Job Description

• Noumea-based position
• Attractive expatriate package
• Join the principal development organisation in the region

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 Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (FAME) division is composed of three programmes: the Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Programme (CFAP); the Oceanic Fisheries Programme (OFP); and the Marine Ecosystems Programme (MEP). The Director’s Office provides implementation support and strategic direction across the three programmes and cross-cutting projects. Working with all 22 PICTs, SPC FAME has strong partnerships with regional, sub-regional and national entities working in the marine sector. SPC FAME staff are based in New Caledonia, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tonga, with most of the staff being based in New Caledonia.

The role – the Postdoctoral Researcher (Marine Ecosystem Modelling) will support the development of fisheries and ecosystem population dynamics models to tuna fisheries in the western and central Pacific, focusing on projecting climate change impacts and informing early warning systems and adaptation strategies to safeguard fisheries.

The key responsibilities of the role include the following:

Model development

• Contribute to the development of existing numerical model, adhering to best practices in code development and version control.
• Apply diagnostic and analytical routines for model analyses such as sensitivity analysis, likelihood profiling, etc.
• Contribute to the development of diagnostics to evaluate model performance

Apply SEAPODYM and similar models

• Contribute to the development of SEAPODYM model applications by designing and running parameter estimation, performing model error analysis and model validation
• Undertaking evaluations of the impacts of current and future climate regimes on Pacific tuna population dynamics.

Technical Advice

• Leading and/or contributing to scientific reports and peer-reviewed publications
• Participating in international conferences and meetings dealing with ocean ecosystem modelling, ocean climate change and ecosystem monitoring.

Develop capabilities

• Support capacity building activities (workshops, training) for enhanced application of climate models to evaluate impacts on Western Central Pacific Ocean ecosystems and tuna fisheries.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• PhD in Applied Mathematics, Mathematical Ecology or a related field with a background in modelling and numerical analysis, or equivalent body of knowledge and experience

Technical expertise

• Knowledge and practical experience in solving optimization problems.
• Knowledge of statistical methods for data integration and analysis.
• Knowledge of programming language(s) applied to numerical problems.
• Programming experience in R or Python, or similar high-level language for manipulating large volumes of data
• Linux computing environment
• Ability to write academic texts in English.

Language skills

• Good communications skills (English)

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Proven ability to work as part of an inter-disciplinary and/or multi-cultural team

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 Postdoctoral Researcher (Marine Ecosystem Modelling) is a band 10 position in SPC’s 2025 salary scale, with a starting salary range of SDR (special drawing rights) 3,727-4,562 per month, which converts to approximately XPF 544,736-666,853 (USD 4,957-6,068; EUR 4,565-5,588). 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:  18 January 2026 – 11:00 pm (Noumea time)

Job Reference:  CR000536

Applicants must apply online at

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. Briefly describe why understanding the impact of climate on Pacific fisheries is important to Pacific Island Nations
2. Briefly discuss the main numerical challenges in solving the advection-diffusion-reaction model on a large oceanic domain. What are the sources of numerical error, and which practical strategies can be applied to ensure both stability and biological realism?
3. Briefly describe the biological and environmental processes that are likely to impact the spatial distribution of tropical tunas. What types of data, and approaches to modelling those data, would you view as potential means of estimating the movement and environmental preferences of tunas?

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