Project Director – Samoa

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Project Director for a urban consultancy assignment financed by UNDP in Samoa.

Aninver Development Partners is seeking an experienced Project Director for an upcoming consultancy assignment in Samoa, commissioned under a UNDP-supported initiative focused on coastal resilience and integrated environmental management. This 18-month project aims to institutionalize nature-positive decision-making across key economic sectors such as tourism and agriculture through targeted economic, governance, and financial interventions.

The successful candidate will provide overall leadership and strategic guidance for the implementation of interdisciplinary technical assistance, overseeing activities related to natural capital accounting, decision support tools for nature-based solutions, and comprehensive capacity development. The role ensures high-quality deliverables, effective stakeholder coordination, and adherence to project objectives within the national context of Samoa.

Aninver is preparing a proposal for this assignment. The selected expert will be part of the proposed team; the engagement is conditional on the contract being awarded to Aninver. The full Terms of Reference for the position are shared with shortlisted candidates.

Objectives of the assignment

• Institutionalize nature-positive decision-making across key economic sectors in Samoa.
• Oversee the update and expansion of priority Natural Capital Accounting modules into national accounts and tourism accounts.
• Manage the development and deployment of user-friendly decision support tools to evaluate nature-based solutions.
• Ensure the delivery of a comprehensive capacity development program for national and local stakeholders.
• Maintain rigorous project management, quality assurance, and stakeholder engagement standards throughout the assignment.

Scope of work

• Updating and expanding priority Natural Capital Accounting modules including energy, water, waste, mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass, and forests.
• Integrating expanded natural capital accounts into national accounts and the Tourism Satellite Account.
• Developing and deploying user-friendly, open-source national and local decision support tools to evaluate nature-based solutions.
• Delivering a comprehensive capacity development program targeting national and local stakeholders.
• Developing competency frameworks, learning assessments, facilitator guides, and post-training monitoring systems.

Your role as Project Director

• Lead overall project execution, coordination, and management across the 18-month implementation period.
• Ensure timely delivery of all project outputs and technical deliverables in alignment with donor and institutional requirements.
• Manage multidisciplinary experts and technical teams to ensure seamless integration of economic, spatial, and capacity-building activities.
• Facilitate high-level engagement and coordination with government agencies, sector stakeholders, and the donor.
• Oversee quality assurance, monitoring, and reporting of project progress and financial management.
• Address technical and operational bottlenecks to ensure smooth project implementation and stakeholder buy-in.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree in project management, economics, environmental management, public policy, or a related field.
• Minimum ten years of professional experience in managing complex international development projects, preferably in environmental or economic sectors.
• Demonstrated experience in leading multidisciplinary teams and coordinating with government counterparts and international donors.
• Strong background in strategic planning, stakeholder facilitation, and high-level technical reporting.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills with fluency in English.

Desirable

• Experience working in Small Island Developing States or Pacific regional contexts.
• Familiarity with natural capital accounting, decision support tools, or nature-based solutions initiatives.

An experienced Project Director with a strong background in managing complex environmental and economic development initiatives in island contexts, combining exceptional leadership with stakeholder coordination skills.

Assignment details

• Location: Samoa
• Financed by: UNDP
• Sector: Urban
• Estimated duration: 18 months
• Contract: individual consultancy (conditional on award)

About Aninver Development Partners

Aninver is an international development consulting firm headquartered in Spain. It supports governments, development banks, UN agencies and bilateral donors with feasibility studies, technical assistance, evaluations and capacity building across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific, working with a network of international and national experts.

Why apply

• Join a multidisciplinary team on a UNDP-financed project in Samoa.
• Individual consultancy: flexible, output-based engagement with an experienced proposal team.
• Your CV stays in Aninver's expert network for future assignments that match your profile.

How to apply

Sign in (or create a free account) and upload your CV in English. Add your LinkedIn profile, indicative daily rate and availability to speed up the assessment. Aninver will contact the shortlisted candidates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the position confirmed? The engagement depends on the contract being awarded to Aninver. Shortlisted experts are included in the proposal with their consent.

Can I apply if I am not based in the country? Yes, unless the requirements say otherwise; relevant regional experience is an asset.

What happens with my CV? It is used to assess your fit for this and future positions and is not shared with third parties without your consent.