About Palladium

Palladium is a global leader in the design, development, and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social, climate and economic value.  We work with governments, businesses, and investors to help solve the world's most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 4,000 employees operating in 90-plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies, the environment, and, most importantly, people's lives.

The Program

The Australia Awards Global Support Mechanism (AAGSM) is an initiative designed to enhance the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) international scholarship program delivery by providing operational, technical and analytical services to DFAT and the broader scholarship delivery network. The AAGSM consists of the Program Support Unit (PSU) - responsible for delivery of operational and technical services and the Research and Analytical Support Unit (RASU) – responsible for delivery of analytical and research services. Palladium delivers the AAGSM PSU and cooperates with DFAT to ensure effective functioning with the RASU.

Australia Awards Fellowships are a key modality of DFAT’s international scholarship program delivered under the AAGSM PSU. Australia Awards Fellowships target senior and mid-career officials and professionals who can advance development outcomes in priority areas and increase the institutional capacity of partner countries through their leadership. Through Australia Awards Fellowships, Australian organisations can apply for funding to host and support a range of professional development activities (that do not lead to formal qualifications) from 2 to 52 weeks. 

The Role

The Grants Officer, Australia Awards Fellowships will provide  high quality and efficient administrative and business support services for the effective delivery of Australia Awards Fellowships.  

Success will look like:

• Effectively administering Grants consistent with the principles of the Commonwealth Grant Rules and Principles, DFAT’s International Development Programming Guide, the Australia Awards Fellowships Guidelines, Standard Operating Procedures and all other relevant DFAT policies and guidelines.
• Outcome and stakeholder focused delivery of the Fellowships lifecycle.
• This includes:
  • providing timely enquiries management and administrative support covering Fellowships policy and processes, welfare incident management and SmartyGrants administration.
  • supporting development of annual round design, guidelines and supporting policies. Facilitating engagement with DFAT Posts, Thematic Areas and Australian Host Organisations (AHOs) including supporting the development of new partnerships.    
  • coordinating AHO selection including undertaking eligibility, due diligence assessments and probity, facilitating organisational capability assessments, providing guidance and coordinating application scoring and shortlisting by DFAT Posts and Thematic Areas, coordinating moderation by external assessors, supporting the Selection Panel Secretariat and development of selection reports, and notifying applicants of the outcome.
  • grants administration and management: including grant agreement generation, due diligence and processing, grant amendments/variations, coordinating with the finance team on funds disbursement and acquittals, ensuring grant agreements are finalised and cancelling grant agreements where required.
• Supporting development of Fellowships delivery principles, standards, policies, process maps and templates to provide a consistent, user friendly and measurable service experience to Fellowship stakeholders.
• Building and maintaining effective working relationships with primary Fellowship delivery partners including DFAT Posts, Geographic and Thematic Areas and current and prospective AHOs.
• Effectively administering each Fellowship round through SmartyGrants including managing user access, managing stages and tasking for each round; developing and testing forms, template and reports, managing applications and assessments; quality assurance of data entry by AHO, maintaining required records and reports including by AHOs.
• Actively contributing to Fellowship lifecycle monitoring, evaluation and reporting activities and coordinating with RASU to ensure effective Fellowship analysis and reporting.

About you

Leveraging your expertise in international program management, you will contribute:

• Demonstrated experience in the administration of international programs, DFAT program experience would be highly valued. Similarly, experience in managing grants, scholarships, or fellowships would be highly advantageous.
• Proven skills implementing high quality program management systems, procedures and practices, with the ability to identify continuous improvements.
• Proficiency in the use of information system/s for efficient and seamless program administration. SmartyGrants system experience is desirable.
• A positive client-focused approach, with the ability to quickly and efficiently address client issues, meet tight deadlines, and understand users’ needs.
• Effective communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills for engaging with diverse stakeholders.

To Apply

Please submit your application online, including your CV and brief cover letter, outlining your suitability in line with the requirements of the position.

Closing date: Wednesday 02 July 2025, 11.59pm AEST

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.