PROGRAM OFFICER - SUSTAINABLE MARITIME TRANSPORTATION
Please note that the deadline is based on Korean Standard Time Zone (KST, UTC+9)
INTRODUCTION TO GGGI
The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page.
BACKGROUND
The Global Green Growth Institute's (GGGI) program in the Pacific supports green growth and climate action across various sectors in five member countries: Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, and Vanuatu. It also extends support to other partner countries in the Pacific region. Since 2015, GGGI has undertaken work in renewable energy and green cities, including projects focused on the transport sector.
As part of GGGI's rapidly growing project portfolio in sustainable transportation, GGGI will implement a 4-year regional program that started in January 2025 to help decarbonize the maritime sector in Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu. GGGI has developed the regional program, โDecarbonizing the maritime sector through low-carbon maritime transport roadmap and MRV systems for Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatuโ, to support the preparation, enabling, financing, and roll-out of low-carbon maritime transportation projects as a part of a low-carbon maritime transport roadmap in Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu, including the design of an Alternate Marine Power (AMP) pilot initiative along with monitoring, reporting and verifying (MRV) systems.
Together with the Governments of Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu, GGGI will assess and determine the most appropriate location with conditions that are best suited to implement the pilot initiative. The AMP pilot initiative and MRV systems design are informed by a larger policy study, feasibility studies, and integrated planning to phase in and enable investments in low-carbon maritime transportation for Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu. GGGI will support the decarbonization of the maritime sector in the Pacific by assisting the governments of Fiji, Tonga, and Vanuatu, guided by the following objectives:
Support the governments of Fiji, Tonga, and Vanuatu in developing a low-carbon maritime transport roadmap in each country. The roadmaps will guide collaborative action towards a cleaner maritime sector. Design and implement a robust monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) system for greenhouse gas emissions from the maritime transport sector. Pilot the use of Alternate Marine Power (AMP) to significantly reduce air pollution from diesel generators. The pilot projects will demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of shore-based electricity for vessels at port. Develop and implement investment projects aligned with the low-carbon maritime transport roadmaps. Provide capacity building programs to enhance the skills and knowledge needed to manage and operate low-carbon maritime transport technologies, AMP systems, and MRV systems.The expectation is that this approach will successfully create an enabling environment for low-carbon maritime transportation with relevant governments and organizations.
POSITION SUMMARY
We are seeking a highly motivated and capable Program Officer to drive the delivery and coordination of this impactful regional program, ensuring effective implementation, strong donor engagement, and operational excellence.
The Program Officer is accountable for end-to-end donor liaison, governance and secretariat functions for the Project Steering Committee (PSC), procurement and budget process control, cross-unit coordination with the GGGI Headquarter, and delivery assurance of time-bound program commitments. The role owns the program operating cadence (trackers, calendars, risk and action logs), leads the preparation of donor-facing materials (Korean/English), and ensures all submissions meet donor preferences and GGGI policy standards. The position works in tight collaboration with the Senior Officer (overall program lead) and country delivery teams.
PURPOSE
Own the donor engagement with the Republic of Korea Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (ROK MOF) in Korean, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant responses, submissions, and briefings as required. Lead program governance and support delivery control, including the PSC secretariat, annual/quarterly work plans, budget and procurement pacing/management, and documentation integrity in line with GGGI policies and donor requirements. Drive implementation processes (TOR/RFP development, issuance tracking, and evaluations, contract administration milestones, reporting calendars) across HQ and country teams to keep the program on schedule and audit-ready with the support from the Project Associate. Produce high-quality Korean and English deliverables (memos, briefs, progress reports, meeting notes, talking points) aligned with donor preferences and program commitments.
ENGAGEMENT
Donor relations (account management): Own the MOF approvals calendar; prepare Korean-language briefs and documents in consultation with the GGGI Korea Liaison Unit (located at GGGI headquarters in Seoul) as needed; manage compliance/checklists for each submission; escalate decision points with clear options and implications. HQ & Korea Liaison Unit coordination (internal): Run the internal approval workflow (Finance/Procurement/Legal/Comms); own templates and translation quality assurance; consolidate reviews and sign-offs; package and dispatch final submissions on time. Government & delivery partner engagement (implementation enablement): Convene working-level focal points meetings across Fiji, Tonga, and Vanuatu; secure data-sharing and document clearances; run implementation-readiness checks; maintain a dependencies log tied to the country delivery schedule. Internal communication: Maintain decision/action/risk registers, and the master timeline; issue weekly cadence notes (trackers, calendars, risk and action logs) and meeting pre-reads; keep the Senior Officer and country teams' decision-ready at all times.
DELIVERY
Schedules & trackers (owner): Maintain the master implementation schedule, PSC calendar, procurement pipeline, budget burn-up/burn-down views, and risk/action registers; issue weekly status notes. Governance (secretariat lead): Prepare PSC agendas, papers, and minutes; ensure quorum and decision recording; monitor and chase actions to closure. Budget & procurement control: Align procurement plans to budgets; monitor process SLAs; ensure documentation completeness for audits and donor reviews. Reporting: Consolidate technical and financial inputs into donor reports; validate data and ensure consistency with donor and GGGI requirements. Quality & compliance: Vet all outward-facing documents for alignment with donor preferences, grant/PCP terms, and GGGI policy; maintain immutable filing discipline.
REQUIREMENTS
QUALIFICATIONS
Masterโs degree in public administration, international development, political science, business administration, or related field. Minimum 5 years of directly relevant experience in donor-funded program management/coordination (ODA preferred), with demonstrated ownership of governance, budget/procurement processes, and donor reporting. Minimum of two (2) years living and working outside of your home country. Experience in implementing projects in the Pacific region, in particular Fiji, Vanuatu and Tonga, is preferred. Native-level Korean and English (spoken/written); proven record producing high-quality Korean and English government/donor correspondence and project documentation. Experience coordinating multi-country programs and working with government counterparts and delivery partners is an asset. Willingness to relocate to Suva, Fiji, for the Program duration, with occasional travels to Vanuatu and Tonga.
FUNCTIONAL
Strong program management and operations leadership: planning, budgeting, procurement orchestration, and reporting under tight timelines. Excellent drafting, translation, and presentation skills (KOR/ENG), including briefings for senior counterparts as needed. Competent with MS Office; experience with ERPs and project management tools preferred. Structured problem-solver with high attention to detail; able to anticipate dependencies and drive issues to resolution.
CORPORATE
Understand and actively supports GGGI's mission, vision and values. Promote an organizational culture of trust, transparency, respect and partnership. Excels at problem solving, ask questions and seeks support when needed, shares easily information and knowledge with others both internally as externally. Manage emotions and stress positively, builds rapport and resolves conflict easily. Strong ability to work independently and/or remotely, while maintaining productivity. Excellent English oral and written communication skills; including public speaking. Excellent Korean speaking skills are an asset.
WORKING CONDITIONS
The Program Officer โ Sustainable Maritime Transportation is an X8, International grade level in GGGI's salary scale. For X8 International grade, the base salary starts from USD 64, 920. Determination of base salary is subject to candidate's experience, academic background and internal equity. GGGI provides 15% of base salary towards retirement plan/long-term savings, 27 days of annual leave, and private health insurance that covers dental and vision. In addition, GGGI provides expatriate benefits such as expatriate allowance - equivalent to 20% of the base salary, educational allowance, and other benefits (terms and conditions are to be reviewed in a case-by-case situation). Child protection โ GGGI is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGIโs Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.