Program Officer, Australia Awards – Maldives

Job Description

Program Officer, Australia Awards – Maldives

About the Company
Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 4,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.

About the Program
Australia Awards are provided to build the skills and knowledge of individuals so that they can contribute to their country’s development, and to support the ongoing development of links between Australia and the countries to which it provides development assistance. The Australi a Awards are an important part of the Australian Government’s focus on public and economic diplomacy, and provide long-term Scholarships, Fellowships and Short Courses, supported by a range of other capacity-building and training modalities.

Australia Awards – South Asia & Mongolia is administered by Palladium on behalf of the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The Program goal is to support eight partner countries – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – in achieving their development goals through education and knowledge transfer, and to build enduring relationships with Australia that advance mutual interests.

Australia Awards – South Asia & Mongolia is a multi-country program with service delivery offices currently in Colombo, Dhaka, Islamabad, Kathmandu, Thimphu and Ulaanbaatar – and, following an appointment to this position, now in Malé. Leadership, c oordination, and support are provided by “the Hub” – a regional team based in Colombo and Australia.

The first resident Australian High Commission in the Republic of Maldives opened in July 2023. With 700 Australian Awards alumni making significant contributions to Maldives in a range of fields, the High Commission is now stepping up the Australia Awards in-country presence and support.

Purpose of Role
The Program Officer – Maldives will support the Australian High Commission and the Colombo-based Country Program Manager (CPM) – Sri Lanka & Maldives in the effective and efficient coordination of Australia Awards in Maldives. This will include providing support in managing Australian Professional Opportunities (APOs), engaging with alumni, communicating with a range of stakeholders, and other Australia Awards activities as assigned by the CPM.

The role is part-time, fixed-term contract until 30 June 2027.

Location
The position is home-based in Malé, Maldives.

Primary Responsibilities:
The primary responsibilities of the Program Officer are broadly described as follows:

• Contribute to Australia Awards Scholarships information sessions and support dissemination of promotional materials to potential applicants.
• Provide logistical and administrative support for Scholarship selection interviews.
• Manage Post-initiated APOs, including providing visa and pre-departure briefings for mobilising recipients.
• Manage the successful delivery of alumni engagement activities as agreed in the annual country plan.
• Support Post on specific alumni events and activities as requested.
• Provide guidance and administrative support to Maldives-Australia Alumni association in the delivery of agreed activities as outlines in their annual plan.
• Maintain the alumni database to ensure alumni details are updated and current.
• Work with Post and with the Program’s Communications team in developing stories and materials, including social media posts, regarding Program activities and alumni achievements and success stories.
• Maintain contact with organisations relevant to Australia Awards’ mission in Maldives, including organisations representing the interests of marginalised groups.
• Support the Program’s commitment to gender equality, disability inclusion and First Nations engagement in all Program components.
• Participate actively in relevant training as required.
• Participate in the biannual Alumni Development Impact Survey by distributing surveys and interviewing alumni.
• Contribute to continuous improvement in service delivery and Program performance.

Reporting/working relationships
The Program Officer reports to the Country Program Manager – Sri Lanka & Maldives.

Key working relationships include: the Colombo-based Program Officers, the Australian High Commission in Maldives, and Maldives-Australia Alumni (MAA) association.

Minimum requirements and key selection criteria

Essential

• Excellent communication skills and experience of working effectively across cultures
• Demonstrated ability in client and stakeholder relationship management
• High level written and verbal English language skills
• A high standard of computer literacy, including the use of Microsoft Office, internet and email; and experience in data entry and data management
• Demonstrated sensitivity to gender, disability and social inclusion
• High ethical standards and a commitment to integrity and professionalism
• Relevant tertiary qualifications, such as an undergraduate degree in Development Studies, Development Communications, Business Management or a related social science discipline.

Desired

• Prior experience on a donor-funded – preferably DFAT-funded – program.
• Study/work experience in Australia.
• Understanding of Maldives’ development priorities.

Interested? Please submit your CV through the Palladium International Careers Page (https://thepalladiumgroup.com/careers).

Applications close on Tuesday, 1 October 2024.

Only successful applicants will be contacted.

Palladium is a child-safe organisation, and screens applicants for suitability to work with children.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gende r identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.

Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventive action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.