Duration of the contract

This is a fixed term opportunity required to end June 2027, with a possibility of an extension. 

Location

Australia

Reporting to

Senior Portfolio Manager

The Opportunity
The Portfolio Manager - Vanuatu is an integral part of the REnew Pacific program and co leads the in-country management of the program’s portfolio of renewable energy projects in Vanuatu. The Portfolio Manager assists in the development and granting of projects and manages the day-to-day interactions with recipient partners, monitoring progress and supporting implementation. The role also contributes to implementation of REnew Pacific strategies and plans including related to GEDSI, localisation and monitoring, evaluation and learning.

REnew Pacific staff work remotely from Australia's east coast and various Pacific nations. REnew Pacific does not have an operating office in Vanuatu, so this position operates remotely. Depending on the circumstances of the candidate, REnew Pacific will work out a solution for a remote work location, or support communications infrastructure necessary to work from home. 

Primary Responsibilities
Under the guidance and direction of the Senior Portfolio Manager, the Portfolio Manager (Vanuatu) will:

Project Portfolio:

• Manage a portfolio of REnew Pacific projects and partnerships in Vanuatu, in accordance with grant agreements and the REnew Pacific Grant Management Framework
• Serve as the primary relationship manager for established grants and related partners, ensuring coordination and effective communication with partners
• Lead program processes, monitoring progress and key risks, maintaining excellent relationships and keeping the Senior Portfolio Manager and DFAT informed as appropriate
• Regularly liaise with DFAT Post in Port Vila to ensure awareness and coordination of the portfolio
• Support REnew Pacific partners to anticipate issues, problem solve and work adaptively in a dynamic context.
• Support the Renew Pacific team in the identification and pursuit of partnership and project opportunities.
• Coordinate partner engagement for pipeline development.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with providers and suppliers of technical solutions for renewable energy in Vanuatu to ensure that locally-based firms and personnel participate in project development, design and delivery where possible
• Support REnew Pacific communications and public diplomacy activities including to frame and detail project level stories and lessons learned
• Lead project level reporting, analysis, and work planning, keeping REnew Pacific Management Information Systems up to date.
• Lead partner activities including training and capacity building
• Escalate complex issues to the Senior Portfolio Manager at the earliest opportunity

Leadership and Management: 

• Provide timely and accurate reporting through REnew Pacific systems, including health and safety incidents, fraud and child protection reporting as well as project activity reporting
• Champion REnew Pacific commitments such as promotion of gender equality, disability and social inclusion 

Other:

• Travel locally and internationally, as required.
• Any other tasks requested by the Senior Portfolio Manager or REnew Pacific’s Portfolio Team and REnew Pacific Leadership Team as appropriate to the incumbent’s experience and qualifications.
• Due to the evolving nature of our program, it is possible that the incumbent may be expected to undertake duties that fall outside the remit of their original Terms of Reference as reasonably required to ensure the ongoing success of the program.

Reporting Requirements

This role reports into Senior Portfolio Manager. Reporting requirements may include but are not limited to:

• Attendance at team meetings, other requested meetings and regional meetings (e.g. townhalls).
• Regular (minimum of monthly) one to one meetings with your line manager on the status of personal Key Result Areas (KRAs), career development discussions and any other matters.

Minimum Education and Experience Required

Qualifications:

• A degree in engineering, energy systems, natural resource management, or other relevant disciplines or equivalent level of experience.

Skills and Experience:

• Experience with renewable energy projects in off-grid applications and/or demonstrated knowledge of renewable energy systems, with a focus on Vanuatu or Pacific islands is highly desirable.
• Experience with managing and facilitating donor funded projects at community level in Vanuatu.
• Demonstrated experience in portfolio management, rural and community development work and partnership skills.
• Project management, time management, reporting and analysis skills, including ability to manage budgets and write progress reports.
• Experience in research and producing written summaries and analyses.

Personal Attributes:

• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously with limited supervision, to work to deadlines, and to balance competing priorities.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills with demonstrated experience in using communications strategically for advocacy purposes.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion, particularly in a cross-cultural context.

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.

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.