Cross-Cutting Themes Manager

Job Description

Work on a global humanitarian program contributing to saving lives and alleviating suffering.

Contribute to a world where people, communities and the planet thrive.

Tetra Tech International Development is a leading development consulting firm working with government, businesses, and NGOs to solve complex development challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. For more information please visit our website .

The Opportunity

• Based in Australia - Hybrid
• Open to national and international candidates
• Duration: Until 30 June 2029

The Program:

Australia Assists is an Australian Government program that deploys skilled humanitarian specialists to support multilateral agencies, governments, civil society and communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and conflict. Australia Assists’ Goal is to: Save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity during and in the aftermath of conflict, disasters and other humanitarian crises, and strengthen preparedness for the occurrence of such situations. The program’s Objective is: Targeted deployment of humanitarian expertise that meets the priorities and needs of Australia’s multilateral, bilateral and civil society partners and advances Australia’s international humanitarian priorities.

The Role:

Australia Assists is an Australian Government-funded program that deploys skilled humanitarian specialists to support governments, multilateral agencies, and communities in disaster and conflict preparedness, response, and recovery. Delivered through a locally led, partnership-driven approach, the program is grounded in equity, inclusion, and cultural safety.

The Cross-Cutting Themes Manager ensures these principles are embedded across the program, strengthening regional organisational capacity to meet humanitarian needs. This includes integrating gender equality, disability equity and social inclusion (GEDSI), climate resilience, localisation, and First Nations perspectives from deployment design to implementation, monitoring, and learning.

Working closely with internal teams, DFAT, and partners, it drives the application of these cross-cutting priorities aligned with Australia’s humanitarian and development goals. By influencing policy, strengthening practice, and enhancing accountability, this role contributes to positioning Australia Assists as a leader in equitable, sustainable humanitarian action.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of the Cross-Cutting Themes (CCT) Strategy and Action Plan across all program functions, ensuring alignment with DFAT’s policy commitments and Australia Assists’ performance frameworks.
• Collaborate with team leads and working groups to track progress on strategic priority areas under GEDSI, localisation, First Nations engagement, and climate action.
• Drive the integration of Cross-Cutting Themes (GEDSI, localisation, First Nations engagement, climate resilience) into deployment documents including Terms of Reference (ToRs), MEL frameworks, partner engagement strategies, and capacity strengthening plans ensuring consistent application across operational and programmatic levels.
• Advise on embedding institutional governance and system strengthening approaches within capacity development plans, ensuring alignment with national policies and promoting sustainable, locally led, and effective humanitarian responses.
• Strengthen relationships with national and regional stakeholders, including First Nations and locally led organisations, to advance mutual goals.
• Support the development and operationalisation of partnership frameworks that embed localisation, equity, and climate resilience principles.
• Ensure operational processes, risk management, and safeguarding policies are inclusive, ethical, and compliant with DFAT contractual obligations relating to cross-cutting priorities.
• Contribute to the development of program policies and tools that uphold Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) rights, Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), and equitable recruitment and remuneration practices.

Selection criteria

• A tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline such as Gender Studies, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Climate Change, or related fields.
• At least 5 years’ experience in managing or advising on cross-cutting themes within international development, humanitarian, or regional programs.
• Proven ability to work effectively and respectfully across diverse cultural contexts, with a clear understanding of how cultural factors shape program activities, engagement, and outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience in promoting inclusion, equity, and cultural safety within program design and delivery.
• Ability to design and implement strategies that foster culturally safe, anti-racist, and inclusive practices, including pathways for participation and leadership of underrepresented groups.
• Strong capacity to work independently while contributing to a flexible, collaborative, and multidisciplinary team environment, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities and contexts.
• Demonstrated experience in capacity development, policy advocacy, and partnership management.
• Experience working with Pacific regional institutions, governments, and community-based organisations is highly desirable.

For a complete position description please click here. Use the password: TetraTech2025 for access.

How to apply

Please submit your application by clicking “Apply for job” at the top of this page. Applications will only be accepted via the Tetra Tech International Development Website. Emailed applications will be disregarded.

A completed application includes:

• Resume
• Statement of suitability (not to exceed two pages), demonstrating how your qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills and personal attributes align with the selection criteria

Apply before 11:59pm (AEDT), Sunday 7 December, 2025.

About the Organization

Why Tetra Tech International Development?

As a leading development consulting firm, Tetra Tech International Development works with people and communities to solve some of the world's most complex challenges to achieve a positive impact.

Working at Tetra Tech International Development means working within a values-led organisation that invests in flexible work environments built on trust, safety and well-being. Through unified systems, flexible and supportive workplaces, we provide the foundations required for our team to enjoy the work they do and deliver value every day.

Read more about our culture, purpose and values here.

Tetra Tech International Development is an equal-opportunity employer and has a genuine commitment to diversity and inclusion. We encourage people with disability; First Nations Peoples; and people of all cultures, genders, abilities, and experiences to apply.

Should you require additional support with during as part of your application, please email hr@australiaassists.org

Tetra Tech has a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (‘SEAH’), child abuse and exploitation, modern slavery and safeguarding related retaliation, and this zero-tolerance extends to inaction. Tetra Tech is committed to being a child safe organisation, and to promoting a culture that supports gender equality, and addresses the gendered drivers of violence against women and children. It is committed to fostering a culture where we prevent and respond decisively and appropriately to harm against people, and that all people are treated with dignity and respect, irrespective of country, project, or office where we work. This will require compliance with Tetra Tech’s Safeguarding and other Codes of Conduct and our associated safeguarding policies (Child Protection and Child Safety, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) policy and procedure, and Modern Slavery. Any successful applicants will be required to undertake satisfactory referee and criminal record checks prior to being appointed to any position.

Position Type

Project opportunity

Region

Australia and Indo-Pacific Teams and Clients

Sector

Humanitarian Aid (International Development)

Disaster Preparedness, Response and Recovery (International Development)