We are searching for an experienced Team Leader, Australia Awards South-Asia & Mongolia at our Colombo facility. 

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

Purpose of Position

The Team Leader at AASAM leads the delivery of all aspects of the AASAM program, including strategic oversight of program objectives, team activities, program delivery, and engagement with program partners. This role involves ensuring the program remains innovative, adaptable, and capable of delivering high-quality, cost-effective development outcomes in accordance with the client Head Contract. The Team Leader is responsible for developing close relationships with donors, developing and implementing program strategies, maintaining technical rigor, and enabling a high-performance, collaborative culture. Additionally, the Team Leader oversees budgeting, monitoring, and risk management, while translating client objectives into effective actions. The role also includes overseeing Palladium’s intelligence gathering, learning, and communications to enhance the program's reputation among stakeholders.

Australia Awards – South Asia and Mongolia is managed by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and is administered by Scope Global Pty Ltd (a wholly owned entity of Palladium International Pty Ltd). It is a multi-country program with service delivery offices in Colombo, Dhaka, Islamabad, Kathmandu,Thimphu and Ulaanbaatar. Leadership, coordination, and support are provided by a regional team based in a range of locations in the South Asia region as well as in Scope Global’s Offices in Adelaide and Brisbane.

Australia Awards are provided to build the skills and knowledge of individuals so that they can contribute to their country’s development, and to support the ongoing development of links between Australia and the countries to which it provides development assistance. The Australia Awards are an important part of the Australian Government’s focus on public and economic diplomacy, and provide long term Scholarships, Short Courses and other training opportunities. The Team Leader manages the entirety of Australia Awards South Asia and Mongolia, working closely with DFAT Canberra and the DFAT posts in program countries.

The Team Leader oversees all Program Country Offices and has overall management responsibility for all Program staff. This position is based at the Regional Hub in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Frequent travel to other program locations will be an essential part of the role.

Lead the design, procurement and delivery oversight of short courses, masterclasses and dialogues that align with MAP strategic priorities.

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. 

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Project Overview:
The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme is a signature initiative for the Australian Government that enables workers from 9 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and Timor- Leste to work in priority sectors in Australia. The Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program’s (PLMSP) role is to provide the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and governments in 9 PICs and Timor-Leste with support to enable workers to access PALM scheme in inclusive ways that maximise the benefits for the workers and national economies while minimising risks from labour mobility participation. Palladium is contracted to deliver PLMSP on behalf of DFAT.  

Timor Leste Scale Up
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão released a joint statement on 21 December 2024 announcing bilateral funding of nearly A$50m (A$48.6m) for the Timor-Leste-Australia Labour Mobility and Skills Partnership, to equip Timorese workers with job-ready skills and provide them with more employment opportunities. The Partnership will help contribute to long term economic growth for Timor Leste and will assist the country to achieve its target of 10,000 workers in the PALM scheme by 2027-28.

This Opportunity
The Operations and Finance Coordinator will be instrumental in providing outstanding operational, administrative, and organisational support to our in-country team. This role is key to the success of our Timor-Leste operations, ensuring smooth and consistent management of all operational needs while aligning with project processes and procedures to enhance efficiency and support program activities. Join us in making a meaningful impact in labour mobility in Tonga! 

This is a fixed term role until June 2028. 

Program Manager – Nauru

About Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program     

The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme is a signature initiative for the Australian Government that enables workers from 9 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and Timor- Leste to work in priority sectors in Australia. The Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program’s (PLMSP) role is to provide the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and governments in 9 PICs and Timor-Leste with support to enable workers to access PALM scheme in inclusive ways that maximise the benefits for the workers and national economies while minimising risks from labour mobility participation. Palladium is contracted to deliver PLMSP on behalf of DFAT.  

This Opportunity  

The Labour Mobility Program Managers (PMs), embedded in Labour Sending Units (LSUs), will support the Engagement Managers in the delivery and implementation of the PLMSP country plan and PLMSP operational priorities. The PMs will support LSUs engagement with Australian employers on recruitment, mobilisation, and strengthening of work ready pools. They will also provide LSUs with operational and programmatic support to strengthen key priority areas including welfare, communication, reintegration, In-country Recruitment Database (IRD) and pre-departure briefings (PDB). 

This is a fixed term opportunity required to September 2026. Applicants who live in Nauru or are based in Suva and willing to travel up to 50% are encouraged to apply. 

About Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program     

The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme is a signature initiative for the Australian Government that enables workers from 9 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and Timor-Leste to work in priority sectors in Australia. The Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program’s (PLMSP) role is to provide the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and governments in 9 PICs and Timor-Leste with support to enable workers to access PALM scheme in inclusive ways that maximise the benefits for the workers and national economies while minimising risks from labour mobility participation. Palladium is contracted to deliver PLMSP on behalf of DFAT.  

This Opportunity  

The Communications Manager – Media and Editorial will be responsible developing high-level media strategies that protect and enhance the reputation of the PALM scheme in Australia, the Pacific Islands and Timor-Leste. The position will work closely with the PLMSP Communications Lead to inform and build understanding amongst stakeholders in the Pacific islands and Timor-Leste, influence perceptions, manage risks and promote the benefits and achievements of labour mobility. The position will develop locally relevant place-based media and engagement strategies across a range of print, broadcast and digital formats including local and regional media, trade and industry media, and social media. This includes the development of contextualised messaging for regions and industries and local media risk management strategies.

This is a fixed term opportunity required to September 2028.

About Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program     

The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme is a signature initiative for the Australian Government that enables workers from 9 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and Timor- Leste to work in priority sectors in Australia. The Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program’s (PLMSP) role is to provide the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and governments in 9 PICs and Timor-Leste with support to enable workers to access PALM scheme in inclusive ways that maximise the benefits for the workers and national economies while minimising risks from labour mobility participation. Palladium is contracted to deliver PLMSP on behalf of DFAT.  

This Opportunity  

The Inclusion Coordinator will be responsible for supporting the Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) to develop and implement its inclusion and diversity agenda and its welfare priorities.

This is a fixed term opportunity required to September 2028

About Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program     

The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme is a signature initiative for the Australian Government that enables workers from 9 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and Timor- Leste to work in priority sectors in Australia. The Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program’s (PLMSP) role is to provide the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and governments in 9 PICs and Timor-Leste with support to enable workers to access PALM scheme in inclusive ways that maximise the benefits for the workers and national economies while minimising risks from labour mobility participation. Palladium is contracted to deliver PLMSP on behalf of DFAT.  

Timor Leste Scale Up

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão released a joint statement on 21 December 2024 announcing bilateral funding of nearly A$50m (A$48.6m) for the Timor-Leste-Australia Labour Mobility and Skills Partnership, to equip Timorese workers with job-ready skills and provide them with more employment opportunities. The Partnership will help contribute to long term economic growth for Timor Leste and will assist the country to achieve its target of 10,000 workers in the PALM scheme by 2027-28.

 This Opportunity  
Supporting PLMSP Timor Leste Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) outcomes, the Skills and Training Coordinator will support the procurement, design and delivery of accredited and non-accredited training aligned to the needs of PALM workers as part of PLMSP activities. Liaising closely with industry and SEFOPE, they will support the coordination of skills and training activities in Timor-Leste to maximize their impact, efficiency and sustainability.

This is a fixed term opportunity required to September 2028.