Project Manager – Australia Office

• Reporting to: Deputy Head of Australia Office
• Location: Sydney, Australia
• Starting Salary: Commensurate with experience – Please indicate your salary preference with the application

Interested in delivering projects that make a difference to the lives of others? This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and enthusiastic Project Manager (PM). The PM will ensure the effective delivery of projects in the Asia Pacific region and provide operational support to Development Pathways’ Australia Office.

Background

Founded in 2010, Development Pathways has grown rapidly into an internationally renowned and respected consultancy business, providing high quality consultancies and project management throughout Africa, the Middle East and the Asia Pacific in social protection, inclusive programming and management information systems (MIS). We engage in social protection policy development; program design and implementation; research and evaluations; training and capacity building and are a recognised leading provider of MIS.

We have four offices in the United Kingdom, Australia, Jordan and Kenya. This role is based in our Australia office, which manages two multi-year DFAT projects – Partnership for Social protection (P4SP) and Social Protection Advice, Research and Capability (SPARC) – as well as a diverse portfolio of shorter-term consulting projects in the Asia Pacific. Our clients include government, UN, and NGOs.

Development Pathways is committed to transformative social policies to promote social justice. We are committed to gender equality, women’s empowerment and social inclusion.

We work hard and are passionate about what we do. We find time to discuss important issues and how we, as a company, can support initiatives that we are passionate about.

This is a hybrid role, ideally based in Sydney, but we will also consider candidates based in Adelaide, Brisbane or Melbourne.

For more information about our organisation, please visit our website: www.developmentpathways.co.uk.

Purpose

The Project Manager will be responsible for managing and coordinating the effective delivery of existing and new projects across our portfolio in the Asia Pacific region, including acting as the internal project manager for SPARC.

SPARC provides technical assistance, and delivers longer-term projects, to support DFAT social protection policy and program engagements, with a focus on Asia.

The Project Manager will work closely with the Deputy Head of Office to provide operational leadership for the Australia Office and support key corporate functions such as budget, procurement and contracting, and business development. Working across project and corporate functions this role offers an exciting, challenging and cross-cutting engagement supporting our growing team and work in the region.

Main Responsibilities

Project Management:

The PM will provide high-quality project management support for major projects (primarily SPARC) as well as for shorter-term projects delivered by Development Pathways in the Asia Pacific. Specific responsibilities will include:

• Ensure reporting requirements and project delivery information is collected, reviewed and suitably prepared for circulation
• Manage day-to-day relationships with delivery partners and the internal team(s) and build solid understanding of delivery needs and timelines across projects and programmes
• Oversight of project workplans, including emergent risks, dependencies, challenges, change requests, budgets, schedules and scope
• Maintain effective knowledge management systems based on project reporting and management activities
• Provide support for project travel security and duty of care processes
• Maintain asset register in line with client’s policies and procedures
• Effective onboarding and contract management of project consultants
• Produce high quality and appropriate client project update reports
• Support the Head of Office and relevant Contract Representative and/or Team Leader with effective client relations, as required
• Support project close processes as required, capturing and sharing lessons internally.

Financial and Contract Management:

• Oversee and monitor financial forecasts and budget reports, as well as project invoicing
• Ensure financial outcomes are met, with any risks to timelines or over/under-spend escalated appropriately
• Prepare client financial management reports
• Ensure all procurements are managed in line with client contract requirements and Pathways’ policies
• Manage consultants’ timesheets, invoices and expenses against contracts, and ensure these comply with Development Pathways’ policies related to contracts
• Prepare internal project update reporting including finances and resourcing using required management tools.

Operations (corporate):

• As required, providing additional support in strengthening policies, procedures, management tools for Development Pathways Australia
• Coordinate with project managers and project leaders in Development Pathways’ other offices to ensure technical capacity is well planned across the full portfolio of projects
• Regularly update financial forecasts for projects
• Support head office with financial audits of projects managed by Development Pathways Australia
• Maintain a record of corporate insurances and take responsibility for their timely renewal
• Manage and coordinate corporate insurance policies in Australia
• Provide ad hoc input to evolving organisational requirements as directed by the Head of Office.

Business Development:

• Support the Head of Office and Deputy Head of Office in researching business development opportunities across the Asia Pacific region
• Provide project management and operational inputs to support bid development (including supporting the development of proposal budgets).

Terms of Employment and Benefits

Recruitment will be at the mid-level and is a permanent and full-time post. Along with competitive compensation, we offer:

• Fulfilling work – work directly with end-users in some of the world’s most underserved communities.
• Flexible work – Development Pathways offers employees flexible work hours and remote work options.
• Generous time off – recharge with 26 days of leave per annum plus the 12 ACT days of public holiday.
• Employment Assistance Program – access to the company’s Employee Assistance Program.
• Commitment to professional development opportunities – we encourage our staff to participate in professional learning and development and provide funding to make this happen.
• Provision of a company laptop and flexible hybrid working arrangement.

Selection Criteria

The Project Manager will require the following combination of applied skills, knowledge and behaviours to successfully contribute to team goals:

Essential:

• An undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline
• 2-5 years’ experience working within international development, social development, public policy, research and/or the consultancy sector.
• Demonstrable experience in project management and/or operations, ideally within international development
• Experience of working with delivery partners including procurement and contract management.
• An ability to build, develop and maintain relationships with a variety of stakeholders, showing diplomacy, sensitivity and decisiveness.
• Well-developed interpersonal communication skills demonstrated by successful liaison and rapport building; negotiating, consulting and influencing a wide variety of stakeholders.
• Ability to understand and effectively use financial information.
• Ability to prioritise, plan and organise workflow to tight timeframes, handle multiple tasks and be flexible with changing priorities.
• Proven ability to resolve problems, anticipate barriers and create practical solutions including proactive response to managing delivery risks
• Fully capable with Microsoft Office and aptitude for digital tools.
• Excellent attention to detail ensuring quality standards are maintained
• Ability to travel internationally if required.

Desirable:

• Project management experience in the Asia Pacific region
• Knowledge of DFAT requirements and processes

How to apply

We invite interested candidates to please apply for the post via the “Apply Now” button and including the following:

1. A cover letter explaining why you are applying for this position, and how you would meet the selection criteria for the post of Project Manager
2. A detailed CV (curriculum vitae) specifying your qualifications, education, and relevant work experience. Please include your salary expectations.
3. Applicants must have the right to live and work in Australia so all applications must specify if they have the right to work and live in Australia.
4. Applicants will be required to satisfy mandatory security checks before their appointment.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we retain the right to close this role without notice.

Due to the high number of applications expected, unfortunately only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Applicants please note the Privacy Notice on our website.

Development Pathways is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate and support diversity and are committed to providing a work environment that is inclusive and free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on individual qualifications and abilities.  without regard to race, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, family or parental status, or disability status.