Country Director – Papua New Guinea

The Opportunity

Are you an innovative leader with experience managing complex programs and teams within the Asia-Pacific region? Would you like to play a key role in achieving our vision of a more equitable world through better health? Then this could be the role for you!

We are now seeking a talented Country Director to be based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. You will lead the in-county management team, be an active member of the PNG Executive Team, and be the primary focal point between our PNG and Melbourne offices, ensuring alignment of programs. You will maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders including government, DFAT and major donors, and will leverage business development opportunities to ensure the on-going success of the PNG Programs.

This position also has a heavy operational focus. You will work closely with the Deputy Country Director, Operations to manage staffing operations, with a particular focus on staff wellness, safety, and security, and policy development in these areas.

Some of your duties will include:

• Working with the PNG Executive and the PNG Technical Oversight Committee to achieve Burnet’s mission and goals
• Actively participating in and contributing to the development and implementation of Strategic and Operational Plans
• Leading, contributing to and promoting a high standard of staff performance, skills/capacity development and productivity across all PNG activities
• Ensuring financial accountability and contract compliance in all PNG activities
• Ensuring that that best-practice management and business processes are in place
• Developing and maintaining effective workforce management tools.
• Ensuring that all donor contractual requirements are met and that projects are delivered on time and within budget
• Providing oversight of Occupational Health & Safety matters in respect of PNG Operations

Refer to the attached position description for full details. This is a full-time position, initially for a 2-year period (flexible) with the possibility of extension. A generous salary package will be offered and is negotiable depending on experience.

Let’s talk about you

The following criteria are essential requirements.

• Substantial experience in managing complex programs and teams across multiple locations (desirably in PNG or another Melanesian/Pacific context).
• Strong knowledge and experience in child protection, safeguarding standards and procedures; and of security and risk management.
• Experience of high-level representation, to national government and diplomatic levels, and within national and regional forums
• Demonstrated technical knowledge and practical experience in an international development focused role at a senior level.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to and develop understanding of in-country cultural customs, practices, and sensitivities.
• A track record in successful team capacity building, organisational leadership, and management of complex staffing matters
• Demonstrated experience leading organisational wide strategies and change management.

A post graduate qualification and experience in public health is also desirable but not essential.

The Burnet experience

We want you to have a successful and meaningful career at Burnet and are committed to providing a supportive workplace environment for all our people. You will be part of a collaborative culture where progressive leadership, innovation, respect, and excellence are valued. Join a team of talented individuals who are passionate about what they do – achieving a more equitable world through better health.

Who are we?

Burnet Institute is a leading Australian, unaligned, not-for-profit, organisation passionate about social justice, equality and evidence-based research.

Burnet Institute brings together a highly diverse skill base, with more than 400 staff and students working across cutting-edge research and projects to address some of the most relevant global health issues. Institute-wide interdisciplinary health programs Disease Elimination, Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness, and Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health are at the heart of our daily decision making. Harnessing our international and local field presence, our laboratories, and our mixed development and research cultures drives a greater focus on the most relevant health issues and achieves a greater impact as a result.

Whilst our headquarters is in Melbourne, Australia, we also have offices in Papua New Guinea and Myanmar, and are actively involved in research and public health programs throughout Australia, the Asia-Pacific region and Africa. Burnet is the only unaligned organisation in Australia that has dual accreditation with both the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Bring your whole self to work

At Burnet, we foster a diverse and inclusive culture. We want our people to feel like they belong and are free to be themselves at work. We have an active Gender Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (GEDI) Council that works to promote and improve gender equity, diversity and inclusion across the Institute, by developing and implementing strategies informed by both national and international best practice and staff input. Burnet holds an Athena SWAN Institutional Bronze Award from Science in Gender Equity (SAGE). If you have a reasonable adjustment, support, or access requirement at any stage of the recruitment process, we encourage you to let us know by emailing [email protected] using the subject line: Country Director – Papua New Guinea enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Sounds great! How do I apply?

Click “Apply Now” and attach the following documents:

• Resume highlighting your relevant experience to this position.
• Cover Letter

As part of our commitment to gender equity, we have included a question in the application process on gender. This will allow us to monitor and report on gender in relation to our recruitment process.

Burnet is a child safe organisation. The successful applicant will be required to apply for a National Police Check and/or Working with Children.