Tonga Response Portfolio Coordinator

• Work with a team dedicated to creating a more equal world and ending poverty
• Based in Melbourne or Canberra
• Full time (flexible), Fixed term – 12 months initially with potential for extension

CARE Australia works to defeat global poverty by supporting women to create lasting change in their communities around the world.

About the Role

The Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai volcano erupted on 15 January 2022 triggering a tsunami and producing significant ash fall affecting Tongatapu, Ha’pai and ‘Eua islands. With approximately 70% of Tonga’s population affected by this event, a humanitarian response is being implemented led by the Tonga National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) with support from national, regional and international donors and partners. CARE is working with two local partners to implement a two year response program formed of multiple donors and projects. CARE has been working with these partners in Tonga since 2018 and this response program builds on a portfolio of current and previous projects with them.

The Tonga Response Portfolio Coordinator will be responsible for program oversight and contract management, providing and facilitating technical advice to in-country partners and providing administrative support to the Tonga Volcano and Tsunami response program. The Tonga Response Portfolio Coordinator will work with partners to ensure that the program is implemented in a timely, proportionate, accountable and effective manner and meets the objectives and requirements of relevant CARE and donor strategies, policies, standards and guidelines.

The role will work closely with the CARE in the Pacific (CiTP) Manager, Finance and Grants Coordinator, Gender and Inclusion Senior Advisor, Program Quality Coordinator, and partners to develop response work plans and monitor response activity progress (including ensuring a gender, disability and inclusion lens), facilitate donor reporting and compliance requirements and facilitate technical support to partners as required.

The role will also act as a key contact point in CARE Australia to manage information, facilitate learning and support public engagement.

Key Responsibilities

• Support effective partnership management (in collaboration with CitP as a whole), developing and maintaining collaborative working relationships with Tonga response partners
• Organise project inception workshops in coordination with partners, the Pacific Partnership Coordinator, Program Quality Coordinator and Gender and Inclusion Senior Advisor and Tonga Finance and Grants Coordinator
• Tonga Volcano and Tsunami response grant management and contract administration ensuring timely submission of donor grant reporting and any other requirements to donors
• Manage relevant quality, compliance and risk issues related to Tonga Volcano and Tsunami response grants and activities, including and review of and fulfilment of all contractual commitments in close collaboration with the CiTP Tonga Finance and Grants Coordinator, The CiTP Partnership Coordinator and relevant CARE members focal points
• Facilitate and draft project implementation plans in line with needs, priorities and agreed donor proposals, in coordination with the Pacific Partnership Coordinator, Program Quality Coordinator and Gender and Inclusion Senior Adviser
• Facilitate and coordinate internal and external technical support to partners including program quality, gender and social inclusion and operations
• Represent CARE Australia on Tonga response programming to bilateral and multilateral donors, other NGOs, research institutions, foundations, the media and the public

Ideally you will have:

• 3-5 years’ experience working in the humanitarian sector and/or international or community development with a focus on working with local partners, project operations, MEAL and programme quality, experience in the Pacific is highly desirable;
• Demonstrated experience working alongside local civil-society organisations, preferably in in the Pacific, to support project implementation;
• Demonstrated experience implementing gender, disability and inclusion integration across project implementation;
• Strong communication skills in cross-cultural environments, including the ability to speak and write effectively in English, with demonstrated experience preparing quality reports for donors;
• Strong time management skills with the ability to work with limited supervision and remotely, and a consultative approach that is open to feedback;
• Skills, behaviours and willingness to work collaboratively as part of small, geographically dispersed, but interrelated team, sometimes on flexible time zones;
• Flexibility and willingness to support the work of CARE in the Pacific broader portfolio should the need arise and including in new emergency responses;
• A Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field, or equivalent experience; and
• An understanding of CARE’s vision, mission and values, and a commitment to uphold the CARE Australia Child Protection Code of Conduct and Preventing Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse policy for the duration of the assignment.

What we can offer you

• A flexible and supportive working environment
• Generous salary packaging benefits
• 17.5% leave loading
• Professional development and training opportunities

CARE Australia will seek information from job applicants’ previous employers about incidents of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment, and/or child abuse the applicant may have been found guilty to have committed or about which an investigation was in the process of being carried out at the time of the termination of the applicant’s employment with that employer. By submitting the application, the job applicant confirms that s/he has no objection to CARE Australia requesting the information specified above.

CARE Australia is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and encourage applications from people living with a disability and/or have lived experience of disability. We also encourage Pacific Islander people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to apply.