Job Vacancy
Title Assistant Program Manager, Pohnpei
Division/Post/Section Pacific/ Pacific Bilateral/Pohnpei
Reports to (title) Senior Program Manager, Pohnpei
Objective
Australia’s Development Coordination objective is to help people overcome poverty. This serves Australia’s national interests by promoting stability and prosperity both in our region and beyond. Australia is committed to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), the internationally agreed targets for poverty reduction. Australia’s five strategic goals are:
• saving lives
• promoting opportunities for all
• sustainable economic development
• effective governance, and
• humanitarian and disaster response.
Our People
Australia needs to ensure its workforce has strong capabilities in two critical areas. The first is in public policy, as required by a responsive, credible and effective public sector agency. The second is in the core operations of the aid program, including designing, managing and delivering good quality aid and conducting effective aid policy dialogue. These two critical skill sets are not mutually exclusive. Underpinning both are the foundation skills required of all our employees.
About Pohnpei Post
The Australian Embassy building is located in Kolonia, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and covers the North Pacific Region which also includes the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and Republic of Palau (ROP).
The FSM, RMI and ROP operate under Democratic Governments in free association with the United States. Under the terms of the Compact of Free Association, the countries receive financial assistance, access to US federal programs, and favourable provisions for travelling and working in the US. The Compact and its subsidiary agreements also commit the US to provide many services including air safety, weather prediction and monitoring, and assistance in the event of natural disasters.
Despite the high levels of Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), development tracking is poor in the FSM and RMI. Developmental challenges are attributed to limited human capacity and technical expertise, weak education systems, high costs of delivery, and isolation from economic markets. Palau however, is currently on track to reach six of the seven targets of the MDG. The major long-term development challenges for all three countries stem from the need to move toward self-sustainability, reduce their reliance on foreign assistance, and increase government revenue. Compact funding decrements begin in 2013 and, unless negotiated otherwise, end in 2023.
In 2010, Australia signed Partnerships for Development with the FSM, RMI, and ROP, heralding a significant shift from previous rather ad hoc aid funding arrangements towards bilateral partnership relationships. The Partnerships identify key priority areas for Australia’s assistance. In addition, Australia continues to assist the countries to optimise their access to regional initiatives through participation in regional dialogue and forums. Human resource gaps have been identified as an important need in the priority sectors, leading to a higher demand for, and provision of, technical advisors. Student scholarships, small grants, and placement of Australian volunteers are used to complement broader program objectives.
About the role
Under close direction, the Assistant Program Manager will support the Senior Program Manager in the Partnerships for Development program. The position will support the Small Grants Program and Australia Development Scholarship within the Region.
The key responsibilities for this position include:
• Support the monitoring and evaluation of the program through managing the finances in accordance with Australia Government’s policies and procedures and assisting in the monitoring and evaluation of existing contracts and projects
• Review and certifying contractor’s invoices
• Review and comment on reports on relevant program activities
• Liaise with relevant stakeholders and external clients on operational and policy issues associated with the program
• Assist in the preparation for missions and delegations in Australia and/or overseas concerning specific activities/issues
• Manage the information and records management requirements for the program
• Co-ordinate and arrange meetings, events, and visits
• Provide administrative support to program activities as appropriate
• Contribute to strategy discussion and planning, and the alignment with other Australian programs relevant to the Region
• Contribute to the production of briefings and manage schedules for the Australian Ambassador, delegates and other visitors.
Capabilities
1. Supports and contributes to strategic direction
• communicating and following direction
• identifying issues and problems
• drawing on information and using agreed guidelines to analyse information
• applying critical thinking to understand patterns.
2. Achieves results
• responding positively and flexibly to change
• seeking feedback to gauge satisfaction
• values expertise and capitalising on knowledge and skills of others
• committing to achieving quality outcomes.
3. Values teamwork and builds partnerships
• drawing others into active participation
• aiding in building team identity
• assisting in broadening individuals’ insight and responding to changes in client or partner needs and expectations.
4. Exemplifies personal drive and integrity
• persevering to achieve goals in the face of obstacles
• remaining calm and in control under pressure
• coping effectively with setbacks
• acknowledging mistakes and learning from them.
5. Communicates and works with influence
• listening to and considering different ideas
• identifying other people’s expectations and concerns
• presenting unpopular ideas confidently and calmly
• identifying issues that may impact on tasks
• suggesting improvements to work tasks
• writing in a way that is meaningful for the reader, using the Australian government writing style guide.
6. Aid Management, Development Policy and Country/Region knowledge
• an awareness knowledge of Aid Management
• an awareness knowledge of Development Policy
• a regional knowledge of Micronesia.
APPLICATIONS:
Interested applicants must provide a statement of claims, not exceeding half a page per criteria, as listed below.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Applicants must provide statements detailing suitability to perform the duties of the position which include personal qualities, experience, skills and knowledge relative to the following selection criteria.
1. Experience in program or project administration.
2. Excellent literacy and computer skills
3. Effective organisational and management skills
4. High level interpersonal, oral and written communication skills with an emphasis on liaison, communication, negotiation and stakeholder engagement.
5. Sound understanding of key economic, political, social and cultural issues associated with the delivery of aid in the North Pacific;
NB: All employees must demonstrate a commitment to the Local Engaged Staff (LES) Code of Conduct, as well as to workplace diversity, occupational health and safety and have appropriate cross-cultural sensitivities.
Important Notes: this position requires travel. The successful candidate must be willing to travel across the three North Pacific countries and to Canberra when required. It is essential that the incumbent of the position has sound computer literacy skills.
The successful applicant will be on a two year contract which includes a six month probationary period. The contract may be extended on the basis of need and performance.
Questions / Additional Information:
All questions concerning the advertised position should be directed to Caroline Adams: [email protected]
ELIGIBILITY / OTHER REQUIREMENTS
The successful applicant will be required to obtain a satisfactory police check and medical check.
Statement of claims and CV must be emailed to: [email protected]
If unable to be emailed, please post to:
Caroline Adams
Australian Embassy
PO Box S
Kolonia, Pohnpei
Federated States of Micronesia FM 96941
Please only post an application if email is unavailable. Do not do both.
Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID)
The Australian Government's overseas aid program is a federally funded program that aims to assist developing countries to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development, in line with Australia’s national interest.
The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) manages the program.
For an overview of the regional and bilateral AusAID activities in Micronesia, please visit the following websites:
Federated States of Micronesia: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/countries/pacific/fsm/Pages/home.aspx
Republic of Palau: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/countries/pacific/rop/Pages/home.aspx
Republic of the Marshall Islands: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/countries/pacific/rmi/Pages/home.aspx
Or click on the following link to view the AusAID North Pacific Bilateral Program Profile.
SCHOLARSHIPS:
The AusAID north pacific program offers two types of scholarships: the Australian Leadership Awards (ALA) and the Australian Awards Pacific Scholarships (AAPS).
AUSTRALIAN AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS (AAS)
AAS Scholarships are academically prestigious awards for postgraduate study in Australia. The Scholarships are offered to high achievers with the potential to assume leadership roles that can influence social and economic policy reform, development and governance in their home countries and region.
The 2014 intake for the Australian Leadership Awards (AAS) is now closed.
Applications for the 2015 intake will be open from 1 February 2014 to 30 April 2014.
Palau Country Profile RMI Country Profile FSM Country Profile
AUSTRALIAN AWARDS PACIFIC SCHOLARSHIPS (AAPS)
AAPS Scholarships provide opportunities to study at selected educational institutions in the Pacific region. The purpose of the scholarships is for people to gain knowledge and skills which will help the development of their home country. Following is a list of AAPS Institutions:
• University of the South Pacific (USP) – Laucala campus, Suva, Fiji
For the most current list of programs offered, visit www.usp.ac.fj
• USP - Emalus Law School, Port Vila, Vanuatu, www.law.usp.ac.fj
For Law studies only:
• Fiji National University (FNU)
FNU formed in 2010 as a result of a merger between the Fiji Institute of Technology, Fiji School of Nursing, Fiji College of Advanced Education, Lautoka Teachers College, Fiji School of Medicine and Fiji College of Agriculture.
For the most current list of programs offered, visit www.fnu.ac.fj
• USP – Alafua Campus, Samoa http://www.usp.ac.fj/index.php?=alafua
Bachelor of Agriculture studies only is available
Application for intake year 2014 is now closed. Application for intake year 2015 will become available in February, 2014.
Small Grants Scheme
The Small Grants Scheme (SGS) is available to governments, non government organizations and community groups to fund projects in a range of areas, however, priority will be given in the areas of governance, health, and education. SGS projects will normally be funded up to USD $20,000.00. In exceptional circumstances, higher levels of funds may be considered.
Download guidelines and applications by clicking below:
SGS Application form and guidelines
Applications and guidelines are also available from the Australian Embassy, the FSM Department of Foreign Affairs, the RMI Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the ROP Ministry of State.
For a list of past SGS awards in the FSM, Marshall Islands and Palau, please open the following document: SGS awards for 2010-11 and 2011-12
The Direct Aid Program
The Direct Aid Program (DAP) is a flexible, small grants scheme for development activities managed by Heads of Australian Missions in approximately 45 countries. The emphasis of the program is on alleviating basic humanitarian hardships.
Click here to download a DAP application or applications are also available from the Australian Embassy, the FSM Department of Foreign Affairs, the RMI Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or the ROP Ministry of State.
CONTACT AUSAID
AusAID Program Manager
Australian Embassy
PO Box S
Kolonia, Pohnpei 96941
Federated States of Micronesia
Phone: (691) 320-5448
Fax: (691) 320-5656
Email: [email protected]
Maritime Surveillance
Another major area of support has been through the contribution of Australia's Pacific Patrol Boat Program, in which Australia works hand in hand with the FSM, Palau and the Marshall Islands in the protection and management of their vital fisheries resources. In a very practical and evident way the project supports the maintenance of full sovereignty over these nations' exclusive economic zones.