Job Description

About the Program

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 program supports the Government of Papua New Guinea’s priorities under the National Education Plan 2023–2027 and is aligned with Australia’s International Development Policy. PNG SEP focuses on improving teaching and learning quality, strengthening school leadership and governance and supporting safe, resilient and inclusive secondary school environments. Cross-cutting priorities, including gender equality, disability inclusion, safeguarding and climate resilience are mainstreamed across all program activities.

About the Opportunity

Abt Global is seeking a highly experienced Program Director to provide overall strategic, technical and operational leadership for the PNG Secondary Education Program.

Reporting to the Abt Global Contractor Representative, the Program Director will serve as the principal interface with the Australian High Commission, the National Department of Education, Provincial Divisions of Education and participating schools. The role will lead a multi-partner consortium and senior leadership team to ensure high-quality, adaptive and accountable delivery and to strengthen Australia–PNG bilateral education partnerships.

This is a senior leadership role requiring deep experience in complex secondary education projects, strong government engagement capability and a proven track record in politically informed, adaptive program leadership. The Program Director will lead a targeted, catalytic program that works through government systems, partnerships and selected demonstration schools to embed digitally enabled pedagogy, data-informed decision-making and inclusive learning approaches, influencing policy, financing and practice beyond the program footprint.

Key responsibilities

The Program Director will:

• Provide strategic, technical and operational leadership for PNG SEP, ensuring alignment with DFAT and GoPNG priorities and delivery of End-of-Investment Outcomes

• Serve as the principal interface with AHC, NDoE and other GoPNG stakeholders, providing strategic advice and representation

• Lead consortium partners to ensure coherent, high-quality and timely delivery across program components

• Oversee program governance, including the Joint Steering Committee, technical working groups, communities of practice, reviews and reflection sessions

• Lead program planning, budgeting, financial accountability, risk management and value-for-money performance

• Champion adaptive management, ensuring monitoring and evaluation evidence informs decision-making and program direction

• Ensure technical coherence across teaching and learning, school leadership, digital innovation, GEDSI and safeguarding

• Lead and mentor the senior leadership team, fostering a high-performing, inclusive and collaborative culture

• Promote localisation, national leadership development and sustainable capacity building

• Represent PNG SEP externally, strengthening visibility, credibility and learning across the PNG education sector and DFAT’s regional education portfolio

Key deliverables

• Annual work plans, budgets and six-monthly progress reports delivered on time and to DFAT standards

• Contract milestones, results-based deliverables and performance requirements achieved in line with the contract

• End-of-Investment Outcomes delivered through high-quality, adaptive and value-for-money program implementation

• Strong technical coherence across all workstreams, ensuring teaching and learning, school leadership, digital innovation, GEDSI and safeguarding interventions are aligned, mutually reinforcing and evidence-informed

• Strong program governance, financial management and risk oversight in compliance with DFAT and Abt Global requirements

• Effective consortium coordination and partner performance management, including contribution to Partner Performance Assessment

• Clear, timely and responsive engagement with the Australian High Commission, including proactive briefing, issue management and support to DFAT-led decision-making and public diplomacy

• Communications and public-diplomacy products delivered in alignment with DFAT priorities and Australian High Commission standards

• Consistent integration of GEDSI, safeguarding, localisation and climate considerations across all program activities

Key working relationships

• Reporting to: Abt Global Contractor Representative

• Direct reports: MEL Lead, Senior Delivery Lead, Teaching and Learning Lead, Digital Technology Lead, GEDSI and Safeguarding Lead.

• External: Australian High Commission Education Team, NDoE and PDoEs, DHERST, partner organisations, OPDs, school leadership teams and subcontractors.

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:

• Extensive senior leadership experience managing large, complex education programs, with responsibility for delivering contracted results, milestones and End-of-Investment Outcomes

• Strong experience engaging with senior level government counterparts, donors and development partners, including demonstrated responsiveness to DFAT requirements and Australian High Commission oversight and decision-making processes

• Demonstrated expertise in politically informed program governance, consortium and partner management, leading adaptive delivery in complex operating environments

• Proven capability in financial management, risk oversight and value-for-money assurance within results-based or performance-linked contracting arrangements

• A strong track record in ensuring technical coherence and quality across multiple workstreams, aligning education, digital, leadership, GEDSI and safeguarding interventions to evidence and system priorities

• A clear commitment to gender equality, disability inclusion, safeguarding, localisation and Do No Harm principles, with experience embedding these across program design, delivery, MEL and communications

• Excellent leadership, communication and relationship-management skills with the ability to lead and mentor high-performing teams, manage competing priorities and represent programs credibly at senior forums

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: April 26, 2026 #LI-AUSBRIT

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.