Job Description

Deputy Director Development Priorities – Strongim Wok Long TVET

• Fixed term contract up to November 2029
• Based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

About Palladium

Palladium is a global leader in the design, development, and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social, climate and economic value. We work with governments, businesses, and investors to help solve the world's most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 2,000 employees operating in 75-plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies, the environment, and, most importantly, people's lives.

About PNG-Australia Strongim Wok Long TVET (SWLT)

PNG–Australia Strongim Wok Long Technical and Vocational Education and Training (SWLT) is a four-year, AUD 80 million investment by the Australian Government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), to support Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) efforts to strengthen its Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector. Aligned with PNG’s national priority to build an educated and skilled workforce for resilient economic growth, SWLT aims to enhance the quality, relevance, and inclusiveness of skills development. The program focuses on supporting the Government of PNG to strengthen the national TVET system to promote quality TVET; supporting technical colleges to deliver high-quality TVET training; enhancing the diversity and employability of TVET graduates; and elevating Australia’s visible and trusted development partnership with PNG in the TVET sector.

SWLT is the primary mechanism to support PNG and Australia to deliver on commitments made under the revised Joint Statement of Intent on TVET signed at the 2024 Australia-Papua New Guinea Ministerial Forum. It also aligns with PNG’s Higher and Technical Education Reform Act 2020, as well as broader goals articulated in the Australia–PNG Development Partnership Plan 2024–2029, including locally led development, education investment, and inclusive growth.

This Opportunity

The Deputy Director Development Priorities is responsible for leading on key programmatic areas of SWLT including grants, public diplomacy and communications, and gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), working closely with Government of PNG and delivery partners. The position also provides technical leadership of the SWLT monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) framework.

This role deputises for the Program Director as required and plays a central role in program governance as well as establishing a culture of learning and localisation.

Primary Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of the Deputy Director Development Priorities includes:

• Act as a senior operational advisor to the Program Director and SWLT leadership, deputising as required and contributing to strategic decision‑making, annual planning and continuous strengthening of program systems and processes
• Represent SWLT at high-level meetings, forums, and technical discussions related to SWLT, including articulating to program objectives
• Provide leadership and guidance on a locally informed and owned, and continually evolving, approach towards key cross-cutting deliverables, including working with delivery partners in gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI)
• Technical oversight and leadership of the establishment and ongoing delivery of the SWLT grants program, including the Grants Management Framework and ensuring alignment with DHERST objectives
• Develop and manage the delivery of a range of project design documents including concept notes, scopes of work and terms of reference for team members, projects and partnerships within the Development Priorities work stream
• Lead the preparation, monitoring and forecasting of program activity budgets to ensure optimal financial performance, compliance, and inform decision-making
• Support the ongoing implementation of the Inception Workplan and development and implementation of the SWLT Annual Plan, including monitoring progress and the early identification of issues, risk or challenges
• Provide regular briefings to the Program Director and DFAT on the status of activity implementation with a particular focus on risks and budgets
• Provide oversight to the short and long-term MEL team in designing and implementing a locally relevant MEL
• Framework through highlighting local data availability, context and capacity, providing leadership and cohesion between DHERST, DFAT and SWLT
• Incorporate lessons learned from project inceptions in PNG and other developing contexts to ensure a successful scale up as SWLT continues to grow and adapt
• Lead the development and implementation of the SWLT Climate Change Plan with the SWLT Climate Specialist and Climate Lead, and support and uphold the organisation’s commitment to environmental sustainability, such as reducing resource use and promoting climate-friendly practices
• Oversee value for money, performance-focused subcontract agreements with program partners and subcontractors, ensuring alignment with the Head Contract (HC) and Australian and PNG local
• Adhere to DFAT and Palladium safeguarding standards and policies and commit to prevent harm, and commit to promoting safe, inclusive environments, including reporting concerns appropriately
• Model, contribute to and support an office culture of learning and performance with colleagues, junior staff and counterparts
• Contribute to the development and implementation of solutions that deliver value and ensure SWLT principles are embedded within program delivery.

About you

You will have proven experience in the following areas:

• Significant program leadership on DFAT or other development agency programs, providing technical oversight, program management, knowledge of financial and contractual management, risk, fraud and compliance requirements, achieving tight milestones deadlines and developing and interpreting project plans
• Developing and implementing GEDSI, climate, safeguarding and other cross-cutting strategies, workplans and priorities through a range of interventions and with expert knowledge of DFAT and Government of PNG policies and development principles
• Strong knowledge of MEL system development and adaptation and the ability to use MEL tools in order to continuously inform programmatic drivers and objectives
• Managing large budgets, procurement activity, grants programs and contracts
• Demonstrated experience in leading effective communications and public diplomacy strategies and plans, particularly in the TVET or broader education reform sector and/or PNG and the Pacific
• Knowledge of the higher education sector in PNG and how it operates, and the political dynamics between varying sector actors would be highly advantageous
• Leadership of multi-streamed grants programs, including the ability to work with and support grantees across varying capacities
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to operate diplomatically and cross-culturally with government, private sector, and community stakeholders.
• Proven commitment to locally led development, nurturing leadership and resilience, and professional relationships with DHERST and other Government of PNG institutions.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously while contributing effectively within a team.
• Participation and positive engagement in diverse teams, supporting a results-driven culture of learning and inclusion.
• Demonstrated commitment to the principles of locally-led, socially inclusive, politically informed and adaptive programming.

To Apply

Please submit your application online at https://thepalladiumgroup.com/careers, including your CV and detailed cover letter, outlining your suitability and experience in line with the requirements of the position.

Closing date: End of day Sunday 4 October 2026. Candidates may be interviewed on a rolling basis.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.

Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.