Program Operations Director At Save the Children

Drive our program performance and excellence to improve outcomes for the children of Papua New Guinea. We’ve been supporting communities in Papua New Guinea for 40 years, and are now seeking an experienced Program Operations Director (POD) to guide our team in delivering programs across the various priority thematic areas. You will provide strategic direction and leadership support to program implementation and actively seek opportunities for capacity strengthening of our team and partners. We are looking for big-picture thinkers who are also willing to roll up their sleeves to ensure the success of long-term, targeted impact for children.

A place to make a difference:

In this full-time, maximum-term position (minimum contract length of 2 years), based in Port Moresby, you will work to ensure overall program management and quality delivery of Save the Children’s development and emergency response programs in PNG. You will be part of our Senior Management Team and report to the Country Director.

You will make an impact by:

· Contributing to the strategic vision and direction of Save the Children programs in PNG.

· Overseeing timely, efficient and effective development and humanitarian program implementation.

· Leading program management, field offices, and supply chain, ensuring that the managers of these functions deliver against their defined Key Performance Indicators.

· Establishing and nurturing constructive and collaborative relationships and networks among relevant government, donor, civil society, academic, and private sector partners.

· Leading the program teams in developing detailed project implementation, procurement, and monitoring plans – supporting the timely delivery of program and MEAL activities to Save the Children quality standards.

· Monitoring and reporting of award ( grant) management performance, including the preparation and clearance of high quality and timely financial and narrative reports.

A place to feel valued:

You are a sound leader with at least five (5) years of senior management experience in a similar role and preferably in an I/NGO environment. This includes experience in directing and implementing programs for children in both emergency and development contexts – including programs that are child-led and/or participatory. You are flexible, resilient, and adept at managing change and thrive on working in challenging contexts. You have highly developed relationship and interpersonal skills and value collaboration and partnership.

This role requires:

· Tertiary qualification/s in a relevant and related discipline in social and international development. Master’s degree is desirable.

· Minimum of 5 years’ experience in management roles wi thin an I/NGO or similar in PNG, the Pacific, or a similar context.

· Demonstrated significant experience in Save the Children’s priority thematic sectors of health/nutrition, education, protection, and cash/livelihoods in a developing country and emergency/humanitarian context (e.g., design, obtaining funding, and implementation (including budget), and MEAL).

· Sound program cycle management experience and ability to work in a complex organisation structure. Demonstrated management and development of diverse teams of national and international professional staffs; must be culturally sensitive.

· Proven sound strategic thinking and planning skills, including ability to think strategically and creatively, analyse and be innovative, set priorities, manage work plans and evaluate progress, and meet deadlines in a complex environment.

A place to belong:

We are diverse personalities, backgrounds and ta lents, embracing our differences as one strong and united team. We see and celebrate the unique value you bring to our organisation, and offer a range of rewards for your effort, including:

· Individual learning plans to help map and deliver on your career development.

· Internal employment and development opportunities

· Friendly & flexible work environment

· Child-friendly work environment

· Full salary packaging benefits if applicable (please use this link to see how much this benefit could mean to you!)

· Extra leave to use in a range of ways to ensure you’re able to perform at your optimum

Follow this link for the full list of our employee benefits.

Does this sound like the place for you?

We’d love to hear from you. Submit your cover letter and resume below.

Qualified Papua New Guinean candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Applications for this position will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submissions are highly encouraged to ensure full consideration.

Applications close 11.55PM AEST Friday 28th February 2025.

Position Description – Program Operations Director PNG

For more information about a career at Save, visit our Careers Page.

We have tested our application process with diverse groups in mind, with the intent to ensure it’s straightforward and accessible for all to apply. Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our culture and improve our ability to reach our most vulnerable client groups. But we also know there is no one-size fits-all when it comes to recruitment – so if we didn’t quite hit the mark for you, please let us know at people.culture@savethechildren.org.au. We’re dedicated to ensuring Save the Children Australia is a place where everyone can feel supported – no matter your race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexuality, neurodiversity, culture and beliefs.

Save the Children Australia is a child-safe organisation. All employees are required to undergo a National Police Check, a Working with Children Check, and sign our Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct. We also support the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.

Save the Children is committed to providing and maintaining a safe working environment for its employees and client groups, consistent with our obligations under OH&S legislation.