About the Program 

Aviation is an important enabler of economic activity and human development in Pacific Island Countries. It connects remote Pacific Island countries to the world and each other, facilitating tourism, trade, and access to health and education services. 

Australia – Pacific Partnerships for Aviation (P4A) seeks to improve efficiency and effectiveness in decision-making, governance, safety and reliability, and coordination in the sector. 

P4A is being delivered through three key outcome areas, including (but not limited to):

1. A stronger enabling environment, including improved management, regulations, policies, and plans that strengthen the Pacific aviation sector.

2. Improved Safety, Quality and Reliability outcomes through strengthened technical capability and more common approaches across multiple countries 

3. Greater coordination, cooperation, to maintain connectivity between Pacific Island countries and strengthen regional and bilateral coordination and cooperation in regulatory and operational areas.

4. P4A will also mainstream cross-cutting sectors to ensure outcomes strengthen child protection and safeguarding, climate change resilience and adaptation, support locally led leadership and improve Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) outcomes. 

P4A is currently a five year program directed by DFAT with implementation support by Adam Smith International. DFAT is already delivering numerous P4A activities.

Duties and Responsibilities 

The duties and responsibilities of the Technical Advisory Lead include but not limited to:

Management and Coordination 

• Lead and manage the Technical Advisory Panel, including developing tasking notes, quality-assuring outputs, and ensuring compliance with advisor reporting obligations. 

• Co-ordinate across the P4A team to achieve best possible technical support effects. Work closely with the P4A Team Leader and relevant program partners on program implementation and coordination matters, including alignment and collaboration with relevant DFAT-funded projects and programs.  

• Support dialogue and engagement across P4A, particularly regarding program and performance outcomes, capacity development, GEDSI, MEL, and other issues of strategic importance.

• Work closely with and further enable and support existing Aviation Policy Advisors, Aviation Technical Advisors and other staff already leading P4A activities in the Pacific. 

Technical Support & Oversight

• Where directed provide aviation technical advice across the program. May be required to provide advice on aviation policy, aviation systems and processes, aviation financing and planning, aviation reform and leadership in the Pacific aviation sector.

• Attend and (where directed) lead discussions with stakeholders on a range of aviation matters and P4A activities.

Support the production of key deliverables 

• Provide technical advisory support to the development of deliverables as agreed. 

• Play a lead role with the Comms, Performance and Inclusion Lead and Operations Lead in delivering on the program’s reporting requirements 

Program Management and Administration  

• Work with the P4A Team Leader and Operations Lead to ensure program risks are identified and monitored, the program risk management framework is regularly updated, and adequate mitigation measures are put in place. 

• Lead the development of Adviser Performance Assessments (APA) annually for all short-term advisers (STA) advisers. 

• Together with the operations lead, manage the spending against the annual work plan, particularly STA costs. 

• Ensure compliance with the Operations Manual and all relevant policies by P4A STAs. 

• Support security management and responses to emergencies, applying P4A’s Security Plan as required. 

Other

• Participate in regular team meetings and contribute to activity-level decision-making under the Program

• Act as a trusted representative of P4A, displaying professionalism and discretion in all interactions with the P4A team, partners and the wider public.

• Any other duties as identified by DFAT, P4A Team Leader and ASI-PD/PM

Key Deliverables 

Provide technical input to: Inception Phase Workplan & Budget, Way of Working Plan, Strategic Communications Strategy, Country Engagement Strategies, Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion Strategy, Pacific Skills and Education Strategy, Disaster Preparedness and Response, Risk Framework and Management Plan, Program Implementation Plan, Inception Report, Six Monthly Reports, Annual Reports, Annual Plans, Program Completion Report             

Key Relationships 

• Directly reporting to P4A Team Leader 

• Works with and receives strategic guidance from DFAT and specified stakeholders.

• Represent P4A at various internal and external meetings, through the provision of aviation technical advice. Lead and facilitate the P4A Technical Reference Group. 

• Direct management of the Technical Advisory Panel

Key Performance Indicators 

• Timely delivery of high-quality contract outputs. 

• Effective delivery of results as agreed in the program plans.  

• Assess and manage risk appropriately.

• Responsiveness to requests from DFAT and PICs governments counterparts throughout the life of the program.   

• Strong Partner Performance Assessments and Adviser Performance Assessments.   

Strong relationships built with DFAT, partner governments counterparts evidenced by positive feedback. 

Required Qualifications and Experience 

• Relevant qualifications and work experience commensurate to the role. 10+ years of professional experience in a leadership role in an aviation sector, preferably in the Pacific. 

• Ideal experience working with donor-funded programs.

• Ideal understanding of international and multilateral donor systems and their requirements. 

• Demonstrated experience in safeguards assessment and management, including PSEAH, child protection, climate and disaster risk reduction and environmental safeguards. 

• Knowledge of key cross-cutting issues and their application in development programs, particularly GEDSI and climate change. 

• Proven experience in contributing to strategic direction and providing management to multi-disciplinary teams in a cross-cultural context. 

• Exceptional written communication skills, with demonstrated experience delivering high-quality outputs..  

• Exceptional interpersonal and cross-cultural skills and the ability to develop highly productive relationships within a large team and across key stakeholders.   

• Demonstrated high-level organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks and competing priorities within timeframes. 

• Successful change management and problem-solving skills and the capacity to resolve conflict