Team Leader, Australia Awards–Africa – Pretoria
Company Overview:
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.
Project Overview and Role:
Australia Awards–Africa is an Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)-funded initiative designed to equip Africans with the skills and knowledge necessary to influence the economic and social development outcomes of their own countries; and to build the long-term capacity of African partners to progress towards their development objectives.
Australia Awards–Africa provides a mix of long and short-term scholarships to Africans in the public, civil society and private sectors in targeted disciplines that support the participating countries’ developmental priorities.
Australia Awards–Africa is managed by Palladium on behalf of DFAT.
The Team Leader will be re sponsible for effectively planning and managing Australia Awards–Africa human, financial and material resources, providing direction and leadership, and for giving overall direction to and support for the design, delivery and evaluation of Australia Awards–Africa outputs. The Team Leader will develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders including substantial liaison with DFAT in Canberra and Australian embassies/high commissions and various other agencies and partners throughout Africa. The Team Leader will provide strategic leadership, advice and quality monitoring and reporting and will ensure delivery of Australia Awards-Africa is done in accordance with global, regional and local Australia Awards strategies and policies and is compliant with relevant DFAT and Palladium policies and standards.
Duties and responsibilities:
* Manage and lead the Australia Awards-Africa team, supporting the development and growth of staff
* Lead management meetings and relevant HR and performance management processes
* Ensure the maintenance of sound working relationships with Coordinating Authorities and other partner agencies in African countries
* Direct all support provided to DFAT covering the in-Africa management of all the education and training and post-award activities funded under Australia Awards–Africa
* Ensure the timely delivery of all reports, financial information and other data required under the head contract with DFAT
* Manage and oversee all Australia Awards–Africa selection processes including for Australia Awards Scholarships and short course awards
* Oversee the provision of administrative support to scholars and accompanying family members, including during pre-departure briefings and mobilisation
* In consultation with DFAT, take steps to ensure that inclusion goals are achieved at all stages of the program
* Oversee scholar reintegration processes in Australia and Africa, including the provision of professional development opportunities and the support of alumni networks in Africa
* Direct the implementation of a DFAT approved communications strategy in line with DFAT’s broader foreign policy agenda
* Oversee timely, accurate and complete data reporting on DFAT’s Australia Awards MIS
* Direct all M&E related tasks and prepare relevant reports. Monitor outputs and targets and emerging issues impacting on the program and incorporate an assessment of progress and issues in annual plans and reports
* Oversee the sub-contracting of key technical providers such as short course training providers and workshop facilitators in Australia including necessary contract management, quality assurance and performance assessments
* Assist with and participate in 1) as secretariat in annual high-level meetings between DFAT Canberra and Posts; and 2) Program Management Group (PMG) deliberations and meetings, and prepare relevant reports and minutes
* Review and approve all disability support agreements
* Other duties from time to time, as may be reasonably requested by DFAT and Palladium.
Qualifications and experience:
Essential:
* Relevant qualifications in higher education, development or another field
* Significant experience in strategic leadership and senior management of international development programs, ideally relating to scholarships, capacity building, human resource development or training
* Demonstrated high level leadership in donor project management
* Demonstrated management of teams and offices
* Proven ability in the direction of high-volume operations with heavy administrative workloads in complex and varied ethnic environments like Africa
* In-depth knowledge of, and familiarity with, the Australian tertiary education sector
* Understanding of and experience in monitoring and evaluation and reporting
* Experience in translating program results into outputs designed for public and institutional audiences
* Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated capacity to work sensitively in a cross-cultural environment in the developing world
Highly desirable:
* Experience managing a scholarships program with exposure to and experience with Australia Awards
* Significant experience in the developing world, preferably in Africa
More Information
- Job City Pretoria
