Relationship Manager – Regional (Northern Territory)

Project Overview:

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 within a regional Australian location including, prospective employers, approved employers (AEs), country liaison officers, community organisations, local government, industry bodies a nd 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.

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 emerging issues.

Key to the role will be to support the successful delivery of the forthcoming construction pilot program between the Northern Territory and Timor Leste Governments under the PALM scheme.

Key Focus Areas:

AE Relationship management facilitated as a central point for labour mobility stakeholders in the region.
Develop a regional contact directory and annual workplan detailing regionally specific issues, training needs, solutions and proposals for short term targeted activities.
Facilitating or participating in networks in the region including industry, businesses, government, service providers, community groups, Pacific diaspora groups and where appropriate, indigenous communities.
Support the implementation of the forthcoming construction pilot whereby Timor Leste workers will be employed in the construction industry, including:

Engagement with the Northern Territory Government to ensure implementation aligns with the objectives of the PALM scheme.
Engagement with industry and training providers to ensure workers are appropriately skilled
Working with newly AEs to build their capacity to meet their obligations under the PALM scheme, including the welfare and wellbeing of workers.
Onboarding, Education & Capacity Building Activities through the implementation of systems, processes and practices to support the effective onboarding of inactive or new PALM scheme AEs.

Assessment of AE capacity development needs and implementation and monitoring of supplementary plans of support.
Scheduled routine site visits with AEs aligned to a risk-based approach along with support to AEs in terms of access (via AE portal) to the Management Information System (MIS).
Recruitment Planning & Coordination by providing assistance and advice to AEs on future recruitment needs and planning requirements. This is to include analysis of PALM demand drivers and liaison with PLF to ensure alignment/ availability of country/ worker supply options.
Issue & exception-based management, when appropriate, provide localised support in response to critical incidents aligned to the response and escalation process.
Provision of technical advice and assistance on relevant workplace laws, rights, and entitlements as part of informing Approved Employers’ decisions and/ or resolving workplace issues.

About you:

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

Strong relationship management experience facilitate, advocacy/liaison skills, ability to manage, 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.
Demonstrated operational and strategic skills and ability to deliver on business/ program outcomes in a timely, effective, and efficient manner.
Strong decision-making, professional judgement, risk management, and ability to work autonomously with limited supervision, to work to deadlines, and to balance competing priorities.
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.
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 Darwin (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 19 March 2023 but candidates are encouraged to apply early as applications will be assessed on an ongoing basis.

* subject to finalisation of head contract

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion – Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.

Safeguarding – We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.