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 Trades (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 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

• Respond to DFAT and PIC government counterpart requests within agreed timeframes, with urgent requests acknowledged within one business day and routine requests progressed in line with agreed workplans.

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date Tasking Note records, activity data and adviser information, with required updates completed within agreed internal reporting cycles and available to support DFAT PERFORMS and program reporting.

• Ensure Tasking Notes are developed, scoped and progressed in accordance with agreed PRES+ processes, including documented consideration of GEDSI, climate change, locally led development and First Nations engagement where relevant.

• Ensure advisers are appropriately briefed at commencement and completion of activities, with deliverables reviewed for quality, relevance and timeliness before submission to DFAT.

• Achieve consistently positive adviser performance assessments and stakeholder feedback, with issues identified early, escalated where required, and corrective actions implemented in a timely manner.

• Ensure tasking notes, deliverables and relevant knowledge products are uploaded to the PRES+ Hub, or its replacement, within agreed timeframes and are accessible to DFAT and authorised stakeholders.

• Develop practical knowledge and communications products that capture activity learning, adviser impact and development outcomes, with products delivered in accordance with the PRES+ Communications Strategy and agreed workplan.

• Maintain constructive working relationships with DFAT, the PRES+ Core Team, advisers and other stakeholders, evidenced through regular engagement, clear communication and positive feedback during review points.

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

• Demonstrated experience coordinating activity design, tasking note development, adviser engagement and activity tracking systems, including maintaining accurate records to support program reporting, decision-making and accountability.

• Strong knowledge management capability, including experience developing, curating and sharing practical knowledge products, learning materials, activity snapshots and communications products that promote program learning, visibility and stakeholder engagement.

• Exceptional written communication skills, with demonstrated experience preparing high-quality adviser briefs, activity documentation, progress updates, knowledge products and stakeholder communications.

• Demonstrated high-level organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks, competing priorities, deadlines and stakeholders in a complex program environment.

• Experience working with donor-funded programs, preferably those funded by DFAT or other bilateral and multilateral development partners.

• Sound understanding of international development programming, donor compliance requirements, monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks, results-based management approaches and program reporting requirements.

• Knowledge of key cross-cutting issues and their application in development programs, particularly gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), climate change, locally led development, First Nations engagement, safeguarding and inclusive economic development.

• Experience supporting adviser selection, onboarding, briefing, deliverable review and performance feedback processes, including coordinating technical inputs from diverse advisers and stakeholders.

• Strong digital literacy and experience managing document repositories, activity databases, collaboration platforms and/or knowledge hubs to support information sharing and program delivery.

• Exceptional interpersonal and cross-cultural skills, with the ability to build productive relationships with DFAT, advisers, program teams, Pacific stakeholders and other partners.

• Strong problem-solving skills, sound judgement and the ability to respond constructively to changing priorities, emerging issues and stakeholder needs.