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 a new initiative designed to enhance the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) international scholarship program delivery by providing operational, technical and analytical services. The AAGSM consists of the Program Support Unit (PSU) - responsible for operational and technical services to DFAT and the scholarship delivery network, and the Research and Analytical Support Unit (RASU) – responsible for analytical and research services for international scholarship programs. Palladium delivers the AAGSM PSU and cooperates with DFAT to ensure effective functioning with the RASU.

The role

As a new initiative covering multiple service areas for a diverse scholarship program delivery network, the AAGSM PSU requires a rigorous approach to risk and safeguard management to ensure risks are effectively identified and addressed, and to ensure scholars have a safe and social experience. The Risk and Safeguarding Adviser will advise on effective risk and safeguard management to ensure practices are embedded into all aspects of AAGSM PSU delivery as per DFAT requirements. 

As a Short-Term Adviser, you will provide up to 18 input days across a 4-year contract period, and will:

• Support the PSU leadership team to identify key risks to achieving end of investment outcomes and ensure the PSU Risk and Safeguard Management Plan aligns to agreed governance frameworks and Ways of Working.
• Lead development of the PSU Risk and Safeguard Management Plan in close collaboration with the PSU leadership team based on DFAT’s Risk and Safeguards Screening Tool.
• Advise on the quarterly review of the PSU Risk and Safeguard Management Plan and provide guidance on emerging high-level risks.
• Support the  PSU leadership team to identify and oversee development of any sub-risk management and safeguarding frameworks and associated tools and resources for identified “at risk” service delivery components including scholar safeguarding.
• Work with/support the GEDSI Specialist and Disability Specialist to develop the Scholar Safeguard Management Good Practice Guide ensuring all delivery partners are cognisant of their roles in the identification and management of risks and incidents, including assessment against PSEAH and Child Protection Policies. 
• Support the PSU leadership team to identify opportunities to improve risk management and safeguarding practices by delivery partners. 

Key deliverables

• PSU Risk and Safeguard Management Plan.
• Quarterly review of the PSU Risk and Safeguard Management Plan. 
• Scholar Safeguard Management Good Practice Guide
• Advise the Team Leader to lead and sustain a culture of risk and safeguarding awareness where all team members proactively identify, mitigate and manage risks and safeguarding issues using established risk management and safeguarding mechanisms.

About you

You will bring: 

• Substantial experience in leading programmatic risk and safeguard management for international donors, DFAT experience would be highly valued.  Experience working in the tertiary education sector, scholarship programs or mobility programs, would also be highly valued.
• Proven ability to engender a risk management culture and drive continuous improvement in a consultative manner, engaging key stakeholders at every stage. 
• Experience designing and overseeing successful implementation of risk and safeguard management frameworks.
• Highly developed cross-cultural engagement expertise with a working knowledge of effective safeguarding in cross-cultural environments. Experience working in or across the Indo-Pacific would be highly valued.

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 AND noting that the successful candidate will need to be available April-June 2025 to deliver the PSU Risk and Safeguard Management Plan as priority. 

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

Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis, and interviews will be held following suitable applications. We encourage you to apply promptly so as not to miss the opportunity. Once the position has been filled the advertisement will be removed.  

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.