Senior Program Manager - Systems Strengthening (SPM) – Fiji Social Infrastructure Program

Job title: Senior Program Manager - Systems Strengthening (SPM) – Fiji Social Infrastructure Program

Fiji Program Support Platform (FPSP)

Long term position Long term personnel – commencing July 2026, contract to 30 June 27 (with the intention to extend to December 2028 with possible further extension) Suva, Fiji with irregular travel to Districts

This position is open to both international and national applicants.

FPSP Overview: The Fiji Program Support Platform (FPSP, or the ‘Platform’) is a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) investment that will contribute to the delivery of Fiji’s national development priorities, in line with the Australia’s International Development Policy, the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership and the Development Partnership Plan. The Platform will deliver key bilateral programs, such as health, education, scholarships, social infrastructure, governance, climate and emergency preparedness and response. Platform activities will identify and address climate risks, promote climate action, and gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) across and beyond the sector programs. The Platform has three functional Outcomes: The Platform has delivered its sector program outcomes, including through supporting strategic coherence, planning, partnerships management, data and learning across the portfolio of investments. The Platform has prioritised gender equality and disability-inclusive development, and climate and disaster resilience, in its systems and practices. This includes in how it undertakes sector programming and its engagement with selected Government of Fiji agencies. The Platform administers timely and efficient programming that is: value for money; maximises use of local supply chains; and supports good governance and public diplomacy, effective decision making and risk management. The Platform implements over fifty percent of Australia’s bilateral development support to Fiji across a range of sector programs in education, health, Australia Awards, disaster response, cyclone recovery, social infrastructure and technical assistance to improve public sector governance in Fiji. The Platform integrates cross-cutting themes, including gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), climate and disaster resilience, across sectoral programs. In particular, the Platform seeks to strengthen program outcomes by better addressing the needs of targeted beneficiaries including those who are often marginalised.

Program Overview: The Vuvale Partnership between Australia and Fiji, along with the Australia-Fiji Development Partnership Plan 2024–2028, outlines priority outcomes across five (5) pillars of support. These include a stronger emphasis on sustainable human development and infrastructure development. Aligned with these priorities, Australia supports targeted multi-year health and education sector programs focused on policy and systems strengthening. Complementing these efforts are two (2) major social infrastructure initiatives: The Fiji Social Infrastructure Program (FSIP) The Colonial War Memorial (CWM) Hospital Redevelopment Project FSIP delivers infrastructure upgrades to schools and hospitals, through the FPSP, managed by Abt Associates. In recognition that infrastructure is being delivered outside of Government systems, FSIP also includes a capacity-building component for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MoHMS) and the Ministry of Education (MoE), aimed at strengthening the capacity of their asset management units to deliver maintenance and capital works. MoHMS – Asset Management Unit MHMS’s AMU manages regulatory approvals and coordination (fire, council, lands, environment), maintains the asset register, plans/monitors capital and maintenance projects, and oversees staff quarters/fleet and disposals. Technical design/supervision commonly involves Ministry of Public Works Meteorology Services and Transport (MoPWMST), with procurement pathways shaped by Fiji Procurement Office (FPO) thresholds. Close MoPWMST coordination is essential for maintenance handover and lifecycle continuity. FSIP efforts will be coordinated with the Australia‑Fiji Health Program (AFHP), including an Australian funded-funded Public Financial Management Advisor to strengthen MHMS financial planning, budget execution and expenditure control. The Health Infrastructure Adviser will also align with the Social Infrastructure Adviser placed within Ministry of Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics (MoSPNDS) to ensure coherence across major capital planning (e.g., CWM priority infrastructure).

Given this context, MoHMS has requested an embedded Health Infrastructure Adviser to strengthen capital works planning, maintenance systems, asset management, and AMU’s organisational capability.

Position Summary: The Senior Program Manager - Systems Strengthening (SPM) will lead delivery of FSIP’s End of Program Outcome 2 (EOPO2): Education and Health Ministry Asset Management Units have improved systems and processes in place to maintain their facilities and to project manage new climate-resilient capital works. The role is responsible for driving practical, operational systems change across government to ensure reforms are designed, resourced, implemented and embedded within business-as-usual ministry processes. This includes addressing structural bottlenecks in capital works execution, strengthening asset management and maintenance systems, and integrating lifecycle costing and medium‑term maintenance planning into government budgeting and financial management processes. The SPM acts as the integrator for EOPO2, bringing together policy intent, systems reform and implementation across ministries. The role provides strategic oversight of embedded infrastructure advisers, identifies and addresses gaps in support, and leads the delivery of additional systems investments where required. Positioned within the Platform Infrastructure Team, the SPM ensures systems strengthening efforts are coordinated, aligned with GoF priorities and Australian Government objectives, and integrated with FSIP delivery and other development partner support. Reporting to the Team Leader - Infrastructure, the role serves as a key interface between the Platform, government counterparts and development partners, focused on long-term sustainability and improved execution of social infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities: EOPO2 Leadership and Coordination Lead delivery of EOPO2 across participating ministries, with clear accountability for systems strengthening outcomes. Act as the central coordinator for EOPO2, ensuring policy objectives, systems reforms and implementation activities across ministries are aligned, properly sequenced and translated into practical, operational improvements. Act as the primary point of accountability within FPSP for EOPO2 delivery, escalating strategic risks and issues to the Team Leader - Infrastructure. Ensure EOPO2 activities are aligned with DFAT objectives and Fiji Government systems and reform agendas. Identify, prioritise and address systemic bottlenecks affecting capital works execution, procurement, contract management and maintenance delivery, with a focus on improving budget execution and delivery timelines. Advisory Oversight, Technical Input and Quality Assurance Provide strategic direction, technical input and quality assurance across embedded infrastructure advisers, including hands-on review, co-development and refinement of key systems, tools and processes. Oversee and endorse embedded adviser workplans in collaboration with ministry stakeholders, ensuring consistency in approach across capital planning, asset management, procurement, contract management and maintenance systems. Advise, input, review and quality assure key outputs (e.g., functional reviews/rapid assessments, capital works pipelines, asset registers, maintenance frameworks, procurement processes (incl., delivery models), contract management processes, standard operating procedures [SOPs] and tools). Identify gaps in existing support and lead the design and implementation of additional interventions required to achieve EOPO2. Ensure advisory recommendations are translated into operational systems, tools and practices that are formally adopted and actively used by ministries. Ensure cross-cutting priorities (GEDSI, climate resilience, localisation and safeguarding) are embedded pragmatically across systems strengthening work. Systems Implementation and Resourcing Lead the design, procurement and implementation of systems improvements, ensuring alignment with GoF priorities and DFAT guidance. Develop and manage work plans, budgets and resource requirements; monitor progress against milestones; secure required approvals and governance sign-off. Manage risk mitigation and issue resolution; report on performance and outcomes to the Team Leader - Infrastructure and Platform leadership. Stakeholder Engagement and Relationships Build and maintain strong relationships with ministry counterparts, DFAT, and other development partners; represent FPSP in relevant forums and coordination mechanisms; ensure open communication and alignment of expectations. Knowledge Management and Reporting Contribute to knowledge sharing for lessons learned, best practices, and continuous improvement; document and disseminate outputs, tools, and methodologies; provide regular reporting on EOPO2 progress, risks, and issues to Platform leadership and DFAT.

Qualifications and Experience: A minimum of 10 years in program management, systems strengthening, asset management, or related fields; experience in capital works, maintenance planning, and asset management within government or large-scale development settings. Strong understanding of public sector procurement, contract management, budgeting and financial management processes. Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functionally, manage complex stakeholder environments, and drive reform with a focus on practical, implementable solutions. Excellent communication, negotiation and analytical skills; ability to translate policy into operational practice. Experience in working in a multicultural environment and with diverse partner organizations. Knowledge of GEDSI and climate resilience principles and demonstrated application in program design and delivery is desirable. Willingness to travel as required.

Note: This is a long-term position with potential for extension, based in Suva, Fiji, with travel to districts as needed. The role requires close collaboration with MoHMS, MoE, MoPWMST, Fiji Procurement Office and other Government of Fiji agencies, as well as DFAT and Australia’s development partners.