Relationship Manager – Regional (Northern Victoria)

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.

Project Overview:

Program Background: Australia’s Foreign Policy White Paper (2017) emphasises the importance of stepping up engagement with Pacific Island countries to improve the economic resilience, security, and stability of the Pacific region. Circular labour mobility from Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste (collectively ‘Paci fic countries’) to Australia is a central pillar of this strategy. The Pacific Labour Facility (PLF) facilitates the expansion of circular labour mobility to Australia and supports the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, which includes both the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) and the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS).
PLF connects Australian employers with workers from participating countries, supports the administration of the PLS and provides targeted support to the SWP. The PLF is managed by Palladium and provides the backbone of Australia’s future support for circular labour mobility in the Pacific under the direction of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The PLF has been established as a trusted intermediary between labour mobility stakeholders in Australia and the Pacific.

About the Role:

The Relationship Managers, Regional (RRMs) will be the key point of contact for all labour mobility stakeholders w ithin a regional Australian location including, prospective employers, approved employers (AEs), country liaison officers, community organisations, local government, industry bodies and Pacific Labour Facility (PLF) central office.

The RRMs will lead in-Australia engagement activities with Approved Employers and ensure their appropriate and effective participation within the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. This is to include implementation and operation of sustainable processes and practices to assist Approved Employers with recruitment/ redeployment planning, education and capacity building activities and coordination of emerging employer needs/ issues including provision of broader stakeholder advice and information.

The RRMs will also facilitate education and capacity development of regional stakeholders to support worker wellbeing and build relationships with regional stakeholders, to help the PLF better understand and respond to emergi ng issues.

Key Focus Areas:

Relationship management with Approved Employers and support of prospective employers.
Develop regional contact directory and workplan detailing region specific issues, solutions or short term targeted activities and representing PLF at regional events.
Facilitate the development of a community care approach by engaging community stakeholders and clarifying roles, responsibilities and accountabilities.
Assist and support the effective onboarding of PALM scheme AEs so that the AE understands its obligations under the Deed and Approved Employer Guidelines.
Provision of advice and assistance to AEs on future recruitment needs and planning requirements utilising PALM demand driver analysis and ensuring alignment of worker supply options.
In collaboration with PLF central office, monitor emerging or developing industry trends and opportunities to ensure relevant information on recruitment pathways is being disseminated to AEs.
Collaborate with relevant PLF teams to manage exception-based matters with AEs such as re-deployments or management of material changes to worker employment arrangements.
Where appropriate, provide localised support in response to critical incidents.
Where necessary, facilitate the engagement of sending country representatives for worker issue resolution.

About you:

You will be able to demonstrate the following key skills and experience:

Strong relationship management experience including ability to communicate effectively, network, facilitate, advocacy/liaison skills, ability to manage, resolve and evolve complex and potentially difficult relationships with industry/sectors/regions, strong problem solving, conflict resolution and negotiation skills.
Qualifications in a people-to-people related industry, including Business, International/Customer Relations, Immigration, government, Human Resources and/or similar.
5+ years customer/relationship management experience.
Understanding or ability to rapidly acquire, knowledge of State and Federal industrial relations systems, employment legislation and workplace reform issues/trends.
Strong decision-making, professional judgement, risk management, and ability to work autonomously with limited supervision, to work to deadlines, and to balance competing priorities.
Project and time management, reporting and analysis skills, including ability to manage budgets and write progress reports.
Ability to prioritise and undertake proactive work planning
Demonstrated experience working effectively with stakeholders from different cultures including Indigenous Australian and the Pacific Islands/Timor Leste, or the ability to learn quickly.
Demonstrated ability to provide services to a diverse client base, and to deal with an extensive range of industries/ stakeholders including engagement with Australian and Pacific Government representatives.
Highly developed professional framework of practice, and ability to demonstrate a strong ethical/ values-based approach.
Ability to assess and support initiatives and partnerships that maximise benefits and minimize risks to diverse workers through the promotion of gender equality, disability and social inclusion programming.
High level proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and web browsers.
Driver’s licence and flexibility to undertake frequent travel, including after hours and weekends and including interstate and international.

The successful candidate will be offered an initial contract to 31 December 2023*

You must have valid Australian work rights to be considered for this position – visa sponsorship is not available.

This is a Bendigo/Shepparton/Swan Hill/Echuca (or surrounds) based role with options for a balance of flexible working. Candidates who are willing to relocate for the position must do so at their own expense.

Applications close on 13 March 2023 but candidates are encouraged to apply early as applications will be assessed on an ongoing basis.

* subject to finalisation of head contract