About the Program

Palladium International Pty Ltd is the Managing Contractor for the Australian Government’s Humanitarian Logistics Capability (HLC). The objective of the Humanitarian Logistics Capability is to facilitate the timely, effective, and flexible delivery of the Australian Government’s humanitarian assistance and emergency relief program around the world. 

Through the HLC program, Palladium delivers six domains of capability:

• Procurement of humanitarian and emergency relief supplies and equipment
• Storage and handling of pre-positioned supplies and equipment
• Specialised logistics personnel and expertise
• Specialised logistics and transport capabilities with a global reach
• Offshore deployment support services
• Consular crisis management capabilities.

Through the Humanitarian Logistics Capability contract (HLC) Palladium provides high quality, multifaceted, flexible and responsive project management and humanitarian supply chain solutions in support of the Commonwealth of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Humanitarian Emergency Relief activities.

The Humanitarian Logistics Capability Contract is comprised of three components as follows:
Component 1: Core Logistics Management Resources – daily contract management
Component 2: Warehouse Management Services - for DFAT and Humanitarian Partner relief supplies
Component 3: Logistics Operations Services - in-country support for the Australian Government’s emergency humanitarian responses and logistics activities.

Purpose of Role

This Response Lead is critical to the implementation and support of the Australian Government’s disaster response activities. It requires a strong candidate with the necessary administrative, logistics, project management and operational skills to lead and support the team to deliver business objectives. The role requires a good understanding of DFAT regulations, Palladium’s internal processes and financial procedures, logistics and international humanitarian best practices.

The role is based in the Brisbane warehouse and offers the chance to develop project management skills through broad range of activities as well as the opportunity to further broaden humanitarian response expertise. The role may require travel in-country or otherwise involve working in a high tempo environment to deliver disaster response logistical and project management services as part of the HLC team.

Location

The role is required to be based at the HLC Project Office in Pinkenba, Brisbane.

Primary Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of the Response Lead can be broadly described as follows:

• Provide oversight and support to field support operations and teams involved humanitarian response activities, from project start up to close.
•  Support client liaison throughout the entirety of the given Humanitarian Response, managing HLC communications between the client (DFAT) and all relevant stakeholders including humanitarian partners and Australian Defence Force representatives.
• Assist with logistical operations such as international transportation, liaison with customs re clearances, warehousing and in-country distribution of supplies, including within an Incident Management Team structure as required.
• Coordinate national and international logistics operations as required, including procurement, warehousing, freight movements.
• Ensure specialist procurement services for emergency relief supplies and equipment including product specifications, opinions and comparisons, and research and development of supply items are well documented and in line with Commonwealth Procurement Principles.
• Obtain freight and transport rates from agents, support and place air and sea bookings direct with carriers, airlines, and consolidators as well as applicable export and import documentation.
• Negotiate competitive rates with all subcontractors, service providers, and suppliers.
• Develop project plans and task/service orders in consultation with the client, and conduct planning and research to facilitate operations, as required.
• Establish, and manage project budgets, while monitoring timelines and delivery expectations of multiple projects.
• Manage project implementation with a strong focus on response planning and contract management requirements including preparation and submission of relevant reports, invoices, and other documentation.
• Ensure compliance with DFAT and Palladium QMS policies and procedures, along with industry legislation, regulations, and codes across import and export operations to and from Australia and other regions of the world.
• Ensure compliance with Work health and Safety policy and procedures safeguarding the safety and well-being of all personnel.
• Contribute to engagement with DFAT and operational partners on strategic HLC delivery, including providing support to the Response Manager as required for the design and delivery of humanitarian response operations in a fluid and fast-paced environment.
• Ensure accurate reporting is made available to the client on all aspects of services related to the status of warehouse stocks, procurement and delivery of services for humanitarian relief efforts.
• Develop, maintain and direct in-country logistics support services and networks to support current and future operational activities.
• Be prepared to work long and abnormal hours in support of a Sudden Onset Humanitarian Response, including the potential for national or international travel.
• Flexibility to act as a Duty Officer or Point of Contact for HLC operations.
• Perform any reasonable task requested by the Response Manager, Director / Deputy Director.

Reporting Requirements

The role reports to the Response Manager. Reporting requirements may include but are not limited to:

• Attendance of weekly and/or management team meetings
• Provision of regular updates to the Response Manager
• Other reporting as requested.

Relationships

This role will liaise with a range of DFAT mid-level personnel as well as other partners, professional service providers, suppliers, and stakeholders, through the Response Manager or when directly tasked. The role liaises with a range of internal stakeholders to understand their information needs.  

Authority Level

Autonomy for project outcomes, with appropriate consultation with the Response Manager.

Minimum education and experience required

• A degree in a relevant discipline and / or relevant experience within an international development, logistics, consulting, or project management.
• Exposure to or strong passion with willingness to learn logistics, humanitarian assistance and emergency response best practices including SPHERE.
• Demonstrated project management experience, including strong financial management skills.
• Demonstrate initiative to create solutions to complex client or project challenges in difficult environments.
• Experience working in a fast-moving, high-pressure environment.
• Ability to develop collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders and to be a team player.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

How to Apply

Please submit your CV and Cover Letter through the Palladium International Careers Page (https://thepalladiumgroup.com/careers). 

Please note - we are only accepting applications from job seekers with full working rights within their location. Applicants must have eligibility to work and live in Australia.

We are not accepting resumes from recruitment agencies for this role.

Applications close on Sunday, 1 September 2024 and will be assessed on a rolling basis.

 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.