Program Manager Fiji – Pacific Labour Facility

Project Overview:

The Pacific Labour Facility (PLF) facilitates seasonal and longer-term work opportunities for Pacific workers in Australia. It connects Australian employers with Pacific workers under the newly introduced Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme which combines the existing Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) and Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP).

Role Overview:

The Program Manager (PM) will work in partnership with the Foreign Employment Services Team (FORES), within Fiji’s National Employment Centre (NEC) – referred to as the Labour Sending Unit (LSU). The PM will be responsible for supporting the LSU to continuously review and strengthen labour mobility systems, and processes, including the In-Country Recruitment database (IRD) to ensure the team can continue to meet the growing demand of labour mobility. The PM will support FORES by working alongside to review operational demands, capacity requirements, resourcing and knowledge to support high quality labour mobility from Fiji.

The PM will be working closely with the LSU to support workers and families through worker preparedness, screening and selection processes, skills development, predeparture briefings and worker and family reintegration.

Responsibilities:

• Work Ready Pool & Recruitment: Strengthen and improve quality work ready pool through the design and delivery of processes/initiatives and enhancement of work readiness programs. Ensuring quality worker selection, assist with interviewing and shortlisting of workers to meet employers’ requirements and support the transition to the IRD.
• Mobilization: Update policies and processes, ensure systems are reviewed to assist with planning and tracking progress. Coordinate with key stakeholders and ensure there is a strong coordination between the LSU, AE’s and PLF for successful mobilisation to Australia. Ensure workers and their families are fully briefed on the terms and conditions of employment, visa and mobilisations.
• Pre-Departure Briefing: Provide support and leadership to PDB trainers including mentoring and coaching.
• Reintegration Programs: Work with LSU and the PLF Reintegration Manager to develop and support the LSU and in-country partners to drive & coordinate reintegration initiatives, leveraging connections with other DFAT funded programs and in-country networks.
• Team building: Work with the EM and senior FORES staff to provide mentoring and capacity building initiatives, coordinate activities and develop appropriate tools to support the LSU team.
• Training: Work with training providers to deliver training, either one-on-one or to large groups and facilitate workshops to Labour Mobility Stakeholders.
• Marketing/Awareness: Support the LSU with marketing and awareness programs to inform the public, communities, workers and key LM stakeholders about the PALM program.

Requirements:

• Tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline with demonstrated experience in managing programs/project, stakeholder engagement, coordinating teams and managing risks
• A demonstrated ability to build respectful, productive and sustainable working relationships with a variety of stakeholders (including partner government, civil society and the private sector) and working together to achieve results
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously with limited supervision and ability to work under pressure to meet key deliverables
• Demonstrated skill and experience at convening and facilitating productive interaction between diverse groups of people
• Experience working with programs in the Pacific with a strong understanding of gender equality concepts and issues
• An understanding of current issues in relation to circular labour mobility, including related policy and regulatory frameworks is desirable
• Experience in program implementation, excellent written and communication skills, and delivery of training programs and/or facilitation is desirable

Remuneration, Allowances and Support Costs:
This position is classified under the Aid Adviser Remuneration Framework (ARF) at C2 classification, and any Allowances and support costs the Adviser may be eligible to receive will be in accordance with the ARF.

Application Requirements :
Candidates must have current unrestricted work rights or be eligible to apply for a valid visa to work in Fiji.
Applications close on 17 April 2022 and will be assessed on a rolling basis. The successful candidate will be offered an initial contract to 30 June 2023.