GOVERNMENT OF TONGA
Public Service Commission
Two (2) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Positions
The Government of Tonga’s strategic vision for the future delivery of public services is aimed at streamlining its organizational platform to better deliver more efficient and effective public services for the people of Tonga. To help achieve this aim, the Government of Tonga seeks to appoint the following:
- Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests.
- Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Infrastructure.
Applications are welcomed from individuals who possess outstanding strategic thinking capacity, demonstrated leadership capability and superior management skills. Government CEOs are integral in supporting a productive and sustainable Public Service as Tonga continues its path towards constitutional reform. The CEO role is particularly suited to individuals who are commercially focused, skilled in supporting innovation and providing direction to substantial change management initiatives at the policy, systems and process levels.
The role will work closely with the Ministers responsible and central agencies, not only as Chief Executive Officer, but also in defining and developing major organizational reforms aimed at optimizing the return on Government’s investment in services and programs. High orders of communication, negotiation and influencing skills are essential, as is a demonstrated track record of effective resource management.
Essential skills required of the advertised CEO roles will be to:
- Providing the Minister with high quality policy and program development advice
- Drive strategic planning and resource management accountabilities
- Provide executive directions to professional, technical, and operational teams
- Identify improvements in service delivery and efficiencies in cost to government
- Lead implementation of organizational & system changes to improve productivity
- Model cross-Ministry and whole of government collaboration to ensure high standards of communication and customer service
Term of appointment: Contract term of up to four (4) years.
Remuneration: Based on the Government of Tonga, CEO Remuneration package.
(1) Chief Executive Officer for Agriculture, Food and Forests
Job Reference: CEO Agriculture, Food & Forests
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forests for implementing government policies and decisions, and for managing the administrative functions and operational and broader functions and activities of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forests. The role will also be responsible to the Public Service Commission for developing and leading programs to continually improve the effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery outcomes and to comply with the Accountability and Functions of CEOs as outlined in Section 13A and 13B of the Public Service Act 2010 A (as amended).
Accountabilities:
- Effective legal frameworks aligned with national priority ensure sustainable agriculture and forestry development, food security and food safety
- Increased production and exports, improved food security and risk resilience and reduced imports through effective and efficient advisory services and timely dissemination of Information
- Sustainable management of sector’s resources
- Improved enabling environment (more efficient agriculture production and export/import replacement)
- Effective Human Resource Management Development
- Improve sustainable resource management, productivity and output
- Effective research and development, extension services and information dissemination
- Strengthen market access and marketing development
- Strengthen stakeholder partnership/public private partnership (PPP)
Specifically, the purpose of the role is to:
- Provide policy advice to the Tonga Government on how to help our agriculture sector remain competitive, productive and sustainable into the future
- Provide policy advice to the Government on how best to achieve social, economic and environmental benefits from the use of our limited land and water resources
- Administers government programs and legislation that support these objectives, including the collection of levies for Quarantine and Quality Management Division services, Livestock Division veterinary clinic services and Food Division services
- Regulate the import of food and other goods to ensure that Tonga is safeguarded against exotic animal and plant pests and diseases
- Regulate the export of agriculture and forests products to meet importing country requirements
- Provide policy advice to the Hon. Minister.
(2) Chief Executive Officer for Infrastructure
Job Reference: CEO Infrastructure
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible to the Minister for Infrastructure and the Public Service Commission for implementing government policies and decisions, for managing the administrative; operational; and broader functions and activities of the Ministries, and for developing and leading programs to continually improve the effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery outcomes. To comply with the Accountability and Functions of CEOs as outlined in Sections 13A and 13B of the Public Service Act 2010 (as amended).
Accountabilities:
- Ensure that appropriate systems of rules and regulations are enforced to:
- Maintain consistency with the Tongan law in order to guide the safe , secure, reliable and affordable operations of civil aviation, land transport services and networks in Tonga
- Ensure adequacy, efficiency, monitoring and safe operation of infrastructure services and diligent regulation of infrastructure industries in accordance with government policy and objectives
- Ensure the safe, secure, reliable, affordable operations and a healthier environment of the maritime sector within the outer islands ports and maintain them at a good standard with proper maintenance
- Manage and monitor all types of land use, parks and reserves in Tonga
- Provide advice on the administration of Infrastructure, land transport, maritime and civil aviation to assist policy and planning initiatives
- Provide the leadership necessary to improve service delivery, and support services
- Forge strong relationships with executive stakeholders in other Ministries and Agencies to ensure that strong relationship management drives the activities and actions of the Ministry
- Create a performance culture which reflects a high level of teamwork, harmony and collaboration and which builds organizational capability
- Carry out all duties and responsibilities as Chief Executive Officer as prescribed by the Public Service Act.
Specifically, the purpose of the role is to:
- Provide high quality policy and program development advice
- Deliver strategic planning and resource management accountabilities
- Provide executive direction and development to professional, technical and operational teams
- Identify and deliver improvements in service delivery and efficiencies in cost to government
- Lead implementation of organizational & system changes to improve productivity
- Model cross-Ministry and whole of government collaboration to ensure high standards of public administration and service delivery
- Ensure compliance of the Ministry with its regulatory obligations
Experience and Qualification:
Relevant degree qualification + considerable senior leadership experience in a complex organization, preferably in Government or regional or international agency or company as follows:
- PHD + 4 years senior leadership experience,
- Masters + 6 years senior leadership experience,
- Bachelor with Honors or Post Graduate Diploma + 10 years senior leadership experience,
- Bachelors + more than 10 years senior leadership experience.
How to Apply: -
- Applicants who possess most of the qualities described under the essential skills, accountabilities, experience and qualification to any of the CEO positions should request an Application Information Kit by contacting the Public Service Commission on +676 7400300, or email ceomatters [at] psc [dot] gov [dot] to.
- Applications for both CEO positions should be forwarded to the address below by 4:30pm on 11 June 2025.
Chairman
Public Service Commission,
PSC Building - Old PMO Grounds,
Taufa’ahau Road.
Candidates should refer to the Application Information Kit in preparing an application, ensuring that all requirements are satisfied. Incomplete documentation may prevent proper consideration of the application. Given the brevity of time, signed emailed applications will be acceptable. Email applications should be forwarded to ceomatters [at] psc [dot] gov [dot] to by the closing date.