This opportunity closed on 08 March 2026

Palladium International

Operations Manager – Australia Awards Myanmar

Posted
24 February 2026 03:14pm
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Regions
South-East and East Asia
Sectors
Education
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Summary
  • Full time, fixed term contract up to 11 February 2029 with possible extension
  • Based in Yangon, Myanmar

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
Australia Awards Myanmar is an Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) program administered by Palladium.  Aligned with the Australia Awards Global Strategic Framework and the Australia-Myanmar Development Partnership Plan, it offers scholarships, short courses and enabling activities to build the leadership and skills of the people of Myanmar and strengthen our people-to-people links.

Palladium is engaged to deliver three end-of-program outcomes:

a) Alumni use their skills, knowledge and networks to contribute to Myanmar’s sustainable development
b) Alumni are equipped with the leadership skills required for future cooperation between Australia and Myanmar, and
c) Alumni reflect a diversity of skillsets and groups to enable strong equity of access for marginalised communities such as women, gender and ethnically diverse minorities, rural and remote locations, and persons with disabilities.

The Program is an important component of the Australia-Myanmar Development Partnership Plan (2024-2029) which aims to contribute to a prosperous, resilient, and stable Myanmar. It includes overarching themes of:

i. Human rights, democratic space, and gender equality
ii. Health, education, livelihoods, and climate adaptation, and
iii. Humanitarian response and disaster risk reduction.

This phase of the Program runs from February 2026 until February 2029, with two opportunities for extension until 2031 and 2033.

Description

The Role

Reporting to the Team Leader and working closely with the Palladium Program Manager (PM) and Accounts Payable team, the Operations Manager is responsible for providing high-quality financial, operations, safeguards, risk and administrative management services to the team. It is the primary operational leadership role, responsible for ensuring effective program delivery systems.

The Australia Awards Myanmar team works virtually, with a mix of full-time and part-time national and international staff working in Myanmar, Australia, and other parts of the region.  The Operations Manager role is a full-time national position based in Yangon. An ability to travel to Thailand to support delivery of workshops and short courses two or three times a year is a requirement.

This is a hands-on role that requires the selected candidate to be able to manage competing tasks, ranging from strategic to administrative, i.e., from strategic budget management to processing local cheque payments and booking flights and accommodation.

The Operations Manager will model the Program’s internal operating principles by demonstrating their commitment to exceeding client expectations; continuous improvement; maintaining a solutions‑focused and responsive approach; ensuring attention to detail; and upholding a zero‑tolerance stance on fraud.

Essential Selection Criteria

  • Demonstrated experience (minimum 5 years) managing operations for donor‑funded development programs in Myanmar, including oversight of finance, procurement, logistics, and compliance systems
  • Proven ability to interpret and apply organisational policies and national regulations, including labour, taxation, banking and company laws
  • Strong experience leading financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis for donor-funded programs
  • Demonstrated ability to ensure financial integrity, Value for Money, audit readiness, and compliance with DFAT and corporate policies
  • Proven ability to implement effective administrative and operational systems in a geographically dispersed, virtual or hybrid team environment
  • Experience implementing Child Protection, PSEAH, Do No Harm and other safeguards frameworks in a development program context
  • Demonstrated ability to conduct and manage program risk assessments, maintain risk registers, and implement mitigation strategies
  • Experience administering procurement processes aligned with international donor requirements, including subcontractor management and compliance with procurement rules
  • Strong interpersonal and cross‑cultural communication skills, with demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across national and international teams
    Proven customer‑service orientation and problem‑solving skills in a fast‑paced program environment
  • High‑level proficiency in Word, Excel, SharePoint and other Microsoft applications, with demonstrated ability to manage MIS systems and maintain secure digital filing systems
  • Strong written and spoken English language skills

Desirable Selection Criteria

  • Postgraduate qualifications in finance, accounting, business administration, project management, or a related field.
  • Previous experience working with DFAT or other donor-funded programs, particularly Australia Awards, Chevening, DISP, or other scholarship programs.
  • Experience supporting equity, disability inclusion, gender equality or safeguarding initiatives.
  • Experience supervising or mentoring junior staff.
  • Familiarity with or ability to quickly learn Palladium systems (e.g., Egencia, SharePoint, finance workbooks).

To Apply

Please submit your application online, including your CV (no more than four A4 pages) and a two-page cover letter, outlining your suitability in line with the requirements of the position.

Closing date: Sunday 8th March 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.