Team Leader, Governance & Institutions | BP-APSP at Abt Global

, , Papua New Guinea -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

09 Mar, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

09 Dec, 25

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Yes

Skills

Governance, International Development, Capacity Building, Strategic Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Financial Management, Risk Management, Team Management, Negotiation, Political Economy Analysis, Gender Equality, Public Administration, Organizational Design, Stakeholder Engagement, Community Development, Leadership

Industry

Business Consulting and Services

Description

Commencement: February or March 2026 Duration: From February 2026 to February 2030 Based in Buka, Autonomous Region of Bougainville, PNG Open to PNG national and international candidates About the Program For Australia and New Zealand, the emergence of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Bougainville is a key national interest; supporting the Government of PNG and the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) to implement the Bougainville Peace Agreement is an explicit commitment in the Australia government 2017 White Paper. An overriding interest is to maintain the peace that the Agreement brought about and that is enabled by political dialogue, within and outside Bougainville, and economic development. It implies a readiness to engage for the long term, accepting that the development of institutions and diversified economic opportunities will be slow. The Bougainville Partnership (BP) took on its current form in 2016, inheriting activities from a number of separately administered initiatives. The structure of the program remains similar to the BP’s previous program, but with updated outcomes as follows: Pillar 1 - Capable Institutions 1. GoPNG and ABG institutions are able to carry out high priority tasks that support Bougainville’s development and the post-referendum dialogue: Supporting defined tasks connected with the development of essential institutions, the draw-down of powers, and Post-Referendum Dialogue. Pillar 2 - Economic Development 2. ABG and business associations jointly plan and implement initiatives to improve the private sector environment for inclusive economic development: Measures to improve the environment for private sector development and deepen the dialogue between the government and the private sector will be promoted through technical assistance. 3. Women and men engaged in primary production have increased incomes and benefit from inclusive associations and cooperatives: The current agricultural value chain activities will be continued, focussing on improving cocoa quality and linking producers to markets. Women and men engaged in primary production have increased incomes and benefit from inclusive associations and cooperatives: The current agricultural value chain activities will be continued, focussing on improving cocoa quality and linking producers to markets. This objective must be complemented with an economic inclusive policy and strategy that helps the interest of women, youth and people living with disabilities to actively take part and benefit from the economic activities. Pillar 3 - Stronger Communities 4. Community, youth and women’s groups collaborate effectively to establish sustainable community assets, deliver services and advocate for their target groups: Formerly the peace-building component, activities will include continuation and expansion of the existing successful community grants program, initiatives to provide skills and foster networks for youth, and community infrastructure. Pillar Crosscutting Outcome: 5. Women increasingly participate in decision making and take on leadership roles in civic, economic and political spaces: The program will use the entry points from its range of activities to promote women’s leadership. The BP is part of the Australia PNG Subnational Program (APSP), which is an enabling mechanism comprised of three separately designed programs including: BP, the Western Province Partnership (WPP), the Kokoda Initiative Partnership (KIP), and the Subnational Governance Implementation Plan (SGIP). Each program has its own outcomes, theory of change, operational approach and separate monitoring and evaluation systems. Position Overview The Team Leader, Governance & Institutions (BP Pillar 1) will have responsibility for the BP’s Pillar 1 End of Program Outcomes including: Oversight of long and short-term advisory inputs to: Provide capacity development and institutional strengthening of the ABG’s central agencies and other priority departments. Engage with the ABG and the GoPNG counterparts – including the National Coordination Office of Bougainville Affairs (NCOBA) – as they jointly and progressively implement the draw down of legislative powers. Provide workforce capacity development, recruitment support, and structured senior leaders trainings. Support high-level intergovernmental dialogue and cooperation between GoPNG and ABG. Overseeing the redesign and delivery of the Partnerships electoral support to Bougainville, including overseeing grant or contract administration, advisory inputs and surge support delivered via the Partnership. Building the capacity of key ABG and partner stakeholders to carry out identified governance and institutional strengthening objectives as agreed through the Pillar 1 Technical Working Group. Operating in a senior leadership role, support the BP Director, lead BP Advisers, and manage BP staff in the implementation, management and coordination of the Partnership in consultation with the program’s primary counterparts. Ensuring Pillar 1 workstreams work in an adaptive manner, with the strategic ability to pivot program approaches in line with the political economy in consultation with, and at the direction of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), and BP management. Assist DFAT and MFAT to build, manage, and leverage a network of relationships and stakeholders that are central to the Bougainville Partnership. Demonstrate a visible and systematic commitment to achieving gender equality through the APSP and for achieving against agreed gender equality performance objectives. The Team Leader will report to the Director (BP). Key Responsibilities Specific responsibilities for the Team Leader include: Partnership Management Work collaboratively with the Director (BP) to deliver the key objectives and strategies of the BP’s Pillar 1 design: Contribute to the design and review of BP’s Pillar 1 (Governance & Institutions) Lead the strategic direction and sound management of the Pillar 1 team and collaborate with relevant external stakeholders to ensure a participatory approach to delivery of Pillar 1 activities. Maintain and improve program systems to ensure the sound delivery, management, and administration of personnel and activities. Maintain program management oversight of all Pillar 1 approved activities. As relevant, engage in dialogue on program related matters with ABG, GoPNG, DFAT, MFAT, sector stakeholders and other partners. Provide operational advice to the Director on emerging issues as they arise, including advising on possible ways to address issues and mitigate risks and take an active role in their resolution. Planning and Policy Support the development of appropriate Pillar 1 policies as required for submission to the Director and manage implementation of those approved policies and operational procedures. Support the development and implementation of appropriate program policies, plans and special projects that contributes to Bougainville Partnership outcomes. Team Management Plan, direct and coordinate the work of Pillar 1 staff and advisors including supervision and evaluation, training and team building. Monitor and mentor the continued improvements in performance to ensure adequate and qualified staff carries out program activities. Manage the selection, procurement and delivery of other forms of non-advisory technical assistance as required. Provide leadership, coaching and mentoring to staff to foster a cohesive, shared and unified approach to program implementation with strategic partners, counterparts and implementing partners. Operations Compliance Ensure key Pillar 1 planning documents are up-to-date and in accordance with the priorities of the Partnership, as agreed with the Director. Ensure compliance with the Abt operations manual and Abt financial controls manual Financial Management and Grants Management Collaborate with the Finance and Operations Lead to ensure: Pillar 1 financial documents and controls are up-to-date and in accordance with the priorities of the Partnership and as agreed with the Director. Financial procedures and controls for the implementation of approved Pillar 1 activities, contracts and grants are established, managed and administered in accordance with Abt standards of transparency, accountability and fiduciary risk. Regular fiduciary risk reviews of approved projects to ensure accountable standards of management and administration. Risk Management and Security Collaborate with the Operations Lead and Security Manager to facilitate: Pillar 1 annual risk and security planning; review risk and security plans quarterly and undertake ad-hoc risk and security assessments as required. The development of Risk Assessment and Security Plans in accordance with Abt policy with an emphasis on security of personnel and property/assets; regional remote travel; ocean/estuary travel; sensitive localities; and the political economy. Manage implementation and compliance of approved risk and security management plans, ensuring compliance with Abt program risk strategies/plans and security strategies/plans. Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting In collaboration with BP’s MERL Adviser facilitate: Regular monitoring, evaluation and reporting of Pillar 1 activities. The production of analytical and progress reports on Pillar 1 strategies, activities, risks and issues for various stakeholders, including, the Director, DFAT and Technical Working Groups. On-going performance information and data collection to update and maintain relevant Pillar 1 baseline files and contribute to program reports as required. Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion Collaborate with the APSP’s GEDSI Lead and the BP’s GEDSI Manager and GESDI Coordinator to ensure the integration of BP’s GEDSI Strategy into Pillar 1 modalities and activities Demonstrate leadership support for the implementation of key diversity and inclusion policies, including: Gender Equality Policy Respect at Work Policy Flexible Work Policy Paid Parental Leave Policy Compensation Policy Leave Policy Continuous Improvement: Monitor evidence of what works to promote greater gender equity and social inclusion and ensure evidence is translated into changes in implementation. Specific Deliverables Position Specific Deliverables: Timely delivery of high quality, responsive, flexible and within-budget programming for Pillar 1 workstreams as approved by the Director and the Pillar 1 Technical Working Group. Management of key relationships with DFAT, MFAT, the ABG and appropriate departments in the delivery of Pillar 1 activities. Management and implementation of agreed Pillar 1 activities in accordance with the approved BP Annual Work Plan. Monitoring, evaluation and reporting of Pillar 1 activities in alignment with the BP Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Framework. Development of media and communications content for publication in relation to Pillar 1 activities aligned with the BP Communications Strategy. All Pillar 1 risk and fraud issues are proactively identified, reported, and managed following corporate and DFAT policies and procedures Developing and reporting against the Operations Manual Effective management of the Pillar 1 team and stakeholder relationships Effective management of other approved BP activities as relevant and as requested by the Director of the Bougainville Partnership. Key working relationships ABG & GoPNG Senior Staff, Office of the Chief Secretary Senior Staff, Department of Treasury & Finance (DoTF) & Bougainville Tax Office (BTO) Senior Staff, Department of Personnel Management & Administrative Services (DPMAS) Senior Staff, Department of Justice & Legal Services (DJLS) Senior Staff, National Coordination Office of Bougainville Affairs (NCOBA) Bougainville Partnership Director, BP Team Leader, Economic Development (Pillar 2) Team Leader, Stronger Communities (Pillar 3) Finance & Operations Lead Infrastructure & Facilities Lead MERLA Adviser and MERLA Officers GEDSI Manager and GESDI Coordinator Long- and short-term Advisers to: DoTF, BTO, DPMAS, DJLS, NCOBA Primary External Relationships: Australian High Commission (Port Moresby) New Zealand High Commission (Port Moresby) Ninti One About You Qualifications Tertiary qualifications in law, international development, political science, public administration or a related field or equivalent experience Knowledge Demonstrated understanding of sub-national governance in Papua New Guinea or Pacific region. Knowledge of legislative and policy development in Papua New Guinea or the Pacific region. Knowledge of the unique autonomy arrangements applicable to the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. Knowledge of strategic planning, functional analysis, organisational design, organisational governance, capacity building and change management. An understanding of the monitoring, evaluation and reporting, and public diplomacy requirements of Australian/Papua New Guinea Government or donor programs. Skills/Experience At least 5-10 years of governance or international development experience preferably in PNG or regional Melanesia Excellent political economy analytical skills that are regularly applied to ensure the Program’s sustained delivery against approved investment designs, strategies and workplans. Ability to understand local contexts and provide advice to donors on adaptive programming to ensure investments remain aligned with partner’s priorities. Excellent representational skills that ensure key relationships are well maintained with senior government officials (national and sub-national), donor partners, implementing partners and civil society. Strong negotiation skills that are applied across various contexts to ensure program continuity and program growth. Experience in monitoring & evaluation of complex government or international development programs with multiple contributing workstreams and providing high-level written reports to management and donors. Demonstrated skills and experience in advancing gender equality and inclusion approaches across workstreams. Exceptional interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to lead and build effective teams, especially in a remote, cross-cultural context. Personal Attributes Delivers Results Builds Internal and External Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty. Develops People Communicates Sets Vision and Direction Demonstrates Sound Financial and Business-Related Practices Builds Teams and Cooperation Promotes Technical Excellence and Quality Promotes Diversity Acts as a Role Model 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: Friday, 23 January 2026, 12PM (Mid-day, local time) #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.

Responsibilities

The Team Leader will oversee the governance and institutional strengthening objectives of the Bougainville Partnership, ensuring effective collaboration with key stakeholders. They will also manage the Pillar 1 team and adapt program approaches in response to the political economy.