Information for Candidates

Director
of Marketing and
Communication

fnu.ac.fj
Contents
01 Message from the Vice-Chancellor

02 About Fiji National University

04 Job Description

07 Person Specification

08 Application Process

09 About Fiji
 Message from the
Vice-Chancellor
B
ula! I am pleased that you are considering
this important senior management role at
Fiji National University (FNU). FNU is
a young and dynamic university, with deep roots
that reach back to the 19th Century. Although
the university was only formed in 2010, its
constituent colleges date back to 1885, when Suva
Medical School was established. Today FNU is
a ‘dual sector’ university, offering technical and
vocational education and training (TVET) and
higher education, from certificates to doctorates.
With six campuses in Suva, and one each in Nadi,
Lautoka, Ba and Labasa, plus a number of smaller
training centres, FNU provides nationwide access
to tertiary education. Uniquely, FNU is also
home to the National Training and Productivity
Centre, which provides training to employees
funded through a national payroll levy paid by
all employers, and Fiji Maritime Academic, which
trains the nation’s ship captains and navigators.

FNU has a clear vision to provide education and training which is aimed at employability – either to ensure that
new graduates are highly employable, or to assist those already in work to advance their careers. All our colleges
have strong vocational roots. FNU trains the nation’s doctors, dentists and nurses, its accountants and managers,
its teachers, its engineers and technicians, its veterinarians and agronomists. It is vital that, as the country’s
national university, FNU’s programmes are co-designed with employers to meet their needs and underpinned by
relevant, applied research which aligns with our national priorities.

FNU is seeking to make a number of senior management appointments to drive us forward to the 135th
anniversary of its founding in 2020. We are seeking to build a high-performing senior management team, which
can lead FNU into the next stage of its development, as the national provider of comprehensive, integrated and
employment-focused tertiary education and training and the heart of the nation’s capacity to undertake research
which transforms lives and society.

If you are seeking an opportunity to join a vibrant, multiracial, multinational team which is committed to
supporting the economic and social development of Fiji, the South Pacific’s ‘hub economy’, we look forward to
hearing from you.

Vinaka vakelevu.

Professor Nigel Healey

Vice Chancellor

Information for Candidates 1

F
iji National University (FNU) was formed in 2010, following
the merger of the six government tertiary institutions in Fiji –
Fiji School of Medicine (founded 1885), Fiji School of Nursing
(founded 1893), Fiji College of Advanced Education (founded 1947),
Fiji College of Agriculture (founded 1954). Fiji Institute of Technology
(founded 1963), and Lautoka Teachers College (founded 1978). In
2011, the Training and Productivity Authority of Fiji (established in
1973) became part of FNU as the National Training and Productivity
Centre (NTPC).

Today the university is structured into five major

colleges:
• College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
• College of Business, Hospitality and Tourism
Studies
• College of Engineering, Science and Technology
• College of Humanities and Education
• College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

plus:
• National Training and Productivity Centre
• Fiji Maritime Academy
• Fiji Aviation Academy (under development,
jointly with Fiji Airways)

2 Director of Marketing and Communication

The university has approximately 20,000 regular students
in its five colleges, plus another 10,000 employees who
undertake short courses with NTPC. In addition, the
university runs a special community programme for
citizens in rural villages, which has trained over 10,000
people in the last two years in a range of basic skills.
FNU is in a period of ambitious development. We are
currently building a state-of-the-art campus in Labasa on
Vanua Levu, Fiji’s second most populated island. This
will provide a range of technology-enabled programmes
to support the development of the country’s ‘Northern
Division’. On Viti Levu, the main island, we are
constructing new laboratories, an animal hospital and
purpose-built instructional facilities to create a regional
centre of excellence for veterinary science.
As a small island nation of just under a million people,
Fiji has always reached out to the world and played
a full part in the global trading economy. For FNU,
our international partnerships with peer institutions in
Australia, New Zealand and further afield are critical to
accelerating the development of our curricula and our
staff. We work closely with universities and colleges
across the region to exchange ideas and best practices and
provide opportunities for our staff to gain professional
development and upgrade their qualifications.
FNU is committed to underpinning the nation’s rapid
economic development, working with employers to
ensure that our manpower needs are met in the burgeoning
tourism, renewable energy, telecommunications
and manufacturing sectors. At the same time, our
researchers are working on interdisciplinary projects to
address the country’s priorities, in terms of combatting
non-communicable diseases (obesity, diabetes and heart
disease), promoting climate adaptation for the Pacific’s
low-lying islands and moving the country’s production
up the value chain.
Fiji is undergoing a period of unprecedented economic
growth and social development. As the national
university, FNU is proud to be one of the critical
drivers of growth, by providing the human capital and
technological knowhow needed for continued success.
Information for Candidates 3
 Director of Marketing
and Communication
Position Purpose

T
he Director of Marketing and Communication is a senior leader that promotes, enhances and advances
the reputation of the University by leading, developing and delivering the marketing and communication
strategies that will build the FNU brands and raise awareness of its activities across the world.

Position Type: 3 Year Employment Contract

Reporting to: Vice Chancellor
Staff Responsible to you: Departmental Managers

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Evaluate, develop and implement a strategic marketing and communications plan that will enhance the
reputation of Fiji National University in Fiji and internationally. Clear goals and metrics will be established
that address a variety of target audiences and ensures appropriate brand positioning on multiple levels.
• Manage key issues relating to media relations and crisis management and assume the role of spokesperson
for the university. With overarching responsibility for championing university communications, the
Director of Marketing and Communications will align communications to support key strategies including
International, community relations, government relations, recruitment and retention, community
engagement and research.
• Directs, analyzes and recommends market research which may include audience analysis and survey
development; to constantly monitor and measure marketing results to ensure that marketing goals and
targets are achieved.
• Create multiple tools and tactics to heighten the recognition of Fiji National University in order to positive
increase brand recognition.
• Directs the University’s web presence from a communication and reputation management perspective.
Ensures web tools are consistently managed and leading edge to engage the perspective student body
nationally and internationally. He/She also leads the production and design of specialty publications,
communications and marketing tools utilising the University communications team as well as external
agencies.
• Oversees the marketing and communication divisions expenditure and the budgeting process. Is responsible
for delivering marketing and communication services within established budgets and expected to see value
opportunities to reduce spending or increase value at all times.
• In consultation with the community and its leaders establish and maintain marketing and communications
brand governance, capable of guiding the ongoing evolution of information through community input,
balanced evaluation of options and consensus-based directions.
• Creates and manages a range of materials in support of executive visibility focusing on presentations,
speeches, leadership activities. Develops and manages the University event and visibility calendar for
selected executives ensuring coordination with the corporate relations/ alumni office to support
university engagement and advancement goals.
• Reviews best practices and maintains a breadth of knowledge about current trends, emerging issues and
opportunities in higher education and industry that inform future communication and marketing strategies.

4 Director of Marketing and Communication

• Builds and develops a communications and marketing unit that can meet the service expectations of the
community with sufficient skills and capacity and that is stable in terms of successorship and skill
redundancy. While constantly seeking to improve the university’s marketing and communication team;
developing individuals and providing a work place that is rated as outstanding by members of the
profession.
• Determine a strategic set of vendor\partner\institution relationships to enhance the internal workforce,
create value and take advantage of co-branding opportunities.
• Provide regular updates on the effectiveness of marketing and communication strategies to Senior
Leadership, and the Council as required.
• Lead the capability development of the Marketing and Communication community across the University
in order to drive a consistent high benchmark.
• Develop and maintain a policy framework for marketing and communications that ensures coherent,
University wide branding/ messaging and that supports the University recruitment strategy.
• Foster and develop external relationships in order to best support the University’s marketing and
communications strategy as well as develop internal relationships in order to influence, promote as well as
maintain brand coherence.
• Develop an organisation-wide reputational risk management strategy as well as specific strategies in support
of the university’s advancement, industry engagement as well as international engagement goals.
• Develop functional excellence through the provision of advice, knowledge and leadership to others within
the marketing and communications discipline.
• Oversee compliance and quality assurance management are in line with requirements under the university’s
risk management framework as well as ensure compliance with relevant internal and external guidelines
including legislation, statutes, regulations and policies.

General Duties & Responsibilities

The general duties and responsibilities of a Director in the University are:

• Administrative Duties relating to all matters that the membership of a University entails, including
School/Division/University wide activities.
• General Responsibility to undertake all other duties as directed by the Vice Chancellor.

Information for Candidates 5

 Person specification
This challenging leadership role requires demonstrated extensive managerial and leadership experience and the
ability to lead and respond strategically to the changing Fijian and global tertiary education environment.
The
successful candidate will be able to demonstrate a commitment to building an organisational culture that encourages
innovation, a customer-centred responsiveness to national and regional stakeholder needs and integrity and trust.

• Qualifications: Relevant postgraduate qualification in any of the following areas: Marketing, Communications,
Journalism, and ideally professional qualifications expected of an executive-level managerial appointment that will
command respect and credibility in a national university, as well as with the University’s stakeholder community,
including the Fiji Higher Education Commission, key government ministries, employers and the Fiji National
University Students’ Association.

• Experience: Demonstrable experience in providing outstanding organisational leadership, including:

• The capacity to develop and implement strategy and to initiate and implement change in a complex,
multicultural environment. 

• The ability to identify and assess appropriate opportunities and partnerships to strengthen the
resource base and reputation of the University. 

• Experience in effective management of financial and human resources, including staff planning,
recruitment and performance management and a sound knowledge of business principles.
• The capacity to work across organisational boundaries to achieve agreed corporate outcomes.

• Leadership style, empowering others, making decisions: Demonstrates an effective, culturally-sensitive

leadership style that addresses the challenges of the role whilst promoting the value and culture of a Higher
Education Institution. Evidence of the ability to mentor and empower direct reports and take informed, evidence-
based decisions.

• Planning and managing for results: Experience of developing strategic and operational plans and demonstrable
success in implementing such plans, with evidence of evaluation and corrective action as necessary.

• Influencing and networking skills: Demonstrable ability to influence the decisions, actions or perceptions of
others. The ability to build collaborative networks and deep collaborative links with key stakeholder groups in a
multicultural environment.

• Communication skills: The ability to organise and present information, views and concepts in a concise,
understandable, interesting and culturally-aware format for a variety of audiences, in a way which ensures that staff
and stakeholders are consulted and well-informed.

• Knowledge of tertiary education: An understanding of contemporary tertiary education issues and the
implications of these on portfolio responsibilities and more broadly for the management of universities. An
awareness of the context of tertiary education in a developing region including the Pacific is an advantage. A
demonstrable commitment to the importance of both post-secondary technical and vocational education, as well
as higher education.

6 Director of Marketing and Communication

 Application process
The University seeks written documents from candidates wishing to apply for the role. Candidates are required
to provide:

• A full Curriculum Vitae, including (for academic roles) a full list of publications, external research grants and
postgraduate students supervised to completion.
• A covering letter of application addressing each of the person specifications above, evidencing how your
qualifications and experience meet the requirements.
• Three referees, with full contact details, including telephone numbers and e-mail addresses. Candidate should
state their relationship with each referee (eg, line manager, former postgraduate supervisor).

Start date

Candidates are asked to provide an indication of the earliest date at which they would be available to take up the
appointment, if successful (eg, one month, three months).

Referees will only be contacted after prior consultation with the candidate. It is the candidate’s responsibility to
ensure that their referees are willing to provide reports when contacted.

The University reserves the right to seek reports on the suitability of candidates from experts in the field, other than
those nominated by the candidate. Appointment is also subject to a pre-employment security check and health
check. 


Information for Candidates 7

 About Fiji
F
iji is the most developed country in the South Pacific and serves as the region’s economic hub. It has
experienced rapid economic growth in recent years and tourism, manufacturing and services have replaced
traditional primary industries like mining and agriculture as the main drivers of economic development. The
business and political capital, Suva, is a thriving multicultural city of over 0.3m. Located on the southeast coast of
Viti Levu, Suva enjoys modern shopping malls, movie theatres, restaurants and cafes.

Fiji is located in the heart of the South Pacific, with more than 330 islands, of which 100 are permanently inhabited
and more than 500 islets. The people of Fiji are well-known for their friendly personality, great hospitality and
regarded as the happiest people on earth. Fiji has a rich culture and tradition. It is a former British colony and
maintains its close ties through the commonwealth. It has two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, with the
majority of the almost 1m population residing on Viti Levu.

Fiji Demographics
Fiji’s population is comprised mostly of iTaukei’s (native
Fijians) at just over 56%, with around 36% made up by
Indo-Fijians who are descended from Indian labourers
brought to the islands by the British in the late 19th
and early 20th century. The rest of Fiji’s population are
Rotumans, who are natives of Rotuma (incorporated
into Fiji after independence in 1970), Fijians of Chinese
and European descent and expatriates.

8 Director of Marketing and Communication

Government
Fiji has a Westminster-style democracy. The present
governing party is Fiji First, a multiracial party
led by Rear Admiral (Retired) Hon. Josaia Voreqe
Bainimarama, which was elected in 2014 and holds
a majority in the 50-seat parliament. Fiji First has
undertaken an ambitious range of reforms designed to
transform Fiji into a vibrant and growing economy and
unite the nation through the government’s ‘One Fiji
Policy’, which provides for equal citizenry status for all
Fijians regardless of ethnicity.

Religion

Fiji is a secular society and the constitution guarantees

religious tolerance. While the majority of Fijians follow
Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism are
widely practised. Fiji marks the key dates of the major
religions with a Public Holiday (eg, Christmas, Easter,
Diwali, Prophet’s Birthday).

Accessibility

Fiji is the transport hub of the South Pacific. It is well-

connected with direct flights to most major Australian
and New Zealand cities, Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul,
and San Francisco and Los Angeles. Fiji’s international
airline. Fiji Airways, has code-sharing arrangements
with Qantas, Air Zealand, American Airlines, Cathay
Pacific, Jet Airways and Solomon Airlines which
provide access to a global network of international
connections.

Nadi International Airport has just completed a major

upgrade, with world-class facilities including a brand-
new departures lounge, departures check-in terminal,
arrivals and departures immigration areas, additional
carousels and new business class lounges. Nadi
International Airport receives 2m passengers annually.

Information for Candidates 9

Climate
Fiji enjoys a mild tropical climate averaging 31ºC (88ºF) during the summer months of November to April and
29ºC (84ºF) during the winter months of May to October.

Language

English is the official language of Fiji and is universally spoken. iTaukeis also speak the native Fijian dialect, while
Fijians of Indian origin speak Fiji-Hindi. Given the close integration between the two communities, many Fijians
are fluent in both vernacular languages, as well as English.

10 Director of Marketing and Communication

Here are some Fijian words to get you started.

English Fijian Pronunciation

Hello/hi ni sa bula nee sar bula
Good morning ni sa yadra nee sar yarndra
Goodbye sa moce sa more they
Please yalo vinaka yarlo veenarka
Excuse me tulou too low
Yes io ee or
Thank you/good vinaka veenarka
Thank you very much vinaka vaka levu veenarka varka levoo
Much/big levu levoo
No sega senga
Eat kana karna
Village koro ko ro
A little/small vaka lailai va ka lie lie
Great/a lot vaka levu va ka levoo
Fast vaka totolo va ka tortorlo
Slowly vaka malua va ka mar lua
House vale va le
Washroom (Toilet) vale lailai va le lie lie
Come lako mai la ko my
Go lako tani la ko tan i
One dua du a
Two rua ru a
One more dua tale du a ta le

Quick facts
• Fiji are the inaugural Gold Medal winners in the 7’s rugby competition at the Rio Olympics.
• Former World Number 1 golfer Vijay Singh is from Nadi, western part of Fiji.
• Mount Tomanivi which is 1,324 metres (4,344 ft) is Fiji’s highest mountain. Mt Tomanivi, previously
named Mount Victoria, is an extinct volcano located in the northern highlands of Viti Levu.
• Global bottle water brand, Fiji Water is bottled in Fiji.
• Fiji’s farthest island Ono-i-Lau is closer to Tonga then to Fiji’s main island Viti Levu.
• Fiji was battered by the second most powerful Category 5 Cyclone in the world in Feb, 2016.
• The word Bula is used to greet people similar to Hi or Hello.
• Fiji’s traditional way of preparing meals is called Lovo. The meals are prepared in an earth oven.
• Fiji’s main foreign exchange earner is Tourism and remittances from Fijians living abroad.
• The people of Beqa island in Fiji are known as the firewalkers. These villagers have the ability to work on
stones heated in fire without any injury to their feet or body.

Information for Candidates 11

Information for Candidates 12
www.fnu.ac.fj