The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is inviting applications for a Senior Program Manager – Development which is a full-time position, classified at Level 6 (LE6). Reporting to Counsellor (Development) at the Australian Embassy in Bangkok, the position will support Australia’s newly established Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I) initiative. The closing date for applications is Tuesday, 4 January 2022, 4.30 pm (Bangkok time). A merit list will be established and drawn upon to fill future vacancies.
A Position Description (PD) which also sets out specific skills and other qualifications is attached below, at the bottom.
Selection Criteria
- Demonstrated professional/technical qualification or specialist expertise, knowledge or experience in engineering, infrastructure, economics, international development, or an associated discipline.
- Proven experience in development program management, and experience working in one or more economic infrastructure sectors in Thailand.
- Proven experience using strong analytical skills and sound knowledge of key issues in development programming and economic infrastructure sector priorities in Thailand, and preferably also in other parts of Southeast Asia, to shape high-level advice and strategic planning.
- Highly developed communication and representation skills in written and spoken English and Thai.
- Experience working collaboratively in a cross-cultural team environment to deliver against team objectives under tight deadlines.
Contract Conditions:
Position: Senior Program Manager – Development
Position Number: BK08065
Work Level Classification: LE 6
Commencement Salary: THB 82,681 per month
Department: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
Date of Commencement: As soon as possible
Employment Period: Two years and six months
Probationary Period: Three months
Place of Work: Australian Embassy, Bangkok
Employment will be subject to satisfactory medical and police/security checks. The actual start date will be confirmed following the outcome of the police checks, which will be carried out in Thailand, Australia, any country where the successful candidate is a citizen, and any country where the successful candidate has resided for 6 months or more in the past 5 years. Please note that costs for a police check in any country other than Thailand must be met by the successful candidate.
For prospective expatriate employees, please note that all costs associated with the employee’s relocation to and stay in Thailand is the employee’s responsibility. This includes visa fees, travel to Thailand, and quarantine hotel costs on arrival and COVID-19 tests. The employee will also be responsible for organizing their own residential accommodation during their period of stay.
The Embassy can provide limited assistance to the employee and immediate family members (spouse and children) requesting Thai visa(s) and permit to stay.
It is the employees’ responsibility to obtain the relevant documents and ensure that they comply with immigration regulations that relate to their employment with the Embassy in Thailand. Prospective applicants are advised to check their eligibility for a visa – and investigate living conditions and costs. In considering this position, Australian applicants should make themselves aware of the Australian taxation arrangements for Australian citizens working overseas.
Please note that only ELIGIBLE applications will be considered, and only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview and provided with feedback on the selection process, on request.
Position Description
AGENCY Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
POSITION NUMBER BK08065
POSITION TITLE Senior Program Manager – Development
CLASSIFICATION LE6
SECTION Development
REPORTS TO (TITLE) Counsellor (Development)
About the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
The role of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is to advance the interests of Australia and Australians internationally. This involves strengthening Australia’s security, enhancing its prosperity, delivering an effective and high-quality overseas development programme and helping Australian travellers and Australians overseas. DFAT provides foreign, trade and development policy advice to the Australian Government. It also works with other Australian government agencies to drive coordination of Australia’s global, regional and bilateral interests.
About the position
With limited direction, the Senior Program Manager works to established policies and procedures to oversee the day-to-day management of Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I). The position provides high-level analytical advice on policy issues and developments in economic and infrastructure governance in Thailand, and – as appropriate across the Mekong sub-region and Southeast Asia. It supports senior management with strategic planning, resource management and program delivery. This position works closely with P4I delivery partner organisations (EY, The Asia Foundation, Adam Smith International and Ninti One) and with staff working on P4I in DFAT missions across the region.
The key responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:
- Develop and strengthen relationships and networks across a broad range of external stakeholders, including Thai government officials, private sector representatives and international organisations, including to help identify opportunities for P4I engagement.
- Help to grow P4I’s pipeline of activities to expand cooperation between Thailand and Australia across economic infrastructure sectors including transport, energy, utilities and telecommunications
- Provide advice to the P4I delivery partner on developing and improving P4I program activities where appropriate.
- Work closely with other areas in DFAT (including P4I staff in other DFAT posts, development programs and relevant sections in Canberra) to support collaboration, P4I program opportunities, and to facilitate planning and program delivery.
- Work with delivery partner experts to support the integration of climate change, disaster risk reduction, gender equality and social inclusion into P4I activities.
- Work with the Senior Operations Manager to ensure appropriate contract, program and risk management mechanisms are implemented and administered for P4I.
- Monitor P4I investment quality and delivery partner performance, and support program monitoring, evaluation, research and learning functions.
- Prepare briefings, background and updates for senior DFAT management and broader Australian government engagement on P4I.
- Review and prepare strategic communications on P4I activities and achievements to a range of audiences.
- Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to deliver regional learning and networking events and activities.
Qualifications/Experience
- Proven experience in development program management, assessment and quality reporting including those of a complex or flexible nature.
- Demonstrated professional / technical qualification or specialist expertise, knowledge or experience in engineering, infrastructure, economics, international development or an associated discipline.
- Experience working in one or more economic infrastructure sectors in Thailand.
- Proven experience using strong analytical skills and sound knowledge of key issues in development programming and economic infrastructure sector priorities in Thailand, and preferably also in other parts of Southeast Asia, to shape high-level advice and strategic planning.
- Highly developed communication and representation skills in written and spoken English and Thai.
- Experience working collaboratively in a cross-cultural team environment to deliver against team objectives under tight deadlines.
- Experience in disaster risk reduction and climate change and/or gender equality and social inclusion would be an advantage.
Personal attributes
- Ability to identify priorities and work autonomously under limited direction to resolve issues and deliver quality outcomes.
- Highly developed communication, negotiation, liaison, and representation abilities.
- Strategy, analysis and managerial skills.
- Willingness to provide support to colleagues on a broad range of issues.
How to apply
For any application to be ELIGIBLE and therefore considered, it must include TWO documents;
- Resume (CV) (maximum of two A4 pages) outlining previous relevant work experience and achievements in English. Please include the names and contact details (phone number and email addresses) of two referees in the resume.
- A Statement of Claim (maximum of two A4 pages) addressing each of Selection Criterion of the position. In addressing each criterion, please ensure you provide example(s) based on previous experience where available, to demonstrate your capability. Tell us why you are the right person for the job, why you are interested in working with DFAT, what you can offer us, and how your skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications are applicable to a role at this level. The Statement of Claims forms the most important part of the application, as this information, together with the CV, will be used to shortlist applicants for further consideration for the vacancy. There is no need for a covering letter. For guidelines on how to write a Statement of Claims, please visit www.thailand.embassy.gov.au under ‘Job Opportunity’ and ‘Guidelines for addressing Selection Criteria’.
Please send your application in MS Word or PDF format to bangkok.recruitment@dfat.gov.au. Links to/or files shared by OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox or any other external repository location would not be considered. Please name the email subject ‘Application for LE6 Senior Program Manager – Development – [insert first name and last name]’. For example, Application for LE6 Senior Program Manager – Development – Frederick McCubbin. Please indicate in your application how you have heard about the vacancy, i.e. the Embassy website, Facebook etc.
Inquiries regarding the position may be directed to the Human Resources Unit at bangkok.recruitment@dfat.gov.au