PRES+ Program is a regional program designed to support the implementation of the Pacific Regional Development Partnership Plan by providing specialist economic, development, public financial management (PFM), budget support and programming expertise. This expertise supports the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT’s) economic investments in the Pacific, in turn, supporting Pacific partners’ response to complex challenges. PRES+ is an agile program which operates in two layers:

• Standing capacity provided by a Core Team of experts to service the Pacific Economic and Trade Branch (PEB) of the Office of the Pacific (OTP); and

• A buy-in capacity for other areas of DFAT and OTP to access via Additional Service Orders (ASOs). 

PRES+ will build on the success of the Pacific Recovery Economic Support (PRES) Program (2021-2026). PRES delivered 248 activities over the 4.5 years of implementation and provided robust standing technical capacity to DFAT on regional budget support, trade, aviation and economic analysis. An independent evaluation of PRES found that there had been significant achievement towards End of Program Outcomes (EOPOs).

PRES+’s objective is ‘improved quality, performance and inclusivity of OTP’s economic investments.’ PRES+ will achieve this objective and the program goal, via the achievement of two EOPOs:

EOPO 1: Responsive, flexible and high-quality economic advice strengthens development effectiveness in targeted programs in Pacific.

EOPO 2: PRES+ contributes to economic and PFM reforms in Pacific Island Countries (PICs)through technical advice and strengthening the delivery of budget support.

PRES+ will have an increased focus on cross-cutting themes, including gender, youth, people with disabilities, and climate change. Changes in the design of PRES+ will require a shift in program operations and increased focus on communications and public diplomacy.

Adam Smith International (ASI) is responsible for implementing PRES+. 

The PRES+ Advisory Service and Knowledge Manager will work closely with the Deputy Team Leader and DFAT to support the delivery of PRES+, focusing on activity and adviser management. The role manages the PRES+ Tasking Note system, engaging with DFAT on the development and implementation of Tasking Notes and managing advisers throughout that process. The Manager is also responsible for the development of knowledge management products, ensuring that learning developed through PRES+ commissioned activities are shared with DFAT and Pacific stakeholders.

The position is a full-time role, based in Australia (ideally Canberra). The role will require regular travel to Canberra and occasional travel to the Pacific region.

Implementing the Tasking Note system

• Work with the PRES+ Core Team and DFAT to develop and refine the scope and outputs of PRES+ activities.

• Lead PRES+ activity tracking and database management, providing accurate data to inform program reporting, DFAT PERFORMS requirements, and evidence-based decision-making.

• Ensure that agreed approaches to development priorities including gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), climate change, locally led development and First Nations engagement are consistently implemented in the tasking note system and through adviser engagement. 

Managing PRES+ Technical Advisers

• Support the selection of advisers for PRES+ activities, including ensuring that the recruitment and procurement process facilitates diversity in personnel and the supply chain. 

• Manage advisers, ensuring that they are appropriately briefed at the commencement and conclusion of an activity and that reporting and deliverables are of a high quality. 

• Support the development and management of additional services orders (ASOs). Role to be determined by individual ASOs. 

Communications, visibility and public diplomacy

• Support the implementation of the PRES+ Communications Strategy. 

• Work with the PRES+ Core Team to strengthen visibility and profile of PRES+. 

• Support the development of communications products showcasing adviser impact and development outcomes.

• Provide guidance to the Deputy Team Leader on the procurement of an external website where required.

• Manage any external website that may be developed for PRES+.

Knowledge Management

• Manage the PRES+ Hub, and/or its replacement, ensuring that tasking notes and deliverables are uploaded and available to DFAT in a timely manner.

• Develop knowledge products for PRES+, including snapshots of PRES+ deliverables.

Where requested, the Manager will support the implementation of the PRES+ monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) Framework, the GEDSI Strategy and the Climate Change Strategy.

Key Relationships

• Directly reporting to the PRES+ Deputy Team Leader. 

• Works with the PRES+ Core Team, DFAT, PRES+ advisers and other stakeholders as required.

• Represent PRES+ at various internal and external meetings, as needed.  

Key Performance Indicators

• Responsiveness to requests from DFAT and PIC government counterparts throughout the life of the program.    

• Strong Adviser Performance Assessments.

• Exceptional relationships with DFAT and other counterparts evidenced by positive feedback.

• Strong implementation of PRES+ Tasking Note and adviser engagement processes. 

• 5+ years of professional experience in activity development, adviser management and/or operations management in international development, preferably in the Pacific.

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

• Experience developing and sharing knowledge products and/or implementing communications strategies. 

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

• Experience working with donor-funded programs.

• Understanding of international and multilateral donor systems and their requirements.   

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

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

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