Long Term Role – January 2025, 9 months with an option for extension, subject to program extension 

Program 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.

IPEF Overview

Fiji is the only Pacific Island member in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), representing a significant step in integrating the Pacific’s second largest economy into our region’s economic architecture. Australia and Fiji have both signed the four IPEF agreements that have been substantially concluded by IPEF Ministers: the IPEF Supply Chain, Clean Economy, Fair Economy, and Overarching Agreements. The IPEF Trade Agreement is still under negotiation. The Fijian Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MTCMSMEC) is Fiji’s coordinating agency on IPEF, led by its International Trade team, which also has responsibility for domestic and international trade initiatives, including PACER Plus and WTO commitments.

Following intensive IPEF negotiations over 2021-2023, MTCMSMEC now needs to focus on its other domestic and international responsibilities. Line ministries face similar challenges. Additional support is needed for MTCMSMEC to coordinate and report on IPEF commitments across Government of Fiji including providing support for line ministries to guide legislative drafting and technical readiness assessments.

Under Australia’s IPEF Fund for Technical Assistance and Economic Cooperation (IFTAEC), Australia is providing tailored support for Fiji to implement its IPEF commitments, through the establishment of a Fiji IPEF Implementation Unit within the MTCMSMEC. The Implementation Unit will consist of an embedded IPEF Program Manager and IPEF Coordination Officer, who will have responsibility for developing targeted capacity building and technical assistance projects for MTCMSMEC and other Fijian line agencies with IPEF responsibilities, and providing administrative, coordination and logistical support to free MTCMSMEC officials to focus on IPEF engagement.   

Position Summary

Strategic Policy Advice  (20%)

Provide high-quality and timely trade and economic policy advice to Fijian officials and Government ministers on implementation of Fiji’s IPEF commitments, as needed.  Provide strategic advice and reporting to MTCMSMEC officials and Fiji Government on implementation of IPEF, including the IPEF agreements on Supply Chains, Clean Economy and Fair Economy.

Program Management (40%)

Plan and coordinate Fiji’s IPEF implementation.  Work with Fijian officials to identify gaps in IPEF implementation and MTCMSMEC capacity needs and generate ideas for capacity building and technical assistance projects to address those needs.  Develop project proposals and manage the delivery of projects, including monitoring and evaluation, financial and risk management.  Ensure gender, climate and cross-cutting issues are integrated into capacity building and technical assistance projects. Provide regular progress reports to ISC, DFAT Canberra (Director and IFTAEC investment managers) and the AHC, Suva.

Stakeholder management and representation (20%)

Establish productive working relationships within MTCMSMEC and other Fijian line agencies with IPEF responsibilities. Develop and maintain a productive network of IPEF stakeholder contacts across Fiji’s public, private and civil society sectors. In consultation with ISC, DFAT Canberra and the AHC, Suva, lead Australia’s engagement with IPEF stakeholders on matters relating to Fiji’s implementation of IPEF. Liaise regularly with ISC, DFAT Canberra and AHC, Suva, other DFAT stakeholders including relevant global and regional programs, and the IFTAEC Delivery Partner. Represent the Australian Government at relevant public events, functions and meetings as needed.

Resource Management and Administration (20%)

Manage the resourcing of the Fiji IPEF Implementation Unit, including supervision of the IPEF Coordination Officer and management of project contracts, in consultation with ISC, DFAT Canberra and AHC, Suva. 

Key Outcomes

The Program Manager will support the following Program outcomes:

Improved capacity in Fiji’s MTCMSMEC and other relevant line agencies to implement IPEF standards and frameworks; and Enhanced cooperation between Australia and Fiji on IPEF and other areas of bilaterial engagement

Key Working Relationships:

Reports to Fiji Director Trade, Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications on the delivery and quality of agreed outputs; and  Accountable to the Director, IPEF Coordination and Strategy Section (ISC), DFAT for delivery of IPEF outcomes and AHC Suva.  Accountable to the Suva Post’s FPSP for employment administration. 

Selection Criteria:

Extensive development and program management experience, including undertaking gap assessments, project design, monitoring and evaluation, budget management and knowledge of Australian Official Development Assistance (ODA) policies and programming requirements. Experience working on regional economic integration in similar institutions, such as PACER Plus, IEPA, AANZFTA, CPTPP and APEC, would be desirable, but not mandatory.    Awareness of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), including individual Agreements, or the ability to master information rapidly. Ability to deliver high quality and strategic advice on trade and economic policies.  Excellent interpersonal, communication and stakeholder engagement skills, in particular the ability to build effective working relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders. Demonstrated strong initiative, good judgement and inclusive style of management. Strong skills in research, writing and analysis.

How to Apply

Applications close at midday on 21 November 2024.

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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