About the Pacific Fusion Centre
The Pacific Fusion Centre’s purpose is to enhance information sharing, cooperation, analysis and assessment and to expand situational awareness and capacity across the Pacific, to inform decision making and strengthen national, sub-regional and regional responses to the broad scope of regional security threats and vulnerabilities identified in the 2018 Boe Declaration on Regional Security.
For more information about the Pacific Fusion Centre, visit www.pacificfusioncentre.org.
About the Pacific Analyst Program
The Pacific Analyst Program is a cornerstone activity of the Pacific Fusion Centre. Each year, we welcome two cohorts of analysts from Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) member states who undertake a structured training program, with ample on-the-job exposure at our office in Port Vila, Vanuatu. Seconded analysts will contribute to strategic assessments that assist Pacific decision-makers responding to regional security challenges. During the secondment, analysts will:
- benefit from training, mentoring and regional engagement opportunities that enhance analytic and thematic skillsets;
- conduct research across a variety of open source and authorised unclassified materials to develop strategic insights relevant to Boe Declaration priorities;
- produce a suite of regular strategic assessments that support Pacific security decision-making as well as bespoke strategic assessments on request by PIF members;
- use domain awareness resources to build situational awareness across the Pacific;
- engage with Pacific Islands and regional organisations to develop shared and aligned efforts on Boe Declaration security priorities to avoid duplication of effort; and
- foster a culture of regional information sharing.
The Centre seeks motivated practitioners who are interested in advancing analysis and assessment skills and are committed to become part of a growing network of security professionals working in the region. The position would suit officials with a minimum of four years professional experience from relevant agencies, who are looking to develop a strategic understanding of the broad range of security threats in the Pacific.
Pacific Analysts work as a team to support Centre operations, including by developing open-source analytical assessments on Boe Declaration security issues. Analysts will undergo structured training that will boost skills and analytical capabilities, drawing on their own professional experience. Analysts will benefit from a regional network of security professionals and support regional security cooperation.
Pacific Analysts will be mentored in research, analysis and assessment writing, analytical briefing, media and will participate in security-related learning and development opportunities. The Pacific Fusion Centre provides a framework for secondees to grow professionally and develop skills and experience that will benefit home agencies following completion of the secondment.
Duties
Pacific Analysts will:
- operate as an effective team member and respond to direction of the Pacific Fusion Centre Director, Special Adviser and Technical Advisor;
- actively engage in analytic and thematic training related to Boe Declaration security priorities as well as broader professional development opportunities;
- perform targeted research from a variety of credible sources on themes related to Boe Declaration security priorities;
- apply analytic tools and techniques to aggregate information and develop defensible assessments on themes related to Boe Declaration security priorities;
- draft clear and accessible assessments that contribute to published Pacific Fusion Centre Strategic Analytic Reports and The Weekly Brief among other product lines;
- deliver verbal briefings and productively contribute to group discussions and engagements;
- reference assessments and store all supporting research and information in accordance with Pacific Fusion Centre information management requirements;
- assist with Pacific Fusion Centre event coordination and attend events with regional stakeholders and Pacific Fusion Centre Alumni;
- advocate for the Pacific Fusion Centre to build awareness of the Centre and encourage registrations across home country agencies; and
- represent the Pacific Fusion Centre with the utmost professionalism and engage appropriately with colleagues and stakeholders.
Successful applicants will benefit from weekly mentorship from the Pacific Fusion Centre Technical Advisor and networking activities that build strong interactive relationships with regional security professionals. An invitation to participate in the Pacific Fusion Centre Alumni Engagement Program will be extended on completion of the Pacific Analyst Program.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- be a citizen of a Pacific Islands Forum member country;
- be engaged in ongoing employment that contributes to themes articulated in the Boe Declaration on Regional Security;
- complete the attached application in full, including endorsement by their national government representative or national focal point;
- provide a resume and one-page pitch that aligns to the duties statement of the Pacific Analyst Program; and
- be prepared to complete the full five month program. Where this is not possible due to other commitments, applicants will be encouraged to complete the program in full at a later date.
Applicants must not have previously served at the Pacific Fusion Centre in Port Vila or the interim Centre in Canberra.
Benefits
This secondment is based in Port Vila, Vanuatu and will run from February – June 2023. The Pacific Fusion Centre will cover the cost of return economy airfares, accommodation, insurance, and any entry requirements (including visas). The Centre will also provide a stipend equivalent to the Government of Vanuatu’s rate (currently 5,000vt/day) to cover additional costs secondees may incur.
If you have any questions, please email recruitment@pacificfusioncentre.org.
Please complete the application form in full and email to your PFC National Focal Point or other appropriate Government representative.
Nominations close 5pm, 21 September 2022 (Port Vila time)