How to apply

We do not accept speculative applications. When positions are available they will be advertised one the Career Centre page of our website. Applicants are required to follow the application instruction on the advertisement. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview. Candidates will be informed in due course of their application/request status.

How do I find out if my application has been successful?

If you are shortlisted to move forward in the recruitment process we will contact you directly. We aim to contact all candidates within 2 weeks after the closing date.

There may be times when individual teams may experience slight delays, at times due to crisis or workload. Should recruitment be delayed for an extended period, we aim to keep in contact with you and provide regular updates.

What are the arrangements for interviews? 

Successful candidates will be allocated a date and time for their interview. The time and date given cannot be changes unless reasonable justifications are provided. All interviews are to be conducted face to face unless you are applying from overseas. In cases where an applicant resides overseas, the interview will be either conducted via teleconference or Skype and we will make sure that the correct connection is in place prior to the interview taking place.

The application process

We advise you to answer every question thoroughly in the application form as we need this information to consider your suitability. A recent copy of your CV should also be attached to your application.

Please note that we assess applications solely on the merit of the information provided after the closing date. We will not accept any further information in support of your application after the closing date.

As part of the pre-employment checks required before you start your new role, we ask you to provide the contact details of your two most recent professional referees. One referee must be your current / most recent employer and the other should be your previous employer. We will not approach your referees without your permission.

Please note, our recruitment process takes, on average 2-3 weeks. We will continue to contact you during this time to keep you informed.

What do I do if a suitable role isn’t advertised?

We recommend that you check our live vacancies on a regular basis and apply for roles that are a suitable match when they come up.

Visa sponsorship/ work permits for successful foreign applicants

For foreign applicants who are successful, you will be required to apply for a work permit from the Minister of Commerce Industry and Labour. The Office will assist with the process. Volunteer and internship roles will not require a working permit.

Volunteering

Volunteers are usually recruited to assist the Office when the need arises for a minimum time period of 6-12 months full time. Volunteers provide expertise and knowledge and assist in specific projects relating to one of the functions of the Office.

Volunteers are usually seconded to the Office through Volunteer Aid Programmes such as Australian Volunteers Programme (AusAid) or NZ Volunteers Programme (NZAid).  

Internships

Interns can be recruited to carry out specific projects which often require specialist knowledge/experience in one of the areas of work of the Office i.e Human Rights, Good Governance or Special Investigations. Candidates should have some good working knowledge of the chosen area and should have a relevant tertiary qualification or studying towards it.

Please note that the work is unpaid so interns will need to be able to support themselves during their internship. This applies to both local and overseas interns. Also for overseas interns, unfortunately, the Office is not able to help with financing travel to Samoa or finding accommodation for accepted candidates. We can, however, provide recommendations.

Through an internship, candidates will have the opportunity to increase their working experience, knowledge and skills whilst also networking with various stakeholders and Samoan communities as well as learn about the work of the Office.

Recruitment Privacy Policy

The Office is committed to the responsible handling of personal information collected as part of the recruitment process. Information provided by you in connection with your application will only be used by the Office internally in relation to recruitment and selection processes and will not be disclosed to a third party without your consent, except as required by law.

Unsuccessful applications will be retained for a period of three years after the conclusion of the selection process.