Project Officer - Transport Infrastructure and Connectivity Development (Local Agent Group I)

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Project Officer – Transport Infrastructure and Connectivity Development (Local Agent Group I)

24.06.2026 New opportunity

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We are

The European Union (EU) is an economic and political partnership between 27 European countries. It plays an important role in international affairs through diplomacy, trade, development aid and working with global organizations. Abroad, the EU is represented through more than 140 diplomatic representations, known also as EU Delegations, which have a similar function to those of an embassy.

The EU Delegation to the Pacific in Suva, Fiji works in close coordination with the Embassies and Consulates of the 27 EU Member States. We are a fully-fledged diplomatic mission and represent the European Union in dealings with the Government of Fiji and of the 12 other Pacific Island Countries, The Section of the EU Delegation called “Regional Partnerships in the Pacific” oversees the EU’s bilateral and regional development assistance benefitting the 13 Pacific Island Countries, the three French Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) in the Pacific and (as of 01/09/2026) Papua New Guinea.

We offer

The post of Project Officer (Group I) is offered in the Delegation’s Regional Partnerships Section, under a fixed-term employment contract of 2 years. For internal candidates holding an indefinite-term contract, alternative contractual arrangements may apply in accordance with institutional policies. The team consists of 50+ people and there are occasional atypical working hours, in the evening/morning, to accommodate online meetings with headquarters and stakeholders based in Europe.

The recruited person will be attributed functions depending on the needs of the Delegation which may evolve over time. The successful candidate will serve under the supervision and responsibility of the Head of Regional Partnerships and a Team Leader, providing support, expertise and assistance with managing projects and programmes focused on transport infrastructure and connectivity in the Pacific Island Countries, Papua New Guinea and/or the three French Overseas Countries and Territories.

The Following Main Tasks And Duties Are Currently Required

Transport Infrastructure and Connectivity Development

Transport Sector Analysis and Strategy

  • Monitor and analyse transport infrastructure conditions and connectivity gaps across Pacific Island Countries (PICs), including maritime, road, airport, and inter-island transport systems.
  • Assess the impact of climate change, extreme weather events, and geographic fragmentation on transport infrastructure in the Pacific, identifying risks and opportunities for resilient investment.
  • Analyse country and regional priorities in transport and connectivity, tracking national development plans, regional strategies, and investment pipelines.
  • Identify strategic investment opportunities in transport infrastructure aligned with the EU Global Gateway Strategy and Pacific development needs.

Global Gateway Strategy and Port Infrastructure

  • Support the implementation of the EU Global Gateway Strategy in the Pacific, with a focus on sustainable, resilient, and quality transport infrastructure investment.
  • Monitor and contribute to Global Gateway flagship initiatives in the transport and connectivity sectors across the Pacific, ensuring alignment with EU priorities and partner country needs.
  • Pay particular attention to port infrastructure, which is of strategic importance for Pacific Island Countries given their maritime nature and dependence on shipping for trade, supply chains, and inter-island connectivity.
  • Support assessments of port modernisation needs, including cargo handling capacity, climate-proofing, safety standards, and digital customs systems.
  • Monitor aviation connectivity developments, including airport infrastructure and air transport agreements relevant to Pacific trade and mobility.

Financial Institutions and Donor Coordination

  • Develop and maintain close working relations with major multilateral financial institutions active in the Pacific transport sector, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank, to track investment pipelines and identify opportunities for EU complementarity.
  • Build and sustain contacts with major bilateral donors active in Pacific transport, in particular Australia and New Zealand, ensuring coordination and avoiding duplication of effort.
  • Maintain close working relations with European Financial Institutions, namely the European Investment Bank (EIB) and Agence Française de Développement (AFD), to explore blended finance mechanisms and co-financing opportunities for transport and connectivity investments.
  • Participate in donor coordination forums and transport sector working groups at national and regional levels, representing the EU Delegation and reporting on outcomes.

Climate Resilience and Sustainable Transport

  • Promote the integration of climate resilience standards and low-carbon solutions into transport infrastructure planning and investment across the Pacific.
  • Support the adoption of green shipping, sustainable aviation, and energy-efficient transport solutions in line with EU and international standards.
  • Contribute to the design of actions that build the adaptive capacity of Pacific transport systems to climate-related shocks (cyclones, sea-level rise, flooding).
  • Support the integration of digital technologies in transport management systems (e.g. port management systems, traffic monitoring, digital logistics).

Digital Connectivity

  • Monitor developments in digital infrastructure (submarine cables, satellite connectivity, broadband networks) as an integral dimension of the connectivity agenda in the Pacific.
  • Support linkages between physical transport and digital connectivity investments, recognising that digital infrastructure underpins modern trade and logistics systems.

Sectoral Synergies and Cross-Cutting Linkages

Transport–Trade Linkages

  • Work closely with the Project Officer for Trade to identify how transport infrastructure constraints affect trade facilitation, export capacity, and market access for Pacific products.
  • Support the alignment of transport investment priorities with trade facilitation objectives, including customs modernisation, border management, and logistics efficiency.
  • Contribute to the effective implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) by addressing transport-related barriers to trade.

Transport–Agriculture Linkages

  • Work closely with the Project Officer for Agriculture and Value Chains to identify how transport and connectivity constraints (e.g. rural roads, port access, cold chain infrastructure) limit agricultural export potential and food security.
  • Support the identification of infrastructure investments that simultaneously benefit agricultural value chains and broader connectivity objectives, ensuring coherence between sector strategies.
  • Contribute to integrated investment assessments covering both transport and agrifood infrastructure needs in rural and peri-urban areas.

Private Sector and MSME Engagement

  • Engage with the private sector, including logistics companies, shipping operators, and transport service providers, to understand investment constraints and opportunities.
  • Coordinate with Delegation colleagues managing MSME and private sector development to identify complementarities between transport infrastructure improvement and private sector growth.

Project / Programme Management

  • Manage end-to-end project lifecycle (planning, execution, monitoring, closure) for actions in the transport and connectivity portfolio.
  • Oversee financial compliance (e.g. contract verification, payment certification, and system updates in OPSYS/CRIS and other European Commission tools).
  • Monitor evaluation reports and the implementation of recommendations.
  • Assist with procurement (drafting Terms of Reference, launching tenders, assessing offers).
  • Build and maintain partnerships with donors, implementing partners, governments, and local stakeholders in the transport and connectivity sector.

Policy Analysis and Dialogue

  • Develop and maintain a consistent understanding of bilateral relations and sectoral policies in the countries where the Delegation implements or prepares transport and connectivity programmes.
  • Contribute to policy dialogue at country and regional levels, including on infrastructure investment, transport governance, and sustainable connectivity.
  • Provide relevant and timely input and feedback to the Team Leader on sectoral developments, partner strategies, and opportunities for EU engagement.
  • Monitor and analyse relevant regional policy frameworks, including the Pacific Regional Transport Strategy and frameworks developed by the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).

Representation, Negotiation, and Participation

  • Assist the Head of Regional Partnerships and Team Leader in developing close contacts with local stakeholders, including government ministries, transport authorities, port administrations, and development partners.
  • Lead or assist in stakeholder meetings, workshops, and technical working groups related to transport and connectivity. Document action items and follow-ups.
  • Represent the EU Delegation at relevant sectoral events, regional forums, and donor coordination meetings related to transport infrastructure and connectivity.

External Communication

  • Contribute to the Delegation's communication and visibility strategy, including by organising visibility events related to transport infrastructure and connectivity.
  • Provide policy and implementation updates for communication materials published by the Delegation, including the website and social media platforms.
  • Present and disseminate results of projects at workshops, seminars, conferences, and public events. Extract and share best practices and lessons learned.
  • Contribute to the production of EU Delegation reports and publications, including Global Gateway-related communications.

The base salary will depend on relevant and verified employment experience, typically starting from FJD 7,966 monthly. There is a competitive benefits package, subject to certain conditions, including personal leave days and public holidays, health insurance and a retirement savings plan.

The expected start date will be as soon as possible.

Minimum requirements / eligibility criteria (necessary for the application to be considered)

  • Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, economics, trade, or a related field;
  • Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in transport infrastructure, connectivity, project management, or related fields;
  • Working knowledge (C2) of English;
  • Right to residence and work in Fiji;
  • Medically fit to perform the required duties;
  • A clean police record and ability to produce a clearance report when requested.

Assets / selection criteria (basis for awarding points to select the best applicant)

  • Higher university degree (Engineer, Master's or above) in a relevant field such as transport economics, infrastructure planning, civil engineering, international development, or equivalent;
  • Experience working in the Pacific region or other Small Island Developing States (SIDS), including knowledge of the specific transport and connectivity challenges of the region;
  • Demonstrated experience in infrastructure project management, transport sector reform, or investment coordination;
  • Experience working with or alongside multilateral financial institutions (ADB, World Bank) or European financial institutions (EIB, AFD);
  • Familiarity with the EU Global Gateway Strategy and/or experience in EU-funded programmes or international organisations;
  • Knowledge of port operations, maritime transport, or aviation sector management;
  • Experience in donor coordination and multi-stakeholder engagement;
  • Knowledge of AI tools and technologies;
  • Knowledge of other European languages, in particular French.

How To Apply

The applicant must apply by sending:

  • a motivation letter, signed
  • a detailed Europass Curriculum Vitæ (to include, at the minimum, exact job titles, employer names and detailed task descriptions) using one of the Europass templates available at:

https://europass.europa.eu/en

All Documents To The Following Email Address

eeasjobs-097@eeas.europa.eu

And Mention In The Email Subject

"512894 – Project Officer – Transport Infrastructure and Connectivity Development + NAME OF APPLICANT"

no later than 4pm Fiji time on Monday 13/07/2026.

Caution: The applicant must verify that he/she fulfils all the conditions. The absence of one of these conditions or documents is a reason for the rejection of the application.

The process

After the deadline for applications, the eligible applications will be admitted to the Selection by the Committee set up for this purpose.

Depending on the number of applications received, successive phases of Selection may include shortlisting of candidates based on assessment of the information provided in the motivation letter and CV, practical testing, and interviews. At least, the five (5) best candidates will be invited to the final interview.

Only candidates admitted to each successive selection phase will be contacted individually. The Delegation will not supply additional information or discuss the selection procedure. During the selection process, please do not contact the members of the Selection Committee, but address your questions and comments to the Delegation's Administration.

The successful candidate will be subject to a medical check and background check.

Candidates who wish to lodge a complaint regarding the recruitment process may submit a written communication to the functional mailbox to which they sent the initial application. Upon receipt, the Delegation will review the matter and, where appropriate, consult Headquarters before providing a response.

Equal Opportunities

The European Union is committed to an equal opportunities policy for all its employees and applicants for employment. As an employer, the EU is committed to promoting gender equality, preventing discrimination on any grounds and ensuring a zero tolerance approach to any form of harassment. It actively welcomes applications from all qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds. We aim at a service which is truly representative of society, where each staff member feels respected, is able to give their best and can develop their full potential.

If pre-selected, candidates with disabilities are invited to contact the Delegation: eeasjobs-097@eeas.europa.eu in order to accommodate any special needs and provide assistance to ensure equality of opportunities with other candidates.

If a candidate with a disability is selected and recruited, the EEAS is committed to appropriate measures in order to accommodate his or her special needs to the working place or working conditions in accordance with Art 4 of the Decision ADMIN(2025)13 of the Director-General for Resource Management of the European External Action Service on providing reasonable accommodation for local staff with disabilities working in Union Delegations.

Data Protection Notice

https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/eeas-privacy-statement-data-protection-notice-purpose-processing-personal-data-related-recruitment_en