Position Summary:

The Team Leader (TL) is responsible for leading and managing the delivery of the Platform’s Social Infrastructure Programs, ensuring alignment with the strategic priorities of DFAT and the Government of Fiji (GOF). This role involves overseeing program management, operations, and project execution to deliver high-quality, sustainable infrastructure solutions. The role will oversee Program Managers responsible for delivering the CRP, FSIP, and the CWM Hospital Redevelopment Master Plan. This is a senior management role and will be responsible for strategic thinking/planning, active engagement with, and support to DFAT. 

The TL will provide strategic leadership and drive key partner agency engagement and coordination. The TL will have strong relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills and will ensure collaboration and coherence across the programs. The TL will develop strong working relationships with Australian High Commission (AHC) counterparts, government officials from respective ministries, contractors, Platform teams, and other stakeholders. 

The TL will be a highly motivated and experienced individual. They will have a comprehensive understanding of international development program implementation, preferably large-scale infrastructure projects. They will have extensive leadership and people management experience, including substantial leadership experience on development projects. 

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Engagement & Leadership

• Lead the Platform’s Infrastructure Programs, including the setting of strategic direction in line with the priorities of DFAT and GoF. 
• Lead, manage and mentor the Platform’s infrastructure teams in coordination with Platform leadership to deliver high quality development results.
• Maintain a clear and contemporary understanding of and engagement with the infrastructure sector context in Fiji (policy, political and donor/investment landscape) and draw upon this to provide relevant advice to DFAT, GoF Ministries and Platform leadership.
• Ensure Infrastructure Programs are delivered in alignment with the Platform’s commitment to GEDSI, climate resilience and achieving value for money, and in accordance with DFAT policies and standards. 
• Proactively mitigate and/or manage emergent issues and risks as they arise, in close consultation with DFAT.
• Provide strategic feedback on FSIP at conclusion of current program to inform the new Social Infrastructure Program. 

Stakeholder engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with DFAT, GoF, community leaders, and other stakeholders to ensure program alignment that supports locally led-development. 
• Direct programmatic policy dialogue, relationships management, and stakeholder engagement with DFAT, national counterparts, development partners, the private sector and civil society.
• Ensure effective public diplomacy communications and representation with external stakeholders.

Management, Planning, Implementation & Reporting 

• Provide oversight of the Infrastructure Programs to ensure sound project planning, design and management, financial management, contract administration, and logistics support of the program.
• Lead the development of Annual Work Plans (AWPs) based on effective and close engagement with GoF and DFAT to ensure alignment with strategic priorities, appropriate ownership and mutual accountability.
• Ensure program performance meets the agreed Performance Framework, as agreed with DFAT on an annual basis.
• Ensure review, quality assurance and on-time delivery of program deliverables, outputs, and outcomes.
• In accordance with the monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) planning documents, ensure regular, ongoing review and reflection of the programs’ progress towards their goals and intermediate outcomes, and ensure MEL findings are incorporated into delivery approaches on an ongoing basis.
• Act as the hiring manager for the recruitment of program staff, technical advisers and other human resources according to AWP resourcing plans.
• Deliver effective performance management of program staff and provide oversight of performance management by staff managers.
• Take overall responsibility for risk management of the Infrastructure Programs, including producing quarterly risk reports against the risk register.

Operations Management

• Oversee or directly manage procurement of services for architects, project management, building services consultancy and construction works, including tendering, evaluation, negotiations with preferred contractor/s, reporting and contracting of the selected contractors in line with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules.
• Oversee or directly manage the delivery of construction services in compliance with the applicable building regulations and standards including the contractors’ safety system and risk management plans for Occupation Health and Safety (OHS), Child Protection (CP) and the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH).
• Oversee program management and operations functions and ensure effective allocation and utilisation of resources, including for financial management, human resources, procurement and logistics.

General

• Promote sustainable practices and innovative solutions in infrastructure development, focusing on long-term resilience and environmental sustainability.
• Support counterpart Ministries and their staff to develop project management and infrastructure planning and development skills and systems.
• Other duties as requested by the Platform Leader.

Key Deliverables: 

Position Deliverables / Outputs

• Contribute to the strategic direction and oversight of the Infrastructure Programs, including through periodic Program Coordination Group (PCG) meetings, and weekly updates to DFAT. 
• Delivery of Cyclone Recovery Program, Colonial War Memorial Hospital Redevelopment Master Plan, and Fiji Social Infrastructure Program.
• Six-monthly and annual progress reports, drawing on evidence from the Platform’s MEL system.
• Six Monthly Budget Reviews.
• Lessons Learnt Report.

Senior Leadership Team Deliverables

• High level of responsiveness to AHC issues and requests measured by receiving Partner Performance Ratings of 5 or above.
• Quality reporting, milestones, deliverables and KPIs are submitted on time and meet internal (Abt) and external (DFAT) requirements.
• Programs are delivered on time and within budget and value for money principles drive all Infrastructure Programs’ resourcing decisions.
• Build and maintain open, productive and outcome-oriented relationships with key internal and external stakeholders including AHC. 
• Innovative approaches to the delivery of aid are actively pursued and incorporated into the delivery and design of the Infrastructure Programs.

Key Working Relationships:

• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Development Counsellor and social infrastructure team at the Australian High Commission.
• The Permanent Secretary (PS) and senior officials in relevant GoF ministries, noting that DFAT will maintain strategic policy relationship with the PS and the Ministry. 
• The Platform Management Team (PMT) and senior technical advisers in the Platform Management Unit (PMU), and other sector programs managed by the Platform.
• Other bi-lateral and multi-lateral organisations and stakeholders in the infrastructure sector in Fiji and regionally.

Selection Criteria:

Qualifications

• Master’s level qualification or equivalent professional experience related to Project Management, International Development, Construction Management or a related field.

Experience (essential)

• Strong and credible skills and experience within project management, infrastructure planning, delivery and engagement.
• Demonstrated experience and success in senior management of social infrastructure programs (i.e. hospitals and schools) in developing countries, preferably in the Pacific region, and/or in a donor funded environment.
• Proven experience in senior program management, including planning and implementation for results including financial management, reporting and work planning. 
• Strong financial acumen and experience managing large project budgets.
• Proven experience in the leadership of teams (team building, motivation, capacity building and performance management) of national and international staff of diverse backgrounds and varying competencies.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with experience managing relationships across government, civil society and donors. 
• Strong experience in program performance MEL consistent with DFAT’s M&E standards.
• Demonstrated experience in mainstreaming cross-cutting themes including GEDSI and/or climate and disaster resilience.

Personal Attributes

• Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate a large and diverse team.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and share a vision and deliver strategic approach.
• Able to manage relationships, conflicts and tensions between key stakeholders under a context that is potential vulnerable to political agendas.
• Sensitivity to other cultures and the ability to act appropriately in the context of Fijian culture and the workplace.
• Ability to work according to agreed principles and model the Platform’s principles including transparency, accountability, fairness and collaboration.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including demonstrated ability to engage at a senior level, build and maintain networks, provide advice and communicate effectively (both written and verbal) on sensitive issues with a culturally and professionally diverse range of stakeholders.
• A demonstrated commitment to child protection and the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) and a robust fraud control and anti-corruption environment.
• Able to cope with ambiguity and a fast-changing operating environment.

About Abt

Abt Global is a mission-driven, global leader with a proven track record in complex program implementation in the international development sector. We offer bold solutions and technical excellence in Health, Economic Growth, Governance, Research & Evaluation, Environment & Energy, Gender Equality & Social Inclusion. Working with our many partners, we have driven measurable social impact for more than 55 years, to achieve our mission of improving the quality of life and economic well-being of people worldwide. We operate in remote and challenging environments and employ more than 3,700 staff in over 50 countries. For more information about us and what we do, visit our website at www.abtglobal.com.

Commitment to Equity 

Abt Global values individuality and celebrates difference with a strong commitment to diversity, equality, racial equity, gender, and disability inclusion. We strongly encourage women, men, people with diverse backgrounds and people living with disabilities to apply for this position. 

Commitment to Safeguarding 

We are deeply committed to safeguarding, to protect and prevent harm and abuse to individuals we work for and who work for us. Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. We will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, child abuse, sexual abuse or exploitation in any form, and expect everyone to be treated with respect and dignity.