Palladium International

Program Manager, IPEF Supply Chain Resilience

Posted
17 December 2025 02:22am
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Regions
Pacific
Sectors
Economic Development
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Summary

We are searching for an experienced Program Manager, IPEF Supply Chain Resilience to be based in Suva, Fiji, within the Fijian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade.

Program Overview:
IFTAEC is a four-year, $25m investment by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) that supports the implementation of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), with a focus on the Supply Chain Resilience Agreement.   
 

Through IFTAEC (2024-2027), DFAT and its implementing partners deliver capacity building projects and technical assistance to assist ODA-eligible IPEF member countries implement IPEF standards and frameworks.  
 

IFTAEC’s end-of-program outcomes are:  
 

  1. ODA-eligible IPEF countries have enhanced capacity to 1) progress or 2) translate commitments into domestic law, implement new laws, engage industry and participate in uptake of international standards.
  2. Australia and ODA-eligible IPEF countries are cooperating effectively on IPEF standards and frameworks that are gender and disability inclusive, and build climate-change resilience, driven by country counterparts.

IFTAEC is managed by the IPEF Coordination and Strategy Section (ISC) in DFAT, Canberra, with the support of Palladium.

IPEF Overview:
Fiji is the only Pacific Island member in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), representing a significant step in integrating the Pacific’s second largest economy into our region’s economic architecture. Australia and Fiji have both signed the four IPEF agreements that have been substantially concluded by IPEF Ministers: the IPEF Supply Chain, Clean Economy, Fair Economy, and Overarching Agreements. The Fijian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade is Fiji’s coordinating agency on IPEF, led by its Trade Unit, which also has responsibility for domestic and international trade initiatives, including bilateral, regional and multilateral commitments and initiatives.  
 

Following intensive IPEF negotiations over 2021-2023, the Trade Unit needs to focus on its other domestic and international responsibilities. Additional support is needed for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade to coordinate and report on IPEF commitments across Government of Fiji including providing support for line ministries to guide legislative drafting and technical readiness assessments.
 

Under Australia’s IPEF Fund for Technical Assistance and Economic Cooperation (IFTAEC), Australia is providing tailored support for Fiji to implement its IPEF commitments, with priority placed on the Supply Chain Resilience Agreement.

 

Description

The Opportunity
The Program Manager will provide policy, capacity building and administrative support to the Ministry’s Trade team to communicate, coordinate and report on implementation of Fiji’s IPEF commitments. The Ministry oversees the implementation of the Supply Chain Resilience Agreement and tracks implementation of the Clean Economy and Fair Economy Agreement across relevant Ministries and agencies.
This position is a fixed term opportunity to June 2027, based within the Fijian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Suva Fiji
 

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
The Program Manager will provide policy, capacity building and administrative support to the Ministry’s Trade team to communicate, coordinate and report on implementation of Fiji’s IPEF commitments. The Ministry oversees the implementation of the Supply Chain Resilience Agreement and tracks implementation of the Clean Economy and Fair Economy Agreement across relevant Ministries and agencies. The Program Manager will be responsible for, but not limited to the following:
 

  • Provision of secretariat functions for IPEF engagements
  • Assist with stakeholder coordination and engagement across Government of Fiji (GoF) and relevant agencies to support Fiji’s implementation of IPEF commitments. The Ministry oversees the implementation of the Supply Chain Resilience Agreement and, in addition, coordinate inter-agency discussions and track progress on the implementation of the Clean Economy and Fair Economy Agreements.
  • Research and analysis on critical goods supply chains.
  • Draft IPEF briefings to senior Fijian officials.
  • Support the Director Trade to strengthen sustained institutional capacity on IPEF supply chain resilience related matters through various capacity development approaches, such as mentoring, shadowing and peer-to-peer learning.
  • In consultation with Fijian stakeholders, develop capacity building projects aligned with the IPEF Supply Chain Resilience Agreement, and undertake monitoring and evaluation activities to assess project outcomes and impact.
  • Establish a clear coordination mechanism across relevant government ministries and agencies to oversee IPEF implementation, particularly the Supply Chain Resilience Agreement.
  • Create internal guidelines, knowledge products, and reporting templates to institutionalize Fiji’s approach to IPEF implementation and monitoring beyond the program period.
  • Assess supply chain vulnerabilities, map critical goods, and design resilience strategies.
  • Engage actively with private sector operators (manufacturers, exporters, logistics providers, etc.) to identify supply chain bottlenecks and co-develop resilience measures.
  • Additional duties as required.

Key Outcomes:           
The Program Manager will support the following outcomes:
 

  • GoF has enhanced capacity to translate IPEF commitments into its domestic law, engage industry and participate in the uptake of international standards.
  • Australia and Fiji enhance the level of cooperation on supply chain resilience, data-sharing, and best-practice exchanges under IPEF, benefitting broader bilateral engagement.
     

Reporting Lines and Requirements:   
 

  • The Program Manager reports to Director Trade, on the delivery and quality of agreed outputs.
  • The Program Manager is accountable to the IPEF Coordination and Strategy Section (ISC), DFAT, Canberra for delivery of IPEF outcomes, reported through six-monthly progress reports.
  • The Program Manager is accountable to Palladium, IFTAEC’s Delivery Partner for employment administration.
     

Applicant’s Requirements:
 

Qualifications
 

  • Undergraduate degree in law, economics, business administration, public policy or a related field.
     

Experience

  •  A minimum of 7 years of experience working in a policy or program implementation role.
  • Previous experience working in the public sector is desirable.
     

Knowledge

  •  A sound (or the capacity to quickly acquire) understanding of Fiji’s trade policy and supply chain environment.
  • Demonstrated conceptual and analytical thinking and problem-solving ability.
  • Good ICT skills / competent in the use of Word, Excel, and Power Point.
     

Personal Attributes
 

  • Excellent communication (written and oral) and stakeholder management skills.
  • Ability to work independently, handle a heavy workload under minimal supervision, pay attention to detail, complete work accurately and according to strict timelines.
  • Self-motivated and takes initiative to deliver results.
  • Proven coordination and facilitation skills in working with multiple stakeholders.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the proven ability to quickly build and maintain strong stakeholder relationships with people from varying backgrounds, levels and experience.
     
  • Willingness and enthusiasm to act as a champion for gender equality, disability and social inclusion and safeguarding including child protection and the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Abuse and Harassment.
     
  • Experience of managing teams, including mentoring and fostering peer-to-peer learning to build professional capacity. 
     

How to apply  
Please submit your application online via Palladium’s careers site, https://thepalladiumgroup.com/careers including your CV and brief cover letter, outlining your suitability for the role and how you meet the requirements of the position.
 

Closing date: Sunday 11 January 2026, 05:00pm AEST
 

About Palladium         
Palladium is a global leader in the design, development, and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value.  We work with governments, businesses, and investors to 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, and, most importantly, people's lives.  
 

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.