About the Program

Palladium International Pty Ltd is the Managing Contractor for the Australian Government’s Humanitarian Logistics Capability (HLC). The objective of the Humanitarian Logistics Capability is to facilitate the timely, effective, and flexible delivery of the Australian Government’s humanitarian assistance and emergency relief program around the world. 

Through the HLC program, Palladium delivers six domains of capability:

• Procurement of humanitarian and emergency relief supplies and equipment
• Storage and handling of pre-positioned supplies and equipment
• Specialised logistics personnel and expertise
• Specialised logistics and transport capabilities with a global reach
• Offshore deployment support services
• Consular crisis management capabilities.

Through the Humanitarian Logistics Capability contract (HLC) Palladium provides high quality, multifaceted, flexible and responsive project management and humanitarian supply chain solutions in support of the Commonwealth of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Humanitarian Emergency Relief activities.

The Humanitarian Logistics Capability Contract is comprised of three components as follows:
Component 1: Core Logistics Management Resources – daily contract management
Component 2: Warehouse Management Services - for DFAT and Humanitarian Partner relief supplies
Component 3: Logistics Operations Services - in-country support for the Australian Government’s emergency humanitarian responses and logistics activities.

Purpose of Role

The Response Manager is a member of the HLC leadership team and is responsible predominantly for Component 3 of the HLC contract.

This position requires a dedicated professional with excellent program management, leadership, and communication skills, with extensive experience related to the delivery of complex logistics programs in an operational and/or humanitarian response environment.

The Response Manager leads the planning and implementation of sophisticated operational activity in support of global emergency humanitarian responses. They are the HLC incident controller, during a sudden onset response, coordinating HLCs response, providing technical advice, ensuring the safety and well-being of all personnel and managing stakeholders. During business as usual the Response Manager leads strategic direction to ensure HLC’s response team is prepared for future responses including undertaking simulation and training activities.

The Response Manager must work collaboratively with the Warehouse Manager (Stockholding, Planning, Dispatch and Replenishment), and draw on the capabilities available from Components of the HLC to effectively deliver Logistics Operations Services.

Location

The role is required to be based at the HLC Project Office in Pinkenba, Brisbane, Australia.

Primary Responsibilities:

The primary responsibilities of the Response Manager can be broadly described as follows:

• Lead, support and assist specialist logistics teams to deliver humanitarian relief operations, including directing the activities of Australia based and internationally based response teams to provide operational support to partner government agencies and humanitarian partners.
• Provide leadership, support and direction to field support operations and teams involved humanitarian response activities, from project start up to close.
• Lead client liaison throughout the entirety of the given Humanitarian Response, managing HLC communications between the client (DFAT) and all relevant stakeholders including humanitarian partners and Australian Defence Force representatives.
•  Lead and manage other humanitarian and logistics support services from time to time.
• Review and Approve project plans, task/service orders and project budgets in consultation with the client and HLC Team Leader / Director.
• Oversee and manage project delivery, implementation, timelines and delivery expectations of multiple projects with a strong focus on contract management and financial management requirements.
• Support the production and review of high-quality reports, strategy documents and presentations for clients.
• Design and develop, implement and ensure compliance with Standard Operating Procedures for response operations.
• Monitor and ensure Response Team compliance with DFAT and Palladium QMS policies and procedures, along with industry legislation, regulations, and codes across import and export operations to and from Australia and other regions of the world.
• Ensure response team compliance with Work Health and Safety policy and procedures safeguarding the safety and well-being of all personnel.
• Ensure project readiness through simulations, exercises or training to test emergency response preparedness.
• Ensure HLC always has a deployment ready Response Pool of suitably qualified and vetted personnel, which is inclusive and has a gender balance – both leads and admin.
• Develop, maintain and direct in-country logistics support services and networks to support current and future operational activities.
• Jointly manage project finances, project governance and contract performance reporting as required, in collaboration with the Team Leader/Director of the Humanitarian Logistics Capability.
• Be prepared to work long and abnormal hours in support of a Sudden Onset Humanitarian Response, including the potential for national or international travel.
• Flexibility to act as a Duty Officer or Point of Contact for HLC operations.
• Perform any reasonable task requested by the Team Leader/Director and / or Deputy Director.

Reporting Requirements

The role reports to the Deputy Director (in their absence the Team Leader/Director). Reporting requirements may include but are not limited to:

• Attendance at weekly/monthly management team meetings
• Provision of regular updates to the Team Leader/Director
• Support the M&E team in the development of contract reporting
• Other reporting as requested.

Relationships

The role liaises at a senior level with clients, foreign and domestic government officials, corporate services, project team members, colleagues, professional service providers, suppliers, and other stakeholders as required.  

Authority Level

• Autonomy for project outcomes, with appropriate consultation with the Team Leader/Director.
• The role will be required to analyse and make sound recommendations to HLC Leadership.

Minimum education and experience required

• A degree in a relevant discipline and / or relevant experience within an international development, logistics, consulting, or project management.
• Formal qualification or equivalent experience in Australasia Inter-Agency Incident Management (AIIMS) System, Staff Officer System, or equivalent.
• Demonstrated experience in an incident controller position, in a fast-moving, high-pressure environment.
• Hold or have the ability to gain an NV1 Security Clearance is highly desirable.
• Substantial leadership experience in logistics or humanitarian operations.
• Demonstrated project management experience, including strong financial management skills.
• Ability to develop collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders and to be a team player.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrate initiative to create solutions to complex client or project challenges in difficult environments.
• Flexibility to travel to various locations throughout the APAC region.
   

How to Apply

Please submit your CV and Cover Letter through the Palladium International Careers Page (https://thepalladiumgroup.com/careers).

Please note - we are only accepting applications from job seekers with full working rights within their location. Applicants must have eligibility to work and live in Australia.

We are not accepting resumes from recruitment agencies for this role.

Applications close on Sunday, 1 September 2024 and will be assessed on a rolling basis.

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, gender 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 preventative 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.