Job Description

Commencement: July 2026
Long term role, based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Open to PNG Citizens

About the Programs

The PNG Secondary Education Program (PNG SEP) is a flagship investment of the Australian Government, delivered under the Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership. PNG SEP aims to improve learning outcomes, equity and access for secondary students across Papua New Guinea's highest performing schools, while strengthening national and subnational education systems.

The PIE program is a 5-year, Government of Australia (GoA) investment to support the Government of Papua New Guinea (GoPNG) improve the delivery of access to and quality of education for the children of PNG. The program focuses on early grade education working at the national and subnational level in four target locations. Through facilitating, testing and monitoring innovative ways to address priority challenges related to access and retention, and the upgrading of skills of early grade teachers, the Program will seek to influence policy and systems-based change to improve learning outcomes for girls, boys and children with a disability in the early grades. After three years, boarder adoption/adaptation in other provinces could commence thereafter depending upon interest and absorptive capacity. On this basis, the investment may directly engage with eight to ten provinces over its lifetime.

About the Opportunity

Abt Global is seeking a Program Delivery Specialist who will work closely with the Delivery Lead to coordinate day-to-day operational delivery across finance, procurement, logistics travel and administration, ensuring activities are implemented efficiently, compliantly and on schedule. You will support schools, government partners and program teams, oversee logistics for meetings, training, workshops and school visits and maintain accurate records, trackers and documentation in line with DFAT and Abt requirements.

The role also contributes to budgeting and expenditure tracking, procurement processes, risk management, safeguarding and quality assurance, and supports reporting and audit requirements.

Key responsibilities

The Program Delivery Specialist is responsible for:

Program Operations & Delivery Coordination

• Supporting the Delivery Lead to establish, implement and strengthen operational systems across finance, procurement, travel, logistics and asset management.

• Coordination of day-to-day delivery tasks across the program, ensuring efficient planning, sequencing and implementation of activities.

• Contribute tracking of deliverables, workplans, schedules and risk registers, flagging risks, delays and dependencies to the Delivery Lead with proposed options for resolution.

• Support schools, NDoE and provincial partners with clear operational guidance for program-supported activities within approved program policies, procedures and templates

• Maintain accurate records for activity costs, procurement requests, travel approvals and delivery schedules.

• Support implementation and tracking of the School Infrastructure and Equipment Fund (SIF) in line with program guidelines.

• Under the PNG SEP SIF provide support to the Financial Management Community of Practice by coordinating sessions and supporting participating schools to prepare, attend and access relevant materials.

Financial Management & Compliance

• Provide operational support for budgeting, forecasting and expenditure tracking including preparation of inputs, trackers and acquittals

• Ensure adherence to DFAT and Abt financial procedures and the Program operations manuals through accurate documentation, record‑keeping and compliance checks, escalating issues to the Delivery Lead as required.

• Maintain accurate financial records for program activity costs, including the School Infrastructure and Equipment Fund (SIF).

• Identify emerging financial risks or delivery pressures and propose mitigation options.

• Support coordination of the Financial Management Community of Practice, supporting schools to strengthen transparent and accountable school-level financial practices.

Procurement & Contracting

• Support end-to-end procurement processes through coordination with Shared Services to ensure efficiency and compliance. Ensure all procurement activities meet DFAT, Abt and GoPNG requirements and value-for-money principles.

• Track procurement requests, deliveries and supplier performance.

Logistics, Administration & Event Support

• Coordinate logistics for meetings, training, workshops, school visits and stakeholder events.

• Ensure efficient travel arrangements, approvals and compliance with program protocols.

• Support asset management, inventory control and IT coordination across program offices and participating schools and provide regular updates to the Delivery Lead for oversight and risk management purposes.

Stakeholder and School Engagement

• Work collaboratively with schools, NDoE divisions, Provincial Divisions of Education and program partners to ensure operational readiness for program interventions.

• Support relationship management and help troubleshoot delivery constraints in coordination with the Delivery Lead.

Risk, Safeguarding & Quality Assurance

• Ensure that safeguarding, child protection, PSEAH, WHS and Do No Harm principles are embedded in PNG SEP operational processes and promptly escalate incidents, risks or non‑compliance to the Delivery Lead.

• Contribute to program risk registers and mitigation actions.

• Contribute to quality assurance of operational procedures, templates and guidance.

GEDSI and Continuous Improvement

• Support implementation of GEDSI and inclusion policies within operational processes.

• Contribute to continuous improvement by identifying lessons learned and supporting adaptive program delivery.

• Supply timely operational data and updates to the MEL team to support monitoring and reporting and the annual collation of data for DFAT’s PERFORMS system.

Key deliverables

• Lead designated delivery portfolios or operational workstreams as assigned by the Delivery Lead, including oversight and guidance for up to three operations team members.

• Represent delivery perspectives in internal planning, coordination and review discussions.

• Prepare delivery inputs for DFAT reports, audits and assurance processes.

Key working relationships

• Reporting to: Delivery Lead

• Direct Report(s): Administrative Officer, Events Coordinator, Project Administrator

• Key Relationships: Team lead-PIE, Subnational Support Coordinator – PIE, Subnational Support Coordinator – PIE, Finance Manager – PIE/PNG SEP, Program Director – PNG SEP, SIF Coordinator – PNG SEP, PNG Shared Services Team

About You

For applications to be considered, a response to the key selection criteria below must be provided

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Demonstrated experience supporting the delivery of complex programs or projects, preferably in international development, education, or public sector contexts, with responsibility for coordinating operational, administrative or delivery support functions.

• Proven ability to support and administer operational systems across finance, HR, procurement, logistics, travel and asset management, ensuring activities are well planned, sequenced and delivered in line with approved workplans and procedures.

• Experience providing operational support to budgeting, expenditure tracking, acquittals and procurement processes, with a sound understanding of compliance requirements and value‑for‑money principles.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities concurrently, maintain accurate records and trackers, and meet deadlines in fast‑paced and evolving program environments.

• Ability to work collaboratively with internal teams, shared services teams and external stakeholders (including schools and government counterparts)

• Demonstrated understanding of operational risk management and compliance, including safeguarding, child protections, PSEAH, WHS and Do No Harm principles, with the ability to identify issues and escalate appropriately.

• Experience supplying timely and accurate operational data to support monitoring, reporting and assurance processes, including audits and donor reporting requirements.

How to Apply

• Please ensure to address the key selection Criteria (About You) in your cover letter, and submit your application online, along with your CV as a single document.

• Applications must be submitted personally by individuals only. Applications submitted by a company or organisation will not be accepted.

• The successful applicant will be engaged through an employment agreement determined by Abt.

We welcome and thank all applications; however, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted

Closing Date: 31 May 2026 #LI-AUSBRIT

Abt Global is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to upholding high standards of Child Protection, Anti-bribery and Fraud Protection.

We encourage applications from experienced and capable women, and people with disabilities

Abt Associates is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce. Abt Associates provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits. Local candidates strongly encouraged to apply.

Disclaimer: Abt Associates will never ask candidates for money in exchange for an offer of employment.