Program Manager

Purpose

This a unique opportunity for a seasoned Program Manager (PM) to join a dynamic, passionate and highly capable team on a fixed-term maternity leave cover for 12 months. The purpose of the role is to manage P4SP’s social protection reform project in Fiji (in partnership with the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection (MWCSP)), which is a critical area of reform for the Government of Fiji, and a priority area for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and P4SP. Given the breadth of P4SP’s portfolio across the region, the role also has scope to manage P4SP’s delivery across other bilateral and regional activities.

Summary

This role is responsible for managing activities across P4SP’s largest bilateral investment in Fiji, which features an ambitious social protection reform. The reform also supports the MWCSP with technical assistance across a range of areas, including the procurement and implementation of a management information system (MIS).

The PM will provide efficient end-to-end project management of this reform agenda and ensure that P4SP delivers all planned activities within agreed scope, timeline, and budget constraints.

To deliver the above, the PM will supervise the P4SP LTA who has been embedded within MWCSP since December 2023. The PM will also oversee other short-term inputs from P4SP’s IT project management firm, as well as technical consultants. Travel to Fiji will be required on an as-needed basis.

The PM will maintain strong relationships with P4SP key stakeholders, including the MWCSP in Fiji, as well as with DFAT counterparts in Fiji and Canberra.

The PM will ensure that P4SP’s key cross-cutting elements such as Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI), Monitoring and Evaluation, communications, climate response, and localisation, are integrated across the planning, reporting and implementation of key activities.

The PM will support the P4SP Operations Team and Development Pathways to develop accurate budgets and forecasts; manage procurement and contracting of suppliers/consultants; and deploy technical experts into Fiji (and other countries, if needed) safely and effectively.

It is critical that the PM ensures compliance with relevant P4SP, Development Pathways and DFAT policies and procedures.

In addition to overseeing P4SP’s social protection reform workplan in Fiji, the PM may also be required to manage other activities within P4SP’s workplan, or potentially manage a different set of activities if required, in discussion with the line manager.

Job Specification

The specific responsibilities of the PM include:

Program Management

• Provide high-quality program management to ensure that P4SP activities are well planned and effectively implemented, reported on and risk managed within the agreed timelines, budgets, and scope.
• Supervise one LTA and various consultants as required.
• Develop project documentation including activity plans and budgets, terms of reference, and project reports as required.
• Develop and maintain up-to-date workplans, including tracking key program deliverables, consultant inputs and contracts, and budget expenditure.
• Align program activities with the P4SP Annual Plan’s regional and country strategies, by coordinating with team members.
• Comment on project reports and provide analyses and recommendations for quality improvements as appropriate.
• Manage and maintain relationships and engagements with key stakeholders, particularly DFAT counterparts in Canberra and at Posts, and partner government counterparts. Ensure that stakeholder expectations are incorporated into project activity plans and budgets.
• Manage relevant contracts with consultants and service providers.
• Supervise consultants, staff and service providers as needed.

Managing cross-cutting activities

• Collaborate with the P4SP Communications & Public Diplomacy Manager, to develop appropriate communications products and opportunities for P4SP’s website and other platforms.
• Collaborate with P4SP’s MERLA (Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, Learning and Adaptation) team to ensure that P4SP activities and strategies are effectively monitored, that lessons learnt are incorporated as appropriate, and that P4SP programs are accurately reflected in all reporting.
• Ensure that GEDSI considerations are meaningfully factored into P4SP’s engagements and activities.
• Ensure that climate-related risks and locally-led development are reflected in P4SP activity plans and in the implementation of P4SP activities.

Supporting the P4SP Operations Team

• Ensure activities are implemented in line with overarching agreements/contracts.
• Collaborate with the Operations Team to ensure that procurement approaches serve programmatic needs.
• Ensure P4SP activities and initiatives comply with Australian Government, Partner Country and P4SP policies, procedures, and practices.
• Inform and provide advice to the P4SP Senior Management Team on operational risks and implementation issues.

Other

• Support P4SP’s other areas of work, as required. This may include supporting identification and development of research activities, scoping of new country engagements, and other areas as identified by the Line Manager.
• Work closely with the P4SP Senior Management Team to identify learning opportunities that support/contribute to achievement of social protection outcomes.
• Work flexibly and proactively within the P4SP Team and with key government and DFAT counterparts. Promote diversity, gender equality and women’s empowerment, disability inclusion and social in inclusion across program activities and operations.
• Comply with all safeguarding obligations and DFAT integrity policies including the P4SP Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct.
• Maintain open and collaborative working relationships with all members of the P4SP Team.
• Contribute to a dynamic, energetic, and positive team environment.
• Commit to a team culture of continuous learning and adaptation.

Selection Criteria:

Essential

• Tertiary qualifications in a relevant field, including international development policy and practice, program management, social policy.
• 5+ years of experience in program management/working in the international aid / development sector.
• Experience managing subcontractors and consultants to deliver program objectives.
• Excellent knowledge of the Pacific and experience working in at least one country from the Pacific / Timor-Leste.
• Dynamic and solutions-focused with ability to manage competing and often changing program priorities to ensure program objectives are achieved.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and across various teams in a remote working context, and to work cooperatively and respectfully with a range of internal and external stakeholders including in cross-cultural contexts.
• Commitment to gender equality, disability, and social inclusion mainstreaming and to ensuring the safeguarding of children in all aspects of work.
• Highly developed communication (written and verbal) and the ability to present information clearly and effectively to a wide range of internal and external audiences.

Desirable

• Experience working on DFAT-funded aid program development activities and initiatives.
• Experience working in the Pacific and/or Timor-Leste.
• Familiarity with social protection programming and commitment to contributing to the delivery of P4SP’s objectives.
• Proven ability to provide high quality and timely advice to partner governments.
• Demonstrated experience working on social protection issues in remote country contexts and cross-cultural settings.

View the full terms of reference on Ethical Jobs.