Fiji Program Support Platform (FPSP)

Long term role based in Suva, Fiji - commencing January 2025; 3-year contract with possible 2-year extension  Open to International and National applications  Seeking suitably qualified applicants with:  Extensive senior management and executive leadership experience in aligning roles providing strategic decision-making, team leadership, and being accountable for program outcomes. Strong and credible skills and experience in education system strengthening Relevant experience in public sector management, including liaising at a strategic level with governments and other donors,

Fiji Program Support Platform 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.  

Australia Fiji Education Program Overview:

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 sector programs. In particular, the Platform seeks to strengthen program outcomes by better addressing the needs of targeted populations including those who are often marginalised.

The Australian Government is supporting Fiji’s education sector through the Australia Fiji Education Program (AFEP, the Program) working with the Ministry of Education (MoE).

The objective of the AFEP is “to work with the Government of Fiji under the Vuvale Partnership to catalyse quality education delivery for all Fijian children”.

The changes expected by the end of the five year program are:

EOPO 1: Schools, particularly trial schools, have improved student literacy and numeracy outcomes, supported by enabling policies, plans and data from the Ministry of Education. EOPO 2: Heads of schools and teachers, supported by enabling policies and data from the Ministry of Education, provide a safe, resilient and inclusive learning environment for all students, particularly in trial schools.

Four intermediate outcomes will provide pathways to meet these end of program outcomes in priority areas, like implementation of the revised literacy and numeracy curriculum in primary and secondary schools, professional development interventions, analysis and improvement of the Fiji Education Management Information System (FEMIS), as well as GEDSI and student wellbeing. 

The funding for the program is approximately AUD45million over 9 years (5 years, with an option to extend for a further 4 years) and delivered through a range of activities to achieve the program’s objectives. 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).

Position Summary: 

The Team Leader (TL), Education is responsible for leading and managing the delivery of the program to achieve high quality and sustainable results to support MoE’s strategic priorities and DFAT’s bi- lateral relationship with the GoF. 

This requires the TL to maintain highly effective working relationships with MoE leadership, and the DFAT team led by the Human Development Counsellor. The TL sets the strategic direction of the program in close collaboration with DFAT and MoE and is responsible for delivering AFEP through the full program life cycle. 

The TL will be a member of the Platform Management Group (MG) and Platform Performance Group (PPG) and will  champion meaningful integration of cross-cutting themes such as GEDSI and climate and disaster resilience. The TL is  accountable for ensuring compliance with DFAT and Platform organisational and operational policies and procedures across the program.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Engagement & Leadership

Lead and manage the program and team in coordination with Platform leadership to deliver high quality development results. Maintain a clear and contemporary understanding of and engagement with the education sector context in Fiji (policy, political and donor/investment landscape) and draw upon this to provide relevant advice to DFAT, MoE and Platform leadership. Facilitate and support shared decision making by the MoE and DFAT on the strategic direction of the program within the context of the Australian Government’s investment plans and priorities, particularly Australia’s International Development Policy (2023). Ensure alignment of program objectives and activities to the MoE’s strategic plan, evolving priorities and related GoF National Development Plan objectives and policy commitments. Lead the provision of regular (quarterly, and as required) presentations to MoE - in collaboration with DFAT – to update the Ministry on program implementation progress, results, challenges, risks and future opportunities.

Management, Planning, Implementation & Reporting

Lead the development of Annual Work Plans (AWPs) based on effective and close engagement with MoE and DFAT to ensure alignment with strategic priorities, appropriate ownership and mutual accountability. Oversee and contribute to the development of detailed designs for activities (the ‘business case’) that contribute to the program’s intended outcomes and meet quality standards. Lead the preparation of high-quality six-monthly and annual progress reports for the program as part of Platform reports, and other ad-hoc reporting as required. Oversee the program’s MEL system, ensuring it produces credible evidence for reporting and to inform strategic and operational decision‐making for the program – within the Platform’s overarching MEL system. 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 in the program. Provide oversight of program budgeting and forecasting and closely monitor expenditure in coordination with Education operations team and the Platform Finance Manager. Provide oversight of procurement processes for the program to ensure these comply with Platform policies and procedures and DFAT requirements. Ensure modalities are fit for purpose and that partners and sub-contractors meet milestones, in close coordination with the PMU. Act as key member of the Platform’s PPG and MG as key decision-making and governance forums and contribute to the success of the Platform’s integrated delivery model by ensuring highly effective coordination and collaboration. Champion, and be accountable for, the integration of the Platform’s cross cutting priorities of GEDSI, Civil Society Engagement, Climate and Disaster Resilience, and Emergency Preparedness and Response across all aspects of the program’s activities and operations. With the PMU, contribute to the planning and delivery of public diplomacy activities that promote the achievements of the program and the development cooperation values of the Australian government as a key partner in development in Fiji’s education sector.

General

Other duties as requested by the Platform Leader.

Key Deliverables:

Position Deliverables / Outputs

Program leadership and team performance management. Strategic analysis of the education sector in Fiji. Multi-year work or investment plans based on a portfolio of activities to deliver against program objectives and the strategic direction agreed with DFAT and MoE. Ensure the quality of detailed designs (the business case) for each activity. Lead the preparation and delivery, in close consultation with DFAT, of six monthly Program Coordination Committee (PCC) meetings, and provide weekly updates to DFAT. The PCC provides a forum for joint consultation, planning, learning, coordination and decision-making to underpin delivery of AFEP results and sustainability. It is the peak forum for senior managers across MoE, DFAT, and the Platform to engage, discuss and agree on the key direction, priorities and ongoing implementation issues for the Education Program aligned to MoE’s strategic objectives.  Six-monthly and annual progress reports, drawing on evidence from the program’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) system.

Key Senior Leadership Team Responsibilities

High level of responsiveness to AHC issues and requests measured by Program receiving a Partner Performance Rating of 5 or above. Quality reporting, milestones, deliverables and KPIs are submitted on time and meet internal (Abt) and external (DFAT) requirements. Program is delivered on time and within budget and value for money principles drive all Program resourcing decisions. Build and maintain open, productive and outcome-oriented relationships with key internal and external stakeholders including AHC. This will be measured. Active pursuit and incorporation of innovative approaches to program activity design and delivery.

Key Working Relationships:

Reporting to

Platform Leader

Others

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Human Development Counsellor and Australian High Commission (AHC) Education Program team. The Permanent Secretary (PS) and senior officials in the Ministry of Education (MoE) as the primary GoF counterpart Ministry, 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 bilateral and multilateral organisations and stakeholders in the education sector in Fiji and regionally.

Selection Criteria:

Qualifications

Master level qualification or equivalent professional experience related to Education, International Development, Management or Social Sciences.

Experience

Strong and credible skills and experience in education system strengthening, and the ability to use these to guide strategic planning and engagement with DFAT and the GoF. Demonstrated experience and success in senior management of education programs in developing countries, preferably in the Asia-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. 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. Strong experience in use of MEL to drive strong performance, consistent with DFAT’s Aid Strategy M&E requirements. Relevant experience in public sector management, including liaising at a strategic level with governments and other donors, providing advice to counter-part ministries/departments/senior policy makers and in policy analysis and development. Experience in networking and maintaining relationships across a range of program and sectoral stakeholders. Demonstrated experience in mainstreaming cross-cutting themes including GEDSI, civil society engagement and/or climate and disaster resilience, and emergency preparedness and response in program implementation. Experience delivering on major reforms in a education sector program (desirable).

Personal Attributes

Demonstrated ability to develop and share a vision and deliver strategic approach. Sensitivity to other cultures and the ability to act appropriately in the context of Fijian culture and the workplace, and foster a positive, collaborative team culture. 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. An effective leader who is committed to coaching and mentoring others and leads by example. Able to manage relationships, conflicts and tensions between key stakeholders under a context that is potential vulnerable to political agendas. 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.

How to apply:

Applications close on 19 Janaury 2024 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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