Job Description

INOVASI 3 - Operations Manager

We are searching for an experienced INOVASI 3 - Operations Manager at our Jakarta facility.

• Duration 1 year with possibility of extension
• Location Jakarta, with travel to provincial offices
• This position is open to Indonesia nationals and permanent residents with authority to live and work in Indonesia. This is a full-time national position.

About Palladium

Palladium is a global development and consulting firm, part of the GISI
Consulting Group, working alongside some of the world’s leading project
management and engineering organisations. We partner with governments,
businesses, investors and communities to design and deliver complex programs
that create lasting impact. With a presence across more than 90 countries,
Palladium offers the opportunity to work on meaningful challenges, alongside
talented colleagues, in environments where your work can truly make a
difference.

Program Overview

Indonesia’s Vision 2045 sets the goal for
Indonesia to transition from a resource-based economy towards an advanced
service, technology, and knowledge-based economy by the centenary of its
independence (2045). The 2025-2045 National Long Term Development Plan
emphasises the urgency of Indonesia’s human resource development to fully
realise 2045 goals.

Faced however with persistent low student
performance that is emblematic of a learning crisis, significant improvement in
student learning will be required to reach Indonesia’s 2045 goals. Government
of Indonesia (GoI) has started an ambitious program of education reforms.
Successive education ministers have set out to modernise the education system
through reforming the national curriculum and teaching and assessment
approaches, to produce citizens with strong foundational skills, open minds,
and inclusive values.

Australia is a long-term supporter of the
Indonesian basic education sector, with continuous investments supporting
education quality improvements for the past two decades, including through the
INOVASI program (Phase 1 2016-2020; Phase 2 2020-2023) that focused on
supporting acquisition of literacy and numeracy foundational skills in early
grades classrooms; exploring local problems and solutions; and generating
evidence to inform government policy development and practices.

This third phase of INOVASI (2024-2027)
builds upon the existing program’s approach and lessons learned and takes the
focus on the development of foundational skills through to the end of the
primary grades. Phase 3 will engage with priority issues of Australia’s
development policy: gender equality, effective inclusion of children with a
disability, responses to the climate change challenge in education. It will
focus on the challenge of policy implementation and the gaps that exist between
national policies and practices at district and school levels, and use the well
attested-success of INOVASI’s local problem-based approach to continuously
support policy development for effective fit between policy and implementation
context.

The Program is implemented by Palladium on
behalf of DFAT.

Purpose of the Position

The Operations Manager is responsible for coordinating and managing day-to-day operational systems, services and functions across INOVASI to support effective program implementation. The position works closely with national and provincial operational teams to ensure operational processes are implemented consistently, efficiently and in compliance with Palladium, DFAT and Government of Indonesia requirements. The role provides practical operational support to program teams and requires regular travel to provincial and district offices to monitor operations, strengthen operational capability, resolve operational issues and support effective program delivery.

Primary
Responsibilities

Under the direction of the Head of Operations, the Operations
Manager will:

Operational Management

• Coordinate and support the effective day-to-day delivery of operational functions, including Procurement and Grants, IT, Administration and Office Management, Asset Management and Program Activity support functions, ensuring consistent and responsive service delivery across national and provincial offices.
• Supervise Operations Coordinators and other operational staff as required, providing guidance, support and performance management to ensure high-quality operational services.
• Coordinate day-to-day operational support across national and provincial offices, ensuring operational services are responsive to program implementation requirements and priorities.
• Ensure effective coordination between operational functions, including procurement, grants, activities, administration, IT and office management.

Provincial Operations

• Work closely with Provincial Managers and provincial operations staff to ensure effective, efficient and compliant operational support across provincial and district offices.
• Undertake regular travel to provincial and district offices to monitor operational performance, identify implementation challenges, strengthen operational capability and provide direct support to provincial teams.
• Review provincial operational processes, staffing arrangements, workload distribution and operational capacity, and provide recommendations and practical support to improve performance and efficiency.
• Support operational continuity across provincial offices by identifying risks, addressing operational challenges and coordinating solutions to maintain effective service delivery.
• In coordination with Provincial Managers, ensure provincial office agreements, registrations and other government requirements are maintained and renewed as required.
• Serve as the primary operational liaison with provincial offices, coordinating support, monitoring operational performance and facilitating resolution of operational issues affecting provincial implementation.

Operational Systems and
Compliance

• Review and provide quality assurance for operational documentation and processes, including Program Activity Budgets, procurement documentation, grants documentation, contracts, payment requests, evaluation reports, Note to Files and other operational records.
• Review and authorise Program Activity Budgets and operational documentation within delegated authority and in accordance with approved operational procedures.
• Maintain and strengthen operational systems, procedures, forms and workflows relating to travel, procurement, grants management, administration, office management, asset management and activity implementation.
• Support the implementation of automation, digitisation and workflow improvements to improve operational efficiency, consistency and user experience.
• Ensure operational systems and procedures support effective financial management, value for money, compliance and audit readiness.
• Ensure program operations are aligned with Indonesian government systems and liaise with government counterparts in the preparation of PTO, BAST, and other government of Indonesia requirements, as directed by the Head of Operations.

Capacity Building and
Program Support

• Establish and deliver training, coaching and practical guidance to program staff, provincial teams, operational staff and relevant partners on operational policies, procedures and compliance requirements.
• Support and coordinate the work of Activity Coordinators, Program Officers and operational support staff to ensure operational services remain responsive to program needs.
• Act as a key point of coordination between Program and Operations teams, helping resolve operational issues and ensuring implementation activities are effectively supported

Risk, Fraud and Safeguarding

• Establish operational controls, spot checks and quality assurance mechanisms to promote compliance and value for money and identify potential misuse of program resources.
• Report and support investigation and follow-up of operational compliance issues, fraud concerns and other operational risks in accordance with program policies and procedures.
• Support implementation of DFAT, Palladium and INOVASI requirements relating to fraud and anti-corruption, gender equality, disability inclusion, PSEAH, child protection and environmental and social safeguards.

Other

• Undertake other duties as reasonably required by the Head of Operations consistent with the incumbent's qualifications and experience.

Qualifications
and Experience Required

The Operations Manager will possess the following qualifications
and experience:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in operations management, business administration, project management, public administration, finance or a related field, or equivalent professional experience;
• At least 8–10 years of relevant experience in operations, administration, procurement, activity implementation or project support functions, preferably on donor-funded development programs;
• Demonstrated knowledge of development / donor agency and Government of Indonesia operational requirements, with experience supporting compliance across procurement, contracting, grants, administration, activity implementation, assets and office management; specific knowledge of DFAT and Palladium operational systems and requirements an advantage;
• Experience managing and prioritizing a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines;
• Experience identifying and resolving operational issues in national and sub-national offices, including escalating risks and practical recommendations to senior operations leadership when required;
• Strong understanding of Government of Indonesia systems and procedures at national and sub-national levels, including requirements relevant to provincial and district office operations;
• Experience providing practical guidance, coaching or training to operational staff, including teams based outside Jakarta;
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills in English and Bahasa, with strong analytical capabilities.;
• Demonstrated coordination, people management and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work effectively across national and sub-national teams and in cross-cultural contexts;
• Sound judgement, initiative and decision-making skills, with the ability to work independently, prioritise competing tasks and provide practical solutions within delegated authority; and
• A high level of integrity, adaptability and commitment to practical, service-oriented operational support in a complex, fast-paced program environment, including willingness to travel regularly to provincial and district offices.

Application closes on 14 August 2026 at 23:59 Jakarta Time.

Working with children
Is this position likely to come into contact with children? ☒ Yes ☐ No

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity and inclusion across all activities. We promote a diverse and inclusive workforce and ensure all applicants and employees are treated fairly and equally, regardless of background or personal characteristics. We encourage applications from all individuals and provide reasonable adjustments or accommodations where required.

Safeguarding - Palladium
maintains a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of harm, including sexual
exploitation, abuse, harassment, child abuse, and human trafficking. We are
committed to protecting our people, partners, and communities and ensuring safe
and respectful environments. All personnel are expected to uphold safeguarding
standards, with successful candidates subject to enhanced screening, including
safeguarding-focused assessments and due diligence, in line with Palladium’s
Code of Conduct and safeguarding policies.

INOVASI has zero tolerance for child abuse and exploitation. All successful candidates will be required to adhere to our Child Protection Policy and will be subject to background checks as a condition of employment.