully undertake the duties and responsibilities of the position in their covering letter. They should also provide names and contact details of three referees. Applications that do not specifically address the selection criteria will not be considered.

Applications may be submitted by fax (+679 3370 021) or email recruitsuva(AT)spc.int , preferably as an electronic attachment in Microsoft Word format).

The responsibilities for the Educational Assessment Officer Numeracy (Years 4 – 8) will include the following.

1. Numeracy Assessment (Years 4 – 8)
• Review and support current SPBEA monitoring of numeracy work in Years 4 - 8.
• Design, develop and support construction of assessment instruments that produce reliable and valid data on student numeracy standards in Years 4 - 8.
• Monitor the implementation of Years 4 – 8 numeracy assessment instruments within each country.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of numeracy assessment instruments.

2. Training
• Train counterparts in SPBEA and PIC assessment units in
o the principles and skills of instrumentation for Years 4 – 8 numeracy assessment;
o analysis and interpretation of assessment results;
o adapting and using customised software that supports the assessment of numeracy; and
o designing and developing intervention strategies to address needed improvements in numeracy skills that are determined from the assessment results
• Develop a training manual to be used by SPBEA counterparts during as well as after the project period.

3. Researching
• Design, develop and implement a systematic action research that accompanies numeracy assessment in Years 4 – 8.
• Support SPBEA counterparts in development of research knowledge and skills.
• Monitor standards of learning and teaching in Years 4 – 8 numeracy in SPBEA countries through data capture, analysis and interpretations.

4. Reporting
• Report on the instruments, results and standards of Years 4 - 8 numeracy assessments in all member countries.
• Report on interventions strategies that are instituted to improve levels of Years 4–8 numeracy in member countries.
• Report on counterpart training strategies that are instituted to enhance the assessment capacity of SPBEA counterpart.
• Report on the effectiveness of numeracy assessment instruments

5. Interventions into teaching and learning
• Design and develop support numeracy activities, both in measurement and intervention, which facilitate teaching and learning of numeracy for Years 4 – 8.
• Provide prompt and high-quality support to SPBEA counterpart as well as PIC curriculum officers in development of interventions into teaching and learning.
• Support work with country panels on Assessment Resource Tool for Teaching and Learning of Numeracy in Years 4 - 8.

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
QUALIFICATIONS

Essential
• Post Graduate degree in Educational Assessment
• Bachelor degree in English/Mathematics or related areas with professional teacher training

Desirable
• PhD in education

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

Essential
• More than five years’ teaching experience
• More than five years’ experience on working in the area of literacy and numeracy training
• More than five years’ experience in the use of Microsoft Office products.
• Demonstrated ability in the provision of user training and support, particularly for numeracy.
• Good customer relations and communication skills (written and oral).
• Good working knowledge of English.
• Ability to work to and meet multipleproject deadlines

Desirable
• Demonstrated work experience with producing system and user manual documentation for deployed applications .

SALARY, TERMS AND CONDITIONS
SALARY AND ALLOWANCES
The starting salary will depend on experience and qualifications. The position is currently in Grade I of SPC’s salary scale.

Salaries for staff recruited internationally are set in SDR (Special Drawing Rights) and paid in the local currency, i.e. Fijian dollar (FJD) in Fiji Islands The salary range for this grade is SDR 2,046-2,865 per month. At prevailing exchange rates these amounts convert into approximately FJD 6,038 -8,456 per month (USD 3,054–4,277; € 2,366–3,314). SPC remuneration is not subject to income tax in Fiji Islands, however, will apply to Fiji nationals appointed to SPBEA positions.

SPC subsidises housing. A housing allowance of 75 per cent of the total rental, up to a limit of FJD 2,625 per month, will be provided. The minimum housing allowance payable is FJD 1,170 per month.

In addition, an establishment grant will be payable to non-residents of Fiji Islands. Where appropriate, an education allowance will be paid.

TENURE
The appointment is for a period of eighteen months, with the possibility of renewal for a further period depending on performance and continued funding availability.

DUTY STATION
Suva, Fiji.

LEAVE
Annual Leave will accrue at the rate of 25 working days per annum of active duty.
Sick leave is 30 working days per annum.

MEDICAL BENEFITS
SPC’s Staff Medical Insurance reimburses doctors’ fees, cost of prescribed medicines, surgical and hospital costs, etc. up to certain percentages and limits. Supplementary medical insurance is available to increase these percentage reimbursements and limits.

PROVIDENT FUND
The appointee will be eligible for membership of SPC’s Staff Provident Fund. Staff members contribute 8 per cent of their base salary, to which SPC adds a matching contribution.

FARES AND REMOVAL EXPENSES
For an appointee recruited outside Fiji, the cost of air fares by the most direct and/or economic route for the appointee and recognised dependants, and reasonable removal expenses by sea of personal and household effects, will be met by SPC on appointment and termination.

COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT
SPC has a standardised computing environment based on Microsoft Office running under Microsoft Windows.

SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT
Smoking is not permitted in the work place.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
SPC is an equal-opportunity employer. Recruitment is based on merit. If two short-listed candidates are judged to be equally qualified, preference will be given to Pacific Island nationals.

ADDRESS AND CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS
Applications should be addressed to the Deputy Director-General (Suva Regional Office), Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji Islands, to arrive by 15 August 2010.

Applicants should provide their curriculum vitae and specifically address how their qualifications, knowledge and experience demonstrate their ability to successfully undertake the duties and responsibilities of the position in their covering letter. They should also provide names and contact details of three referees. Applications that do not specifically address the selection criteria will not be considered.

Applications may be submitted by fax (+679 3370 021) or email recruitsuva(AT)spc.int , preferably as an electronic attachment in Microsoft Word format).

The introduction of scanning technology will introduce efficiencies in both data collection and staff time-on-task in the introduction of scanning technology and its processes. In the longer term, scanning technology will be introduced for all assessment programs, however in the short term, there will be a staged introduction of the technology beginning with national assessments of literacy and numeracy. This will provide the test bed for processes and practices before progressing to the high stakes senior secondary examinations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The appointee will be required to:

• Design answer templates and program these for the system
• Coordinate the scanning of documents
• Programme the system for analysis and interpretation of results
• Provide support to the education assessment officers and ICT staff
• Provide training for staff on use of scanning technology

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
Essential - A Bachelors degree from a recognised University with IT/Programming or related area; emonstrated experience in programming and scanning technology; strong administrative skills- systems oriented with meticulous attention to detail; proficient with Microsoft office -Word, Access, Powerpoint and Excel; able to trouble shoot IT related queries from network end users; good interpersonal and communication skills.

Desirable –Experience in the field of educational assessment or similar field.

Salary: F$3,371 -$4,635 per month Duration: 18 months (possible extension)

Duties and Responsibilities:
The appointees will support the introduction of scanning technology and quality data through editing and validation.

• Data entry, editing and validation – creation of templates, timely input of data, data validation
• Data extraction – assist in liaising with member countries on literacy and numeracy assessment work; assist researchers on literacy data and data analysis; extraction and analysis of assessment data and preparation of relevant reports.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
Essential - A Bachelors degree from a recognised University in IT and/or Statistics or related field; strong administrative skills- systems oriented with meticulous attention to detail; proficient with Microsoft office -Word, Access, Powerpoint and especially Excel; able to trouble shoot IT related queries from network end users; good interpersonal and communication skills.

Desirable - Previous experience in validation, entry, and extraction of educational data; previous experience in an administrative role; experience of having worked in an organisation that deals with regional countries; high level typing speed and accuracy.

Salary: F$2,682 per month Duration: 18 months (possible extension)

The appointee will assist in communicating with member countries on monitoring the assessment work as follows:

• Keeps a record of assessment activities in each country
• Communicates with each country on development and progress of work
• Monitors and evaluates assessment work in each country
• Reports regularly on progress of work in each country

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
A Bachelors degree from a recognised university with extensive experience in liaising with education authorities and schools; extensive teaching experience and knowledge of Pacific education systems; strong administrative skills- systems oriented with meticulous attention to detail; ability to proficiently use Microsoft office (Word, Excel & Powerpoint); a high level of interpersonal skills, cultural sensivity and ability to communicate at all levels; good written communication skills in English; able to set priorities successfully with minimal supervision.

Salary: F$2, 580 per month Duration: 18 months (possible extension)

Other benefits for staff recruited locally (including superannuation, medical, life insurance, leave etc) will apply. The salaries indicated reflects gross salaries and will be subject to tax in Fiji.

Applications are to be addressed to the Human Resources Officer (Suva Regional Office), Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Private Mail Bag, Suva. Applications close on 30 July 2010.

Applications should include full curriculum vitae, certified copies of qualifications and 3 professional references. Communication will be limited to shortlisted applicants only. Applications may alternatively, be submitted by fax (No. 3370 021), hand-delivered or emailed to recruitsuva@spc.int. Further information regarding these positions may be obtained from Mr Kitione Radrodro email: kradrodro(AT)spbea.org.fj.

The development of the Pacific Qualifications Register (PQR) is in response to the Ministers of Educations vision at a meeting in Auckland New Zealand in 2001. The PQR comprises four domains namely (i) all qualifications and component units (courses, modules, units, etc) accredited by the national qualification agencies (NQAs) or relevant bodies of Pacific Island countries (from certificates to doctoral degrees), (ii) Professional Qualifications and Occupational Standards (iii) the Traditional Knowledge and Indigenous Skills and (iv) regional benchmarks for literacy, numeracy and life skills. There shall also be a link to the work of the Pacific Careers Network. The Information System Specialist will assist SPBEA in developing an Information System and Database that will facilitate the capture of information from the above domains onto the PQR in consultation with national and regional stakeholders. The system will include a central database with appropriate fields and sub-fields on providers and Institutions and their qualifications and courses aligned with all the Pacific Island Countries’ databases and systems to facilitate transfer of information from NQA systems to the PQR and vice versa; a central system for capture and facilitate comparison of qualifications and courses of study; and a comprehensive system for the management of professional qualifications and individual achievements through recognition of all forms of learning and skills development. The Specialist will provide formal and informal training to SPBEA staff as appropriate.

• Applicant Requirements:

Extensive experience in ICT relating to hardware, software and technical specifications and setting up data information systems; Experience in designing and building database applications; Experience working in a multidisciplinary team in a complex operational environment; Experience working in developing countries, preferably in the Pacific region and in small island states; Experience in capacity building and skills transfer; Demonstrated capacity building skills; Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills; Proven cross cultural communication skills; capacity to advise on the design of data collection instruments.

• Applicant instructions:

Submit full expression of interest with Curriculum Vitae and consulting rates by e-mail.

• Contact for expression of interest and additional information:

Lemalu Lafi Sanerivi lsanerivi(AT)spbea.org.fj