About Palladium

Palladium is a global leader in the design, development, and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social, climate and economic value.  We work with governments, businesses, and investors to help solve the world's most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 4,000 employees operating in 90-plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies, the environment, and, most importantly, people's lives.

The program

The Australia Awards Global Support Mechanism (AAGSM) is an initiative designed to enhance the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) international scholarship program delivery by providing operational, technical and analytical services to DFAT and the broader scholarship delivery network. In doing so, the AAGSM will enhance DFAT’s capacity to drive policy, partnerships and respond to the demand for evolved scholarship program delivery architecture. The AAGSM consists of the Global Support Unit (GSU) - responsible for operational and technical services to DFAT’s International Education and Scholarships Branch (EDB) and scholarship network, and the Global Research Unit (GRU)

The role

The MERL Adviser will play a key role in strengthening the measurement, learning and evidence base across the Australia Awards program. This position leads monitoring, evaluation, research and knowledge‑sharing activities across the network, ensuring performance data, insights and lessons are effectively captured, analysed and used to drive continuous improvement.

Working closely with GRU and delivery partners, the MERL Adviser will support the implementation of MEL frameworks, guide performance monitoring and reporting, foster a collaborative MEL Community of Practice, and drive knowledge management to amplify good practice across priority thematic areas.

The MERL Adviser will be responsible for:

• Lead the design, implementation and continuous improvement of MEL frameworks, systems and performance monitoring, including the PAF, Value for Money Framework, global indicators and Tier 2 reporting. Provide strategic MEL leadership across the GSU, support GRU research and analysis, contribute to contractual reporting, and oversee the global MEL Community of Practice.
• Manage MEL operations and people leadership, including guiding the MEL Coordinator, coordinating qualitative enquiries, ensuring effective data and knowledge management systems, and supporting reflection and learning processes with DFAT to drive evidence‑based decision‑making and ongoing program improvement.
• Lead and quality‑assure MEL delivery across the Australia Awards network, including maintaining global MEL standards and Tier 2 indicators, overseeing performance monitoring systems and reporting, supporting program‑level MEL plans, and guiding qualitative enquiries and long‑term alumni outcome analysis.
• Drive knowledge sharing and best‑practice learning across programs, by developing MEL resources and tools, facilitating the MEL Community of Practice, providing on‑demand MEL support, and managing the GSU Knowledge Hub to ensure high‑quality, accessible knowledge products are captured, curated and shared.

About you

You will bring substantial experience in monitoring, evaluation and performance measurement, along with proven capability in designing and implementing performance assessment frameworks. You’ll be confident analysing data and evidence, engaging with diverse stakeholders, and translating insights into clear, practical findings that support learning and continuous improvement.

Additional key requirements include:

• Tertiary qualifications in monitoring and evaluation, international development, or a relevant field in the social sciences or equivalent and demonstrated experience.
• Considerable understanding and application of DFAT development programming, MEL standards and procedures.
• Outstanding analytical, qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation skills. Proven ability to produce high quality written reports.
• Excellent interpersonal and social skills including cross-cultural experience and communication skills, professional writing skills and the ability to influence a wide range of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated excellence in stakeholder engagement with proven ability to coach and mentor across varying levels of capability. 

• Previous Australia Awards experience will be highly regarded. 

   

To Apply 

Please submit your application online, including your CV and brief cover letter (maximum 2 pages), outlining your suitability in line with the requirements of the position. 

Established working rights required for suitable candidates; there is no visa sponsorship or relocation support available. 

For further information please email HR.AAGSM@thepalladiumgroup.com

Closing date: Sunday 15 February 2026, 11.59pm AEDT 

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 “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from 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.