About Palladium
Palladium is a global development and consulting firm, part of the GISI Consulting Group, working alongside some of the world’s leading project management and engineering organisations. We partner with governments, businesses, investors and communities to design and deliver complex programs that create lasting impact. With a presence across more than 90 countries, Palladium offers the opportunity to work on meaningful challenges, alongside talented colleagues, in environments where your work can truly make a difference.

About The Program 
INOVASI (Innovation for Indonesia’s School Children) is a flagship partnership between the Governments of Australia and Indonesia that supports improvements in primary education and foundational learning outcomes for Indonesian children. Working with government at national and sub-national levels, the program strengthens education policy, systems and teaching practice to improve literacy, numeracy and character development. Through evidence-based, locally led approaches, INOVASI helps identify, test and scale effective education solutions while promoting inclusion, gender equality and sustainable system reform. Operating across six provinces and IKN, the program is helping build stronger education systems that deliver lasting benefits for Indonesian children

The Program is implemented by Palladium on behalf of DFAT.

About the Role
The Head of Operations is responsible for leading the effective and efficient implementation and management of national and sub-national operations, ensuring high-quality operational support for program implementation, sound operational decision-making and approvals, and compliance with approved program plans and Palladium, DFAT and Government of Indonesia requirements.

Working with children 
Is this position likely to come into contact with children?               ☒ Yes               ☐ No 

High-Level Responsibilities
1. Lead Program Operations

• Provide leadership and oversight of all operational functions, including HR, Finance, Procurement, Administration, Grants and IT.Ensure operational services effectively support program implementation and comply with Palladium, DFAT and
• Government of Indonesia requirements.

2. Manage and Develop Operational Teams

• Lead and support the Operations Manager, Finance Manager, HR Coordinator and their teams.
• Drive performance, coordination, professional development and continuous improvement across operations.

3. Workforce Planning and Organisational Readiness

• Lead workforce planning, resourcing and succession planning across the program.
• Ensure adequate staffing, business continuity and operational readiness across national and provincial teams.
• Provide temporary oversight of key operational functions when leadership vacancies occur.

4. Safety, Security and Business Continuity

• Lead implementation of safety and security arrangements.
• Maintain business continuity and emergency management plans.
• Ensure preparedness for security incidents, disruptions and emergency situations.

5. Risk, Compliance and Governance

• Ensure compliance with contractual, financial, procurement, safeguarding and operational requirements.
• Monitor and address operational risks and escalate serious compliance, fraud or safeguarding matters when required.

6. Strengthen Operational Systems

• Oversee operational policies, procedures, systems and workflow improvements.
• Maintain and improve the INOVASI Operations Manual and operational processes to enhance efficiency and consistency.

7. Financial and Operational Oversight

• Support operational planning, budgeting and reporting.
• Oversee key financial reporting obligations, including Government of Indonesia and DFAT submissions.

Please refer to the Terms of Reference to learn more about the role: ToR Head of Operations, INOVASI.pdf

About You
The Head of Operations will possess the following qualifications and experience:

•  Relevant tertiary qualification in management, business administration, finance, development, public administration or a related field; postgraduate qualification desirable;
•  At least 10–15 years of relevant experience in operational, finance, procurement, grants, administration or program management roles, preferably on donor-funded development programs; experience with DFAT-funded programs is an advantage;
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-disciplinary operations teams and coordinating operational support across national and sub-national offices;
• Strong understanding of operational compliance, delegated authorities, procurement, financial controls, HR processes, risk management and fraud, safeguarding and anti-corruption requirements;
• Experience working with Government of Indonesia counterparts and sub-national government systems particularly in government accountability reporting; experience in the education sector is an advantage;
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage performance, build staff capability and coordinate competing priorities in a complex operating environment;
• Demonstrated experience managing organisational risk, safety, security, business continuity and emergency response arrangements in a complex operating environment;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, fluency in Bahasa Indonesia is desirable;
• Strong ability to work with Excel spreadsheets, budgets, expenditure data and management information to support planning, monitoring and decision-making;
• Sound problem solving and decision-making skills; ability to work independently and as a part of a team; and
• A high level of integrity, initiative, adaptability, and ability to perform in a high-pressure environment.

We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including people with disabilities - disclosure will not affect your application, and we will work with you to provide appropriate adjustments.

To be considered for this position, you must have valid work rights in the country where the role is based. Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

Salary and benefits: Competitive locally engaged salary and benefits.

Please note: This role involves working with children, and the successful candidate will be required to complete both a police check and relevant due diligence checks as part of Palladium’s commitment to being a child-safe organisation.

How to Apply
Click the "Apply Now" button

Please submit your application online and include:

• A current CV
• A cover letter demonstrating your relevant experience and how you meet the key selection criteria

Please note: Applications submitted without a cover letter will not be considered.

Closing date: Wednesday 5 August 2026 11:59pm Jakarta time

If this opportunity interests you, we encourage you to apply promptly, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

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 all the actions taken by Palladium to protect our people, communities where we work and our clients from harm, including Sexual Exploitation, Abuse or Sexual Harassment; Child Abuse in any form; Trafficking for sexual exploitation of adults or children and any form of Trafficking of children. We have zero tolerance for all forms of child abuse as well as sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment and zero-tolerance for inaction to prevent, protect against, respond to and report 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. Our Code of Conduct and Child Safeguarding and Protection against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Guidelines have additional details.