Job Description

Background:

Australia’s education assistance in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is designed to address education access and participation, including for women and girls and other disadvantaged groups, improve the quality of education, and improve young people’s employability. The Australian High Commission (AHC) provides support to the basic, secondary, technical and higher education sectors using a range of mechanisms, including the Education Capacity Development Facility (ECDF).

The AHC Education and Leadership Portfolio (ELP) manages and oversees the delivery of activities under the ECDF. The ECDF is implemented by Palladium and provides high-quality technical assistance and program support to the education sector as prioritised by Australia and the Government of Papua New Guinea (GoPNG), at national and provincial levels. Support is provided to the PNG National Department of Education (NDoE), the PNG Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST), higher education and technical institutions and other stakeholders in the education sector.

Purpose:

The AHC (ELP), through the ECDF, is seeking a Transition Reform Facilitator to work collaboratively with senior staff within the DHERST, and with other relevant government agencies including the National Department of Education, National Training Council (NTC) and National Apprenticeship and Trade Testing Board (NATTB), universities and other peak groups in higher education in order to support the transition process designed to implement the Higher Education Strategic Plan as approved by NEC Decision NG25/2017.
The position aims to support improved educational outcomes through policy reform, enhanced coordination among stakeholders in the sector and strengthened institutional management to improve higher education service delivery as identified in National Executive Council (NEC) Decision NG25/2017.

Responsibilities

The Transition Reform Facilitator will be responsible for the following outcomes and deliverables as part of his/her contractual responsibilities:

• At the direction of the AHC ELP, provide high level strategic and technical advice to the Acting Secretary DHERST that will contribute to the formulation and implementation of transition strategies that will successfully reform, transform and unify the Higher Education System in PNG;
• Provide high level strategic and technical advice to the AHC ELP and other related stakeholders that will support the success of reform recommendations to transform the higher education system in PNG to ensure that more women and men gain appropriate skills in priority sectors;
• Identify strategic entry points for Australian Government support related to successful implementation of the Higher Education Strategic Plan;
• Coordinate the inputs of a team of experienced ECDF advisory personnel to the reform process through implementation of the ECDF support plan;
• Provide advice that significantly contributes to improved organisational, strategic and operational planning capacity of management teams;
• Support the strengthening of the capability of DHERST senior administrative personnel through support to Acting Secretary and DHERST Deputy Secretary Policy & Planning;
• Mainstreaming of the GoPNG Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) Policy 2013;
• Strengthen operational and strategic partnerships among stakeholders in the sector including: the GoPNG agencies, universities and private sector partners; and
• Support the building of the core capabilities of DHERST to deliver effective reform of the higher education sector (including TVET sub-sector) in PNG

Outputs:

The work of the Transition Reform Facilitator will support the key outputs of the reform process:

• Institutional transition to the new DHERST Strategic Plan as approved by NEC decision NG04/17;
• DHERST Organisational Structure Framework in place;
• DHERST new operating environment reflects GoPNG GESI Policy; and
• Tertiary enabling environment enhanced through improved strategic planning, financial management, data collection and reporting, monitoring and evaluation.

Requirements

Please submit your CV and a cover letter addressing the following selection criteria for the role of the Transition Reform Facilitator:

• A minimum of 10 years’ experience working at a senior management level, across strategic, policy and operational areas, with demonstrated strong business and financial reform outcomes; preferably leadership.
• Experience leading change in government organisations or education institutions.
• Prior experience working effectively with senior management personnel within public service institutions in a developing country setting;
• Demonstrated ability to effectively lead teams of senior technical personnel in the tertiary education sector to produce results on time;
• Demonstrated ability to plan, strategise and support the implementation of reform processes within tertiary education sector institutions;
• Understanding of international development and education agreements and issues.

This position is defined as long-term C3 under the Australian Government’s Adviser Remuneration Framework.

About the Organization

Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact - the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with foundations, investors, governments, corporations, communities and civil society to formulate strategies and implement solutions that generate lasting social, environmental and financial benefits.

For the past 50 years, we have been making Positive Impact possible. With a team of more than 2,500 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of more than 35,000 technical experts, Palladium has improved - and is committed to continuing to improve - economies, societies and most importantly, people's lives.

Palladium is a child-safe organisation, and screens applicants for suitability to work with children. We also provide equal employment to all participants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran or marital status.