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 2,000 employees operating in 75-plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies, and, most importantly, people's lives.

About PNG-Australia Strongim Wok Long TVET (SWLT)

The PNG–Australia Strongim Wok Long Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) (SWLT) program is a four-year, AUD 80 million investment by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to support Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) efforts to strengthen its TVET sector. Aligned with PNG’s national priority to build an educated and skilled workforce for resilient economic growth, SWLT aims to enhance the quality, relevance, and inclusiveness of skills development. The program supports improvements in national quality assurance systems, technical college standards, graduate employability, and Australia’s visible and trusted development partnership with PNG.

The program aligns with the broader goals of the Australia–PNG Development Partnership Plan 2024–2029, which emphasises locally led development, education investment, and inclusive growth, as well as PNG’s Higher and Technical Education Reform Act 2020.

This Opportunity

As Scholarships Strategy Lead (Strategic Direction) you work with Department of Higher Education Research, Science and Technology (DHERST) to implement programme design, policy development, institutional partnerships, systems strengthening, and strategic oversight appropriate for scholarship program. This will include: 

• Provide strategic advice on scholarship selection criteria, outreach approaches and award management processes. 
• Design long-term strategic plans and policy frameworks for the different TVET scholarship modalities. Including working with the Disability Specialist, supporting the implementation of the disability policy issues. 
• Align educational investments with PNG national development plans and SWLT EOPO (e.g., PNG Vision 2050, PNG National Higher and Technical Education Plan). 
• Identify and build institutional linkages between SWLT, training colleges, TVET partner institutions and private sector employers. 
• Maintain ongoing relationships with DHERST Scholarship Division, other aid programs and regional partners (e.g., DFAT, PAS, ITVET4E)  
• Facilitate co-funding models and apprenticeship pipelines with major industries and pivot scholarship quotas toward high-demand sectors (e.g., agriculture, renewable energy, trades). 
• Analyse labour market data, economic forecasts, and industry trends to identify critical skill gaps for scholarships.  Identify priority fields of study and target groups based on labour market analysis and workforce development needs
• Develop targeted equity policies ensuring access to TVET for women, persons with a disability, rural and remote students and disadvantaged students to increase participation from underrepresented groups. 
• System Stewardship and Governance, provide strategic oversight of the entire TVET scholarship ecosystem, including governance arrangements, policy coherence across modalities, risk management, and quality assurance of partner institutions to ensure scholarships deliver credible and nationally recognised outcomes. 
• Sustainability and Financing Strategy, lead long-term sustainability planning for TVET scholarships beyond donor cycles, including diversified financing models, cost-effectiveness analysis, employer cost‑sharing, and transition pathways for increased PNG government and industry ownership. 
• Support the integration of scholarship activities with broader education, TVET and workforce development initiatives
• Prepare strategic reports, briefing notes and recommendations for program management for key stakeholders.

About you

You will demonstrate proven experience in the following areas:

• Demonstrated experience in the design and delivery of scholarship programs and management of scholarship support systems
• Strong understanding of workforce development, labour market and skills development priorities
• Strategic thinking and ability to align scholarship investments with broader development objectives 
• Demonstrated program management experience with an ability to initiate and manage program activities in a development context, and with deep understanding of financial management and compliance requirements
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including verbal and written communication, and ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders including partner government counterparts
• Experience integrating GEDSI considerations into scholarship initiatives including experience working on programs that promote inclusive and diverse access would be advantageous
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously while contributing effectively within a team.
• Participation and positive engagement in diverse teams, supporting a results-driven culture of learning and inclusion.
• Demonstrated commitment to the principles of locally-led, socially inclusive, politically informed and adaptive programming.
• Skills in Technical and Vocational Education and Training or understanding of the TVET sector and TVET Colleges in PNG – desirable

To Apply

Please submit your application online, including your CV and brief cover letter, outlining your suitability in line with the requirements of the position through https://palladium.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/2/home/requisition/25408?c=palladium.

Closing date: Friday 21^st August, 5.00pm AEST

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 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.