Palladium: Make It Possible
Company Overview:
About Palladium – 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 governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people’s lives.
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion – We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.
Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or any other circumstance, please email our team at [email protected]
Safeguarding – We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.
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Palladium welcomes applications for a private sector engagement (PSE) expert to join a dynamic Canberra-based team as the Director of the Business Engagement Support Unit (BESU). This position provides an exciting and diverse portfolio of support across the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Project Overview and Role:
Duration: Full-time position for 12 months, with option for extension to December 2024
Reports to: Senior Program Officer, Team Leader
Location: Canberra, Australia, with potential for limited domestic and international travel opportunities.
DFAT Adviser Remuneration Framework Classification (ARF): D2 to D3
Eligibility: Candidates must have full working rights in Australia for the duration of the contract.
Background
The Impact Private Sector Partnerships (IPSP) program is being implemented by Palladium in partnership with DFAT with the overall goal of: Increased development impact and sustainable commercial returns through private sector engagement (PSE) and partnerships. Three reinforcing End-of-Program Outcomes will contribute to this:
1: DFAT’s culture, capability, systems and reputation for PSE is improved.
2: The Private Sector is engaged as strategic partners of the aid program.
3: The Private Sector is enabled to achieve outcomes that promote inclusive economic growth and reduce poverty.
The IPSP has two components to achieve this:
A Business Engagement Support Unit (BESU) – to train, equip and empower DFAT staff to engage more effectively with the private sector by undertaking analysis and providing technical advice on private sector issues to inform the design and implementation of private sector programs. The BESU provides a Help Desk service for DFAT teams to access a range of services, including training, consulting, and advice on topics relevant to PSE. The BESU also gathers information and lessons from all engagements that DFAT has with the private sector by monitoring and learning from the BPP and other DFAT-private sector partnerships about what works and what doesn’t in partnering with the private sector, and use that learning to shape future programming. The BESU will also feed into DFAT and its partners’ international best practice on private sector engagement for development; and build and communicate the business case for public-private partnerships for development. It is designed as a central advisory service and learning space for DFAT’s aid-related private sector work.
Business Partnerships Platform (BPP) – BPP partnerships between the Australian government and businesses aim to develop commercially viable business models that also deliver social and environmental benefits. This includes maximising benefits for women, people living with disabilities and other marginalised groups. Partners operate in a range of sectors including agriculture, renewable energy, financial services, health, education, housing, tourism and transport. For more on the BPP approach and partnerships, please refer to the BPP website: https://thebpp.com.au.
Purpose of Role
The Business Engagement Support Unit (BESU) Director is a senior member of the IPSP team, and has overall leadership and responsibility for the BESU component of the program. The BESU Director will bring deep technical expertise in PSE as a means to achieve sustainable development outcomes, as well as excellent managerial skills. The BESU Director also deputises for the Team Leader as necessary.
Primary Responsibilities
Under the direction of the Team Leader and accountable to DFAT, the BESU Director will:
Supply DFAT with information and briefings on issues related to private sector engagement and policy influencing opportunities, reflecting current research and international best practice.
Oversee the BESU Help Desk which comprises intake, scoping, staffing, execution and quality assurance of short-term support to DFAT Posts or units in Canberra.
Deliver technical assistance directly and/or with assistance of national and international LTAs and/or STAs to support DFAT private sector engagement initiatives.
Support research, analysis, training or learning tasks undertaken by the Business Engagement Support Unit through direct input and/or liaising with expert consultants.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders (including DFAT, Posts, other government agencies and other DFAT programs).
Liaise and work with private sector, universities, think tanks and research institutions, and NGOs to support program implementation.
Provide strategic input to DFAT on how to embed best practice PSE approaches and tools in program design and execution.
Capture results metrics, and lessons learned regarding BESU to drive continual improvement in client service delivery and performance accountability.
Advisory support to specific BPP initiatives upon request.
Serve as a critical member of a cross-functional IPSP team based in Canberra, including supporting the Team Leader in supervisory and overall program management activities as needed.
Required Qualifications:
Selection Criteria
Expertise in global best practices and trends in private sector engagement and inclusive market interventions.
Knowledge of economic growth context in the Southeast Asia and/or Pacific regions.
Ability to produce written outputs such as reports, analysis and learning pieces that are well-written, succinct, engaging, and tailored appropriately to audience.
Strong research and analytical skills.
Excellent project management and organisational skills, including experience managing consultant deliverables.
Excellent interpersonal, presentation and communication skills in a cross-cultural context.
Proven experience developing and implementing organizational capacity development and strengthening, and cultural change interventions, within government, business or NGO setting.
Demonstrated ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and a professional commitment to promote a culture of gender equality and social inclusion.
Desirable: Experience designing and delivering tailored training interventions.
Desirable: General knowledge of emerging trends in climate resilience and adaptation.
Desirable: Experience working with a range of stakeholders including civil society, private sector organisations or government agencies.
Desirable: Experience working with DFAT or DFAT-funded programs.
Candidates may be required to complete a written and/or presentation skills assessment as part of the recruitment process for this position.
Candidates must have full working rights in Australia for the duration of the contract.
Applications close at midnight AEDT on Friday, 04 March 2022.
To apply for this job please visit palladium.csod.com.