DT Global 30th April 2021

Manager Human Resource

Fiji

Dear Sir/Madam

RE: Application for Vacant Position- Programme Manager (Thematic Areas-Biosecurity)

With the enclosed resume, I would like to express my genuine interest in joining DT Global
as Programme Manager. As a highly driven and successful chief executive officer with 18
years of experience driving successful municipal operations, environmental health and
development I possess a wide range of knowledge and experience that will allow me to
contribute towards this position.

In my most relevant experience being the Chief Executive Officer to a fairly new and
challenging municipal council in Rakiraki that provided exposure to diverse range of
activities from establishing new policies and guidelines to managing impacts of natural
disasters and implementation of capital projects. This position also exposed me to the local
government regulations, Public health Act, Environment Act and other relevant legislations
required for the service delivery at the municipal level. In addition to this financial manual
and financial procedures for the government was also used to manage the daily operations
of the council and policies were developed in line with these government mechanisms. The
position gave me the opportunity to manage and administer the responsibilities of a chief
executive officer with confidence and advising the line Minister on the affairs at local
government municipal level.

Strategic planning was also introduced in this council and was developed with stakeholders
and rate payer’s contribution. this plan was a 5-20-year plan that included infrastructure,
services and development control with a strong vision towards a sustainable living
experience. With my previous work in environmental health involving community
engagement that had provided the platform for the rakiraki town council and further
enhanced this ability of community engagement by mobilising them in activities and
projects such as waste management and rates collection. During this term council also
engaged with other stakeholders apart from the rate payers such as Non-governmental
organisations (Un Women, DFAT), government agencies within the province and provincial
councils.

During my term with Ministry of Health I was provided the opportunity to act as in charge of
the district team managing 4 to 5 professional staffs. My leadership skills were tested during
this period as there were numerous diseases outbreaks and public health issues in the
province that required systematic approach with efficiency and effectiveness. Sanitation was
major issue, and this was addressed through implementation of school hand wash program
that I had implemented with a public private partnership. in this capacity environmental
management was a key responsibility with development control being routine job
description.
However, the leadership skills strengthened upon joining the local government due to
increased responsibilities. Managing a team of 25 staffs of various department as well as
multitasking with health and building developed a resilience work experience. There are
various instances during this term where I used my skills and abilities to manage a small but
challenging town due to its financial constraints and minimal infrastructure. However it was
during TC Winston when I used my maximum capacity and networks to rehabilitate the
town within a weeks time for other emergency operations to be conducted from the town
for the province, I feel that this people networking skill is my major strength which had
become very useful during my term in Rakiraki.

The natural disaster had left lot of destruction behind and one of the main infrastructures
damaged was the municipal market. My relationship with Un women and their ongoing
market for change project had been the key factor in securing a 5million grant which was
implemented as the new Rakiraki Market. The planning, design, construction and financial
management was part of my supervision and overseen by department of local government.
Though I could not see this project completed due to my studies, there were lessons which
provided me with a better understanding of how to implement such large-scale capital
projects.

My educational achievements and experiences have been key to my successful completion

of career to date with two major organisations and in various districts. Environmental health
and management have been the strength of my career since year 2000 after completion of
my 3-year diploma in environmental health from Fiji school of medicine and later in year
2012 competing my bridging bachelor’s in environmental health further enhanced my skills
in public health, environmental and management. The decision to switch careers from
health to administration was a challenge but I took that as an opportunity and joined the
local government cohort where I further increased my knowledge by completing a Post
graduate certificate in Management and administration from University of Fiji providing me
with an in-depth insight into management skills which proved to be helpful in making
decisions for Human Resources management and carrying out general administration of an
organisation.

After concluding my career at local government in 2018 i was able to further increase my
knowledge and skill capacity by completing Masters in Sustainability and Climate policy from
Curtin University which involved urban design and sustainable towns and cities as the major
focus as well as climate change policies. My knowledge and skills further strengthened with
short courses such as Fiji Business excellence awards evaluator training and training of
trainer’s module 1 completion with Fiji National University providing me with confidence in
representing to other organisations and internal staffs to improve productivity and
becoming customer oriented within policies and guidelines. Technologically I am fully versed
with most software’s related to this position with added advantages in photography and
graphics design as well AutoCAD for building design.

Enhancement of my knowledge and skills through external short courses, included Food
Safety and prosecution with Ministry of Health and Director public prosecution, bio medical
waste management in India, disaster risk reduction in cairns, Australia and various other
short workshops during the 18 years of work experience. Therefore, with the above
knowledge and experience I am confident and committed to lead in this role into a direction
which involves sustainability and growth as well as building opportunities. My leadership
skills and the immediate knowledge that I have gained from Curtin University can provide
the project a platform for adoption of sustainable development goals within its structure
and show commitment to governments policies and national development plan.
Furthermore,
through my experience from a challenging local government perspective I have the ability to
build a successful team for customer-oriented service delivery and engaging technology for
innovation within the organisation that is the current trend.

I look forward to having an interview and discuss my experiences and performance capacity
in depth at a time convenient to you.

Yours faithfully

…………………………..
Rakesh Chandra
Ph: 9472067