Job Title: Manager - Social Research
Project Name: Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program (PLMSP)
Job type: Contract or 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: Senior Research Manager
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: 11:59 pm 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 to 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 Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme is a flagship Australian Government initiative that enables workers from Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste to access employment opportunities in Australia. The Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program (PLMSP), funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), supports labour-sending governments, workers and stakeholders to maximise the benefits of labour mobility while reducing associated risks. The program delivers support across capacity building, skills development, monitoring, evaluation, research and learning, communications, and reintegration activities.
 
About the work
You will lead high-quality social research that informs labour mobility policy and program delivery across Australia, the Pacific and Timor-Leste. Working within the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) team, you will design and manage qualitative and mixed-methods research studies that generate actionable evidence for DFAT and labour mobility stakeholders. The role offers significant stakeholder engagement, opportunities to influence policy decisions, and regular travel throughout the region.
 
The Role
Primary Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of the Manager - Social Research include:  

• Plan and design social research studies on labour mobility that respond to the strategic evidence needs of DFAT, labour sending governments and other scheme stakeholders.
• Deliver research studies integrating 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 gender dynamics of labour mobility.
• Ensure PLMSP managed research studies establish and maintain appropriate research governance processes, in coordination with DFAT, labour sending units, and other program stakeholders.
• Manage the delivery of - and independently conduct - high quality and policy-oriented literature reviews related to the social and economic dimensions of labour mobility in the Pacific and Timor-Leste.
• Lead engagement and knowledge translation activities with clients and stakeholders to maximise the uptake of research findings and inform program implementation and policy development.
• Draft, review and quality assure 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.
• Oversee the operational delivery of research studies, providing leadership across project planning, resourcing, budgeting, procurement, travel management and risk management to ensure high-quality and efficient implementation. Ensure all projects are delivered in accordance with PLMSP systems, policies and quality standards.
• Supervise social research staff, manage contracted research teams and collaborate with other PLMSP colleagues.
• Organise and facilitate briefings/trainings for the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning team on various aspects of research design, data analysis, research ethics and research utilisation.
• 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 is a requirement of this role. Travel is usually 2 weeks in duration, with several trips in a financial year.
• 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 Palladium's Integrity Hotline (details on Palladium website).
• Operate with high levels of integrity, consistent with the intent of DFAT's Ethics, Integrity and Professional Standards Policy Manual.

 
Required Qualifications:   
Essential

• Minimum Education and Experience Required
• Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline such as international development, sociology, anthropology, political science, or related field.
• At least 8 years' experience designing, managing and conducting a program of applied social (qualitative or mixed methods) research.
• Proven ability to understand client priorities, identify aligned research needs and support the uptake of evidence to influence and evaluate policy, program design, organisational practice and decision-making processes.
• Demonstrated ability to independently conduct high-quality, ethically sound and gender-sensitive research including primary research studies (qualitative or mixed methods preferred), literature reviews, and other research outputs.
• Exceptional report-writing skills with the ability to analyse complex information in a clear, evidence-based and accessible manner for government stakeholders.
• Experience of working within and across multi-disciplinary, cross-cultural research teams, including supporting and mentoring a small team of researchers. Experience managing and conducting research in the Pacific will be highly regarded.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, manage complex logistics and to meet deadlines.

Desirable

• Experience conducting research in Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste
• Experience working with government clients and international development programs
• Familiarity with labour mobility, migration or workforce development programs