Job Title: Social Research Coordinator
Project Name: Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program (PLMSP)
Job type: Full-time employee
Location of Position: Preferred location: Brisbane (Meanjin), Australia (hybrid working arrangements available). Canberra (Ngunnawal Country), Australia, Timor-Leste or Pacific locations may be considered for exceptional candidates. (minimum 50% in-office presence required).
Reporting to: Manager: Social Research
Remuneration: In line with market rates.
Indicative LOE/Time Frame:  Contract until September 30, 2028
Citizenship: Applicants must have the legal right to work in the country where they are applying to be based. For Australia-based positions, applicants must hold valid Australian working rights. For Timor-Leste or Pacific-based positions, applicants must have valid working rights in their nominated country of employment.
Language Requirements English (Fluent)
Application Deadline  11:59pm AEST, Sunday 16 August 2026

Application Instructions 

1. A cover letter is mandatory to be considered. Cover letters should effectively align your skills and experiences with the specific job responsibilities outlined in the position's description, demonstrating your aptitude and enthusiasm for the role, and current availability.
2. Click the "Apply now" link to upload your cover letter and resume.
3. Only successful candidates will be contacted. No phone calls please.

Alinea is an international development consultancy providing technical and management expertise that helps people improve their lives. We work with governments, investors, companies, and communities to create lasting change. Over 38 years, Alinea has successfully delivered more than 1000 projects worldwide. Alinea International does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment and hiring process. All offers of employment or job opportunities with Alinea International that include any form of a request for payment of fees or collect information on bank accounts are fraudulent. Any requests for such payment or information should be refused and reported to your local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action and to Alinea International.

DEIAB Statement Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Belonging 
At Alinea International we value diversity, equity, inclusivity, accessibility and belonging in everything we do. We are an equal opportunity employer opposed to all forms of discrimination. We actively seek and encourage applications from people of diverse backgrounds recognizing that an inclusive workforce enriches our organization and achieves smarter, more innovative results.  

Protection     
Alinea is committed to the protection of children and vulnerable adults. Due to the nature of our work, all candidates will be subject to due diligence checks and extensive background checks where appropriate. 

Project Description
The Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program (PLMSP) supports the Australian Government's Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme by strengthening labour mobility outcomes for workers, governments and communities across the Pacific and Timor-Leste. Delivered on behalf of DFAT, PLMSP provides support across capacity building, training, research, monitoring and evaluation, information systems and communications. The program works to maximise economic and social benefits for participating countries while supporting inclusive and sustainable labour mobility outcomes.
 
About the work
You will support the delivery of innovative social research that informs labour mobility policy and practice across the Pacific region. Working closely with the Manager: Social Research and broader MERL team, you will coordinate research studies, analyse evidence, engage stakeholders and help ensure research findings are translated into meaningful action. The role provides opportunities for regional travel, stakeholder engagement and professional growth within a collaborative international development program.
 
The Role
Primary Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of the Social Research Coordinator include:  
 

• Support the design and ethical administration of research studies on labour mobility using a range of data collection methods and tools (e.g. talanoa / tok stori, interviews, focus group discussions, surveys, desk reviews). Study themes may include - and are not limited to - disability and social inclusion within labour mobility, skills gains, economic and social reintegration, and gendered dynamics of labour mobility.
• Independently undertake high quality and policy-oriented literature reviews related to the social and economic dimensions of labour mobility in the Pacific and Timor-Leste.
• Support the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data from a range of sources to identify key trends, themes and findings across a range of labour mobility issues, and identify insights that inform client decision-making and policy development.
• Coordinate and support activities that facilitate the 'uptake' of PLMSP and other study findings, including to inform program implementation and policy development.
• Produce a range of compelling research study outputs, including reports, briefings, presentations, and inputs into PLMSP performance documents. Ensure that the outputs are appropriate for the intended audience and meet their information needs.
• Support and participate in discussions with DFAT and PALM scheme stakeholders, helping to build strong relationships and respond to stakeholder needs.
• Organise briefings/trainings for the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning team on various aspects of research design, data analysis, research ethics and research utilisation.
• Take responsibility for coordinating the operational delivery of research activities, working closely with MERL colleagues and PLMSP Operations to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget and in accordance with PLMSP systems, policies and quality standards.
• Ensure that data is stored in way that maintains confidentiality and data security, and support PLMSP and consultant researchers to do the same.
• Ensure that cross-cutting priorities, particularly in relation to GEDSI, are mainstreamed in all activities and outputs.
• Understand how innovation and technology shape the way we work and introduce new ways of working through AI, data and technology.

Relationships, Communication & Development 

• Develop and maintain client and stakeholder relationships across assignments and maintain professional, respectful and effective relationships with your colleagues.
• Proactively lead internal initiatives to seek improvements, encouraging team participation and sharing of new ideas.
• Train or buddy more junior colleagues; as well as support the onboarding and training of project teams on company policies and guidelines.
• Focus on self-development by assessing individual contribution against the capability framework, welcoming and embracing regular feedback from others and developing skills in providing balanced feedback to others.
• Create, promote and maintain an equitable, diverse and inclusive work environment through respecting the views of others, listening with empathy and resolving differences in a positive and constructive manner through applying effective conflict resolution techniques.

Other 

• Other tasks as reasonably requested by the Manager: Social Research.
• Travel within Australia and across the Pacific. Approximately 4 trips per year of up to 2 weeks to support research studies.
• Foster equality, diversity and inclusion, drawing on capabilities from within the country/region wherever possible.
• Comply with, and advocate for, DFAT's policies in all aspects of implementation, including gender, disability, fraud and anti-corruption, PSEAH, child protection and environmental and social safeguards. This includes incorporating policy principles into planning and everyday work, promoting process improvements, and reporting concerns to your Line Manager or our Integrity Hotline.
• Operate with high levels of integrity, consistent with the intent of DFAT's Ethics, Integrity and Professional Standards Policy Manual.

Reporting Requirements
This role reports into the Manager: Social Research. Reporting requirements may include but are not limited to: 

• Attendance at team meetings, other requested meetings and regional meetings (e.g. townhalls).
• Regular (minimum of monthly) one to one meetings with your line manager on the status of personal Key Result Areas (KRAs), career development discussions and any other matters.
• We encourages flexible work practices to enhance wellbeing, productivity and team culture. For this role, we require that employees maintain an in-office presence for at least 50% of their working week.  For example, if an employee works five days a week, they must spend at least three days physically in the office.

Required Qualifications:   
Essential 

• Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline such as international development, sociology, anthropology, political science, or in another methodology-related field.  
• At least 5 years' experience supporting and coordinating qualitative or mixed methods research projects or evaluations.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate research study logistics including preparation of research designs, ethics documentation, project budgets, terms of reference for consultants, participant recruitment, and internal reporting inputs.
• Experience conducting gender-sensitive semi-structured interviews, talanoa/tok stori, and surveys with culturally diverse stakeholder groups.
• Experience analysing large quantities of qualitative data using qualitative data analysis software such as NVivo.  
• Demonstrated ability to independently conduct high quality literature reviews and synthesise evidence from a range of sources for policymaker audiences. 
• Exceptional report-writing skills, with the ability to analyse complex information and present findings, recommendations and insights in a clear, evidence-based and accessible manner for government stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience of working in multi-disciplinary, cross-cultural research teams. 
• Ability to manage competing priorities, manage complex logistics and to meet deadlines. 

Desirable 

• Experience working in Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste
• Experience supporting policy-focused research or evaluations
• Familiarity with labour mobility, migration or workforce development programs