Safeguards and Partner Risk Manager
Location: Ideally Brisbane/Australia;remote location may be considered
Position type: Permanent
We are currently seeking a The Safeguards and Partner Risk Manager to join our team at Abt Global. The Safeguards and Partner Risk Manager role will:
• Manage the Abt Partner Risk, Safeguarding and Environmental & Social Safeguards; governance, control environment and frameworks for Abt Australia and Abt Britain, their programs and subsidiaries.
• Manage and maintain implementation of the holistic incident investigations management framework for Safeguarding in collaboration with program Executive, safeguarding control officers and staff; ensuring compliance with contractual, legislative and client requirements.
Key Responsibilities:
• Manage and maintain the implementation of the Abt Safeguarding framework, Partner Risk Frameworks and the Environmental and Social Safeguards Framework to the highest standards and ensure controls are implemented throughout all aspects of the program lifecycle for all Abt Australia and Abt Britain programs and clients.
• Ensure compliance to, and innovations in, partner risk management and safeguarding practices [including environmental and social safeguards] by coordinating and supporting the Abt Australia regional Safeguarding Community of Practice, and regular links with program leaders and the ECRA team.
• Provide surge support as needed particularly during project inception, mobilisation and during critical activity periods
• Support program staff and country-based Safeguarding Control Officers in incident management processes; responding, managing, investigating, and reporting on incidents, including business partnering with key stakeholders in the end to end management of safeguarding incidents ensuring compliance with contractual
and legislative reporting obligations.
• Partnering with key stakeholders and the ECRA team with building awareness and capacity of
Partners with regards to safeguarding controls and the prevention and detection of safeguarding incidents.
• Coordinate and manage all mobilisation deliverables as related to; Environmental and Social Safeguards, Safeguarding and Partner Risk. Including but not limited to: training, risk assessments, control strategies, management system maintenance and onboarding.
• Provide technical assistance as a partner risk and safeguarding subject matter expert to support business development with data and information as needed.
• Manage and maintain implementation of whistleblowing frameworks.
• Other duties as required.
Selection Criteria:
o Degree in International Development, Law, Social Work, Risk Management, or related field.
o Postgraduate qualifications in compliance, safeguarding, or risk management desirable.
Experience:
o Minimum 5–10 years in safeguarding, compliance, or risk roles within international development.
o Proven track record in managing partner risk frameworks and environmental/social
safeguards.
o Experience with donor-funded programs (DFAT, FCDO, USAID).
Technical Skills:
o Strong knowledge of incident management, investigations and due diligence processes.
Performance Competencies:
• Risk Analysis & Decision-Making
o Ability to identify, assess, and mitigate partner and program risks.
o Competence
in quantitative and qualitative risk assessment.
• Strategic Thinking
o Align safeguarding and risk strategies with organizational objectives.
o Innovate in compliance and control mechanisms.
• Influence & Collaboration
o Strong interpersonal skills to influence partners and internal teams.
o Ability to foster a positive safeguarding culture.
• Ethics & Integrity
o High standards of professional ethics and confidentiality.
o Courage to challenge non-compliance and escalate issues appropriately.
• Adaptability & Resilience
o Capacity to operate in fragile, complex environments under pressure.
o Ability to manage competing priorities and surge requirements.
For further details and to apply, please click here https://egpy.fa.us2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/JoinAbt/job/106828/?utm_medium=jobshare&utm_source=External+Job+Share
We welcome and thank all applications; however only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Closing Date: 25 January 2026 (5:55PM AEST)
Commitment to Equity
Abt Associates values individuality and celebrates difference with a strong commitment to diversity, equality, racial equity, gender, and disability inclusion. We strongly encourage people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply for this position. We offer flexible work arrangements and a culturally safe environment for staff members from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Commitment to Safeguarding
We are deeply committed to safeguarding, to protect and prevent harm and abuse to individuals we work for and who work for us. Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. We will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, child abuse, sexual abuse or exploitation in any form, and expect everyone to be treated with respect and dignity.
