Job Description

Senior Program Manager – Coordination, Convening and Cohesion | PWL

• Commencement: Mid-June 2026

• Long term locally engaged

• Port Moresby based

• Open to PNG applicants only

About the Program

The goal of PNG Women Lead is that PNG women and girls, in all their diversity, are safe and equitably share in resources, opportunities and decision-making, with men and boys.

The objectives of the PNG Women Lead program are drawn from DFAT’s Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Strategy:

a) Enhancing women’s voice in decision-making and leadership

b) Ending violence against women and girls

c) Promoting women’s economic empowerment

This is to be achieved through four End-of-program outcomes (EOPO).

To achieve EOPO 1 - Selected partners better represent women’s voice and interests in targeted areas, including women with disabilities, the program will deliver:

• Expanded networks of effective advocates (men & women) progress gender equality & women's empowerment.

• An expanded and more effective PNG women’s movement.

• More women are supported as decision-makers and leaders in selected partner organisations.

To achieve EOPO 2 - Increased awareness and practice of respectful and safe ways of relating between men and women in target areas, the program will deliver:

• More effective strategies promote respectful and safe ways of relating between men and women in target areas.

To achieve EOPO 3 - Women have improved access to coordinated GBV case management in target areas, including women with disabilities, the program will deliver:

• Key partners expand access to safe and effective GBV services.

• Select GoPNG agencies establish coordinated GBV case management pathways.

• GoPNG increasingly funds safe and effective GBV response services.

To achieve EOPO 4 - Selected partners expand women’s financial decision-making powers and employment opportunities, including women with disabilities, the program will deliver:

• Women are supported as decision-makers and leaders at work in participating workplaces.

• Women increasingly exercise financial decision-making (with men) in targeted households.

Building on lessons and evidence from Pacific Women and based on feedback through design consultations, this program will adopt the following delivery approaches:

• Local leadership – strategically, technically, and operationally

- by local women situated in a Program Management Team in PNG, with nuanced and empowering support from the Managing Contractor (MC).

• Strategic partnerships - with credible local women’s organisations, with support from international partners where required, with GoPNG, the private sector and core funding for UN Women.

• Enhanced technical capability - including a Gender Hub.

• Strong linkages with the Pacific Women Lead and other relevant initiatives.

• Focus on targeted areas and leveraging other programs for national reach.

About the Opportunity

The SPM - Coordination, Convening and Cohesion (CCC) will strengthen whole-of-program effectiveness by leading key internal and external convening and coordination mechanisms for gender equality and disability equity that increase PNGWL’s influence and impact across DFAT investments and partnerships in PNG.

The role will:

• Support delivery priorities and projects, including the management of grants and subcontracts, and strengthen internal cross-team coordination and planning on program outcomes and cross-cutting strategies.

• Work closely across all PNGWL delivery functions and teams (including end of program outcome activities, MERLA, Communications, Disability Equity, Locally Led Development and Sustainability, Climate Change).

• Manage a defined set of program responsibilities including oversight of portfolio allocations as updated by the Executive Team, to improve overall coherence.

• Coordinate with PNGWL's coordinator functions to help share administrative load and strengthen team efficiency, noting the intent to assign coordination support by project where appropriate.

This position is reserved for a Papua New Guinean person with a disabilityas a targeted, affirmative approach to strengthening disability-inclusive employment and expanding representation in management roles.

Key Responsibilities:

The SPM – Coordination, Convening and Cohesion will:

A. Program Coordination and Cross EOPO Cohesion

• Strengthen cross EOPO planning and coordination by maintaining an integrated view of key deliverables, dependencies and sequencing across workstreams, supporting follow up and timely delivery.

• Support structured internal coordination to reduce fragmentation and improve collaboration across SPM portfolios, recognising the portfolio review findings on workload distribution and the need for stronger coordination support.

B. Convening, Coordination and Collaboration Mechanisms

• Lead and/or coordinate PNGWL mechanisms that strengthen collaboration and coherence (including the GEDSI roundtable and PNG bimonthly meetings with multilateral and regional partners, or equivalent agreed coordination mechanisms across other DFAT programs and in support of the AHC) including secretariat functions.

• Support PNGWL’s broader influence and coordination across DFAT investments by ensuring convenings are well prepared (agenda, briefings, papers where needed), action-oriented, and followed through.

C. Portfolio Delivery Responsibilities (as agreed by Executive Team)

• Contribute to Annual Workplan, 6-monthly and annual reporting as required by all SPMs.

• Manage assigned portfolio components linked to cohesion and coordination.

• Manage Equal Playing Field (EPF) and Improving Political Inclusion and Participation (IPIP) subcontract and potentially taking on any new grants or partnerships.

• Ensure assigned activities and grants follow Abt and PNGWL procedures and demonstrate value for money, risk, compliance (fraud and PSEAH), including routine planning, tracking, and budget/forecast discipline expected of SPM roles and in line with DFAT and Abt policies.

D. Ways of Working

• Support consistent “ways of working” across the program by strengthening templates, coordination routines, and information discipline to reduce administrative burden on SPMs.

• Coordinate effectively with PNGWL coordinator roles (including those discussed in the portfolio review) to help distribute administrative tasks (e.g., logistics and reporting coordination support) and strengthen professional development opportunities across coordinator staff.

• Contribute to PNGWL’s intent to document learning from this targeted approach as a case study for Abt, AHC and other programs in PNG to advocate for inclusive practices for people with disabilities - within the scope of the role and as directed by the Executive Team.

• Other duties as requested by the Deputy Team Leader and Team Leader.

Key deliverables

The SPM will be expected to deliver the following (with details confirmed through annual work planning):

1. Cross-program coordination system (e.g., integrated delivery calendar and tracker) supporting sequencing, dependencies and follow-up across portfolios.

2. Convening outputs for agreed coordination mechanisms - managing the GEDSI roundtables and PNG bi-monthly coordination meetings (or equivalent) and providing secretariat functions such as preparing briefs, agendas, action notes, and follow-up trackers.

3. Portfolio delivery oversight for assigned work areas, ensuring milestones, budgets, risks and reporting are tracked and progressed.

4. Ways of working improvements that reduce administrative bottlenecks and improve consistency across SPM portfolios, including effective coordination with coordinator roles by project where appropriate.

5. Contribution to internal learning on targeted recruitment/accessibility process documentation (as requested by the Executive Team).

Key Working Relationship/ Reporting and Coordination

The incumbent will work in close collaboration with:

• Team Leader

• Deputy Team Leader

• SPMs across EOPOs and cross-cutting functions, including close collaboration as required for cohesion and portfolio coordination.

• PNGWL coordinators and operational support roles (as relevant to project-based coordination support).

• PNGWL partners and grantees linked to assigned portfolio responsibilities and convening mechanisms.

• AHC counterparts and other DFAT investment teams as required for coordination mechanisms and cross-program cohesion.

About You

The consultant must demonstrate the following key selection criteria:

• Tertiary qualifications in international development, public policy, organisational development, or a related field.

• Minimum of 3 years work experience in Strategic Planning, Project Management or Contract Management in the International Development space or donor funded projects.

• Strong understanding of gender equality, disability equity, and inclusive development in the PNG context.

• Demonstrated knowledge of locally led development principles, multi-stakeholder engagement, and partnership management.

• Understanding of program coordination, convening approaches, and facilitation of cross-program learning and coherence.

• Working knowledge of MERLA frameworks, adaptive management, and DFAT-funded program requirements (preferred).

• Strong facilitation, analytical, and high‑quality writing skills (minutes, briefs, reports and etc).

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Proficient in MS Office Suite.

• Ability to work independently and in an ethnically diverse environment.

How to Apply

• Applicants must strictly address the Key Selection Criteria (About You) in his/her cover letter when submitting his/her application online, along with his/her CV as a single document.

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

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

Due to the high volume of applications received, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted

Closing Date: Friday 5th June 2026 (Midday, local time) #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.