Program Overview:

The Fiji Program Support Platform (FPSP, or the ‘Platform’) is a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) investment that will contribute to the delivery of Fiji’s national development priorities, in line with the Australia’s International Development Policy, the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership and the Development Partnership Plan. 

The Platform will deliver key bilateral programs, such as health, education, scholarships, social infrastructure, governance, climate and emergency preparedness and response. Platform activities will identify and address climate risks, promote climate action, and gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) across and beyond the sector programs.

The Platform has three functional Outcomes: 

The Platform has delivered its sector program outcomes, including through supporting strategic coherence, planning, partnerships management, data and learning across the portfolio of investments. The Platform has prioritised gender equality and disability-inclusive development, and climate and disaster resilience, in its systems and practices. This includes in how it undertakes sector programming and its engagement with selected Government of Fiji agencies. The Platform administers timely and efficient programming that is: value for money; maximises use of local supply chains; and supports good governance and public diplomacy, effective decision making and risk management.

The Platform implements over fifty percent of Australia’s bilateral development support to Fiji across a range of sector programs in education, health, Australia Awards, disaster response, cyclone recovery, social infrastructure and technical assistance to improve public sector governance in Fiji. 

The Platform integrates cross-cutting themes, including gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), climate and disaster resilience, across sectoral programs. In particular, the Platform seeks to strengthen program outcomes by better addressing the needs of targeted beneficiaries including those who are often marginalised.

The Australian Government is currently delivering three social infrastructure programs (Infrastructure Programs) in Fiji:

The Cyclone Recovery Program will deliver infrastructure upgrades at Taveuni and Kadavu hospitals. The program will conclude 31 December 2025.  The Colonial War Memorial (CWM) Hospital Redevelopment Master Plan will deliver a comprehensive masterplan for a new national referral hospital.  Fiji Social Infrastructure Program will support upgrades to school infrastructure, commencing with priority schools identified through an audit of Suva-Nausori school infrastructure; and provide technical assistance to the Ministries of Education and Health to uplift their systems, process and capacity for maintenance and upgrades over the medium term.

The incumbent will also manage the Platform’s Infrastructure flexible fund. These programs will be delivered through the Platform, and compliment other infrastructure investments that are delivered through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP).  

Position Summary:

The Team Leader (TL) is responsible for leading and managing the delivery of the Platform’s Social Infrastructure Programs, ensuring alignment with the strategic priorities of DFAT and the Government of Fiji (GOF). This role involves overseeing program management, operations, and project execution to deliver high-quality, sustainable infrastructure solutions. The role will oversee Program Managers responsible for delivering the CRP, FSIP, and the CWM Hospital Redevelopment Master Plan. This is a senior management role and will be responsible for strategic thinking/planning, active engagement with, and support to DFAT. 

The TL will provide strategic leadership and drive key partner agency engagement and coordination. The TL will have strong relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills and will ensure collaboration and coherence across the programs. The TL will develop strong working relationships with Australian High Commission (AHC) counterparts, government officials from respective ministries, contractors, Platform teams, and other stakeholders. 

The TL will be a highly motivated and experienced individual. They will have a comprehensive understanding of international development program implementation, preferably large-scale infrastructure projects. They will have extensive leadership and people management experience, including substantial leadership experience on development projects. 

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Engagement & Leadership

Lead the Platform’s Infrastructure Programs, including the setting of strategic direction in line with the priorities of DFAT and GoF.  Lead, manage and mentor the Platform’s infrastructure teams in coordination with Platform leadership to deliver high quality development results. Maintain a clear and contemporary understanding of and engagement with the infrastructure sector context in Fiji (policy, political and donor/investment landscape) and draw upon this to provide relevant advice to DFAT, GoF Ministries and Platform leadership. Ensure Infrastructure Programs are delivered in alignment with the Platform’s commitment to GEDSI, climate resilience and achieving value for money, and in accordance with DFAT policies and standards.  Proactively mitigate and/or manage emergent issues and risks as they arise, in close consultation with DFAT. Provide strategic feedback on FSIP at conclusion of current program to inform the new Social Infrastructure Program. 

Stakeholder engagement

Build and maintain strong relationships with DFAT, GoF, community leaders, and other stakeholders to ensure program alignment that supports locally led-development.  Direct programmatic policy dialogue, relationships management, and stakeholder engagement with DFAT, national counterparts, development partners, the private sector and civil society. Ensure effective public diplomacy communications and representation with external stakeholders.

Management, Planning, Implementation & Reporting 

Provide oversight of the Infrastructure Programs to ensure sound project planning, design and management, financial management, contract administration, and logistics support of the program. Lead the development of Annual Work Plans (AWPs) based on effective and close engagement with GoF and DFAT to ensure alignment with strategic priorities, appropriate ownership and mutual accountability. Ensure program performance meets the agreed Performance Framework, as agreed with DFAT on an annual basis. Ensure review, quality assurance and on-time delivery of program deliverables, outputs, and outcomes. In accordance with the monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) planning documents, ensure regular, ongoing review and reflection of the programs’ progress towards their goals and intermediate outcomes, and ensure MEL findings are incorporated into delivery approaches on an ongoing basis. Act as the hiring manager for the recruitment of program staff, technical advisers and other human resources according to AWP resourcing plans. Deliver effective performance management of program staff and provide oversight of performance management by staff managers. Take overall responsibility for risk management of the Infrastructure Programs, including producing quarterly risk reports against the risk register.

Operations Management

Oversee or directly manage procurement of services for architects, project management, building services consultancy and construction works, including tendering, evaluation, negotiations with preferred contractor/s, reporting and contracting of the selected contractors in line with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules. Oversee or directly manage the delivery of construction services in compliance with the applicable building regulations and standards including the contractors’ safety system and risk management plans for Occupation Health and Safety (OHS), Child Protection (CP) and the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH). Oversee program management and operations functions and ensure effective allocation and utilisation of resources, including for financial management, human resources, procurement and logistics.

General

Promote sustainable practices and innovative solutions in infrastructure development, focusing on long-term resilience and environmental sustainability. Support counterpart Ministries and their staff to develop project management and infrastructure planning and development skills and systems. Other duties as requested by the Platform Leader.

Key Deliverables: 

Position Deliverables / Outputs

Contribute to the strategic direction and oversight of the Infrastructure Programs, including through periodic Program Coordination Group (PCG) meetings, and weekly updates to DFAT.  Delivery of Cyclone Recovery Program, Colonial War Memorial Hospital Redevelopment Master Plan, and Fiji Social Infrastructure Program. Six-monthly and annual progress reports, drawing on evidence from the Platform’s MEL system. Six Monthly Budget Reviews. Lessons Learnt Report.

Senior Leadership Team Deliverables

High level of responsiveness to AHC issues and requests measured by receiving Partner Performance Ratings of 5 or above. Quality reporting, milestones, deliverables and KPIs are submitted on time and meet internal (Abt) and external (DFAT) requirements. Programs are delivered on time and within budget and value for money principles drive all Infrastructure Programs’ resourcing decisions. Build and maintain open, productive and outcome-oriented relationships with key internal and external stakeholders including AHC.  Innovative approaches to the delivery of aid are actively pursued and incorporated into the delivery and design of the Infrastructure Programs.

Key Working Relationships:

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Development Counsellor and social infrastructure team at the Australian High Commission. The Permanent Secretary (PS) and senior officials in relevant GoF ministries, noting that DFAT will maintain strategic policy relationship with the PS and the Ministry.  The Platform Management Team (PMT) and senior technical advisers in the Platform Management Unit (PMU), and other sector programs managed by the Platform. Other bi-lateral and multi-lateral organisations and stakeholders in the infrastructure sector in Fiji and regionally.

Selection Criteria:

Qualifications

Master’s level qualification or equivalent professional experience related to Project Management, International Development, Construction Management or a related field.

Experience (essential)

Strong and credible skills and experience within project management, infrastructure planning, delivery and engagement. Demonstrated experience and success in senior management of social infrastructure programs (i.e. hospitals and schools) in developing countries, preferably in the Pacific region, and/or in a donor funded environment. Proven experience in senior program management, including planning and implementation for results including financial management, reporting and work planning.  Strong financial acumen and experience managing large project budgets. Proven experience in the leadership of teams (team building, motivation, capacity building and performance management) of national and international staff of diverse backgrounds and varying competencies. Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with experience managing relationships across government, civil society and donors.  Strong experience in program performance MEL consistent with DFAT’s M&E standards. Demonstrated experience in mainstreaming cross-cutting themes including GEDSI and/or climate and disaster resilience.

Personal Attributes

Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate a large and diverse team. Demonstrated ability to develop and share a vision and deliver strategic approach. Able to manage relationships, conflicts and tensions between key stakeholders under a context that is potential vulnerable to political agendas. Sensitivity to other cultures and the ability to act appropriately in the context of Fijian culture and the workplace. Ability to work according to agreed principles and model the Platform’s principles including transparency, accountability, fairness and collaboration. Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including demonstrated ability to engage at a senior level, build and maintain networks, provide advice and communicate effectively (both written and verbal) on sensitive issues with a culturally and professionally diverse range of stakeholders. A demonstrated commitment to child protection and the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) and a robust fraud control and anti-corruption environment. Able to cope with ambiguity and a fast-changing operating environment.

How to Apply:

Applications close on 20 November 2024 - 12 midday

Please apply online by submitting a cover letter addressing how you meet the requirements of this role and up-to-date comprehensive CV as a single file. 

#LI-AUSBRIT #LI-HN1