Fiji Program Support Platform (FPSP)

Locally Engaged Employee - commencing February 2025 to 31 December 2027, with possible 2-year extension. Base in Suva, Fiji with travel to Divisions

FPSP Overview:

FPSP, also referred to as the ‘Platform’, a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) investment, will contribute to the delivery of Fiji’s national development priorities, in line with the Australia’s International Development Policy, the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership and the Development Partnership Plan.  

The Platform will deliver key bilateral programs, such as health, education, scholarships, social infrastructure, governance, climate and emergency preparedness and response. Platform activities will identify and address climate risks, promote climate action, and gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) across and beyond the sector programs. 

The Platform has three functional Outcomes:  

The Platform has delivered its sector program outcomes, including through supporting strategic coherence, planning, partnerships management, data and learning across the portfolio of investments.  The Platform has prioritised gender equality, disability-inclusive development, and climate and disaster resilience, in its systems and practices. This includes in how it undertakes sector programming and its engagement with selected Government of Fiji (GoF) agencies.  The Platform administers timely and efficient programming that is: value for money; maximises use of local supply chains; and supports good governance, and public diplomacy, effective decision making and risk management.

AFHP Overview:

The Fiji Program Support Platform (the Platform) implements over fifty percent of Australia’s bilateral development support to Fiji across a range of sector programs in education, health, Australia Awards, disaster response, cyclone recovery, social infrastructure and technical assistance to improve public sector governance in Fiji.   

The Platform integrates cross-cutting themes, including gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), climate and disaster resilience, across sectoral programs. In particular, the Platform seeks to strengthen program outcomes by better addressing the needs of targeted beneficiaries including those who are often marginalised. 

The Australian Government is supporting Fiji’s health sector through the Australia Fiji Health Program (AFHP, the Program) working with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS). 

The program’s high-level End of Program Outcomes (EOPOs) are: 

Improved systems are used by MHMS and health workers for evidence-based planning and resource allocation (workforce and budget), clinical care, digital health and medical supply chains; and  Targeted healthcare facilities equitably deliver improved primary health services, with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and non-communicable disease (NCD) services. 

The funding for the program is approximately AUD 45million over 9 years (5 years, with an option to extend a further 4 years) and delivered through a range of activities (interventions) to achieve the program’s objectives where implementation modalities include technical advice, procurement of technical services and goods, minor works and infrastructure upgrades, capacity building and training support, support to Ministry led initiatives and innovations, and grants to civil society organisations (CSOs). 

AFHP is designed to support the MHMS achieve the goals and objectives in its Strategic Plan and Annual Operational Plans, and AFHP’s workplans are targeted to support specific components of the Ministry’s plans. 

Recent natural disasters such as cyclones, and public health emergencies in Fiji including COVID-19 have highlighted major challenges for pandemic preparedness and response during epidemics and other health emergencies. In this context, around 10% of program funding will be allocated for MHMS to assign to emerging needs and priorities as they arise. Funding may be allocated toward preparedness and responses to public health emergencies, or related opportunities for reform and innovation. 

Position Summary: 

Reporting to the Team Leader, the Program Manager, Health (or the 'Program Manager) is a senior member of the AFHP team. Through effective leadership and management of Program Support Team, the Program Manager is responsible for the provision of effective and efficient operations of the program, including financial planning and budget management, work-planning and risk management, IT and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) support, procurement, grant and contract management, HR administration, office administration and logistics. The Program Manager will also oversee safeguards including child protection, Preventing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH), and Work Health and Safety. 

The primary objective of the Program Manager is to oversee effective operations for AFHP in support of the Team Leader.

Key Responsibilities:

Program management

Provide program, project and operational management expertise as a senior member of AFHP in support of the Team Leader, including providing advice and guidance for continuous improvement for the program when applicable.

Personnel management 

Provide mentoring and coaching to AFHP team members, including direct management (work planning and performance management) for the program support team (finance and operations team members).

Financial planning and budget management  

Lead and manage the AFHP's financial planning and budget preparation / expenditure forecasting for Annual Work Plans. Support Project Leads with specific project level cost planning and expenditure management.  Oversee the Finance Team to plan and forecast expenditure for the program and projects, including monitoring expenditure of projects and associated activities to ensure they are on track and supporting the budget forecasting process the Team Leader and Facility Finance Manager. This also includes overseeing monthly financial reports.   

Project design and work-planning   

Engage with each AFHP Project Lead to ensure that project design documents and detailed workplans are in place and reviewed quarterly on quality and progress.

Procurement, and contracting   

With the program support team, and in coordination with the PMU Procurement Team: Manage all procurement and contracting requirements for goods, services and works including drafting specifications, scope of services, contracts and variations to contracts.  Ensure timely, quality and value for money delivery of these services. Ensure service agreement milestones and compliance are tracked.  Identify when contract variations are needed and ensure they are actioned. 

Administration and logistics 

Oversee logistics and administration activities required to be delivered to support the successful implementation of AFHP, including overseeing value for money and risk management of these activities.

Health, safety, security and risks

Manage health, safety and security arrangements for the office and program activities including ensuring incident reporting liaising with the Platform Management Unit as required. Contribute to the identification of risks and mitigation approached through the AFHP risk register and elevate program and project risks to the Team Leader.  Support the Team Leader to ensure AFHP and service providers are in compliance with DFAT requirements for fraud, child protection, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) working with the Cross Cutting Priorities Hub (collaborating closely with the Safeguarding Specialist) and undertaking assessments and monitoring visits when needed. 

General

Provide other ad-hoc project management support as needed to for Project Leads and teams to ensure that implementation of project activities progress and remain on-track.  Engage, contribute and support the Platform's policy and procedures, and management and governance arrangements attending Platform Communities of Practices as required.  Work with the GEDSI Specialist to support the integration of gender equality, disability inclusion and social inclusion (GEDSI) through all stages of design and implementation for relevant activities. Work with the AFHP MEL Specialist to support the monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) by providing information and undertaking MEL of relevant activities.  Support the coordination of communications and public diplomacy activities in relation to relevant activities in collaboration with the Platform's Performance Learning and Communications Hub. Undertake additional Program support and operations management duties as required by the Team Leader. 

Key Working Relationships: 

Reporting to:

Team Leader, Health 

Other:

AFHP Program Support Team Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Civil Society Organisations (CSOS) and other agencies as needed. 

Selection Criteria: 

Qualifications

Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline such as public health, business administration, policy and planning, development studies or finance. 

Experience 

Strong program or project management experience for development projects.  Demonstrated experience in budgeting, planning and project cost control and expenditure forecasting Demonstrated experience scoping requirements for goods, services and works.  Demonstrated experience in the procurement of suppliers for goods, services and works, including contract administration of contractors/service providers (i.e., contract management, variation and completion.  Demonstrated experience in project/activity conception and design based on a consultative approach.  Experience in monitoring evaluation and learning activities for projects and preferably with DFAT MEL requirements.  Experience working as part of a multi-cultural, multi-disciplined team. 

Knowledge/Skills 

Highly development project management skills.  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.  Knowledge of, or familiarity with DFAT’s compliance standards for development programs, particularly child protection, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) and fraud awareness and control requirements and practice. 

Personal Attributes 

Innovative and solutions focused and ability and commitment to contribute positively to the overall operations of the health program and the Platform.  Ability to be flexible, pragmatic and quickly adapt to change.  Willingness and enthusiasm to act as a champion for key cross cuttings issues (including gender equality, disability and social inclusion, civil society engagement, and climate change) and safeguarding (including child protection and PSEAH).  Ability to work under pressure and manage personal stress levels.  Sensitivity to other cultures and the ability to act appropriately in the context of Fijian culture and the workplace.  Ability and willingness to demonstrate and promote a working and professional culture that advocates and prioritises striving for achievement, open and proactive information sharing that empowers the team, transparency and accountability, fairness, and collaboration.

How to apply: 

Applications close on 26 Janaury 2025 at midday.   

Please apply online by submitting a cover letter addressing how you meet the requirements of this role and up-to-date comprehensive CV.  

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