Team Leader, Kiribati-Australia Skills for Employment Partnership / Director, Kiribati Institute of Technology

Project Overview and Role:

The Kiribati-Australia Skills for Employment Partnership (KASfEP) is a key investment of the Australian Government in Kiribati. The Partnership supports the development of a more capable, qualified and mobile I-Kiribati workforce and improved management and coordination of the national skills sector. The focus of the Partnership’s investment is the Ministry of Employment and Human Resources (MEHR) and Kiribati Institute of Technology (KIT). KIT is one of four divisions of MEHR. KIT is a regionally recognised training provider under The Pacific Community’s Education Quality and Assessment Program and delivers a range of in-demand skills training programs from short courses to Advanced Diploma level.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

The Team Leader KASfEP/Director KIT is accountable for providing strategic and operational oversight for KASfEP. The Team Leader KASfEP/Director KIT is a member of the Ministry of Employment and Human Resources (MEHR) Senior Management team and leads the KIT Executive Team.

The Team Leader KASfEP/Director KIT will collaborate and develop strategic alliances with local, regional and international stakeholders to support the sustainable development of KIT. The role has a focus on building and strengthening the capacity of the KIT Executive Team together with academic and administrative staff. The Team Leader KASfEP/Director KIT will lead the development and implementation of a Transition Plan for KIT to be fully administered by MEHR in 2026

Required Qualifications:

Minimum Requirements/Key Selection Criteria
Essential
The Team Leader KASfEP/Director KIT must have the following :

Minimum Requirements/Key Selection Criteria

Essential
The Team Leader KASfEP/Director KIT must have the following:

A postgraduate or tertiary qualification in Education (preferably Adult Education or VET).
A postgraduate or tertiary qualification in relevant discipline.
Minimum 10 years leadership and senior management experience in vocational education and training (VET) across different discipline areas.
Extensive experience managing human resources, quality assurance and continuous improvement practices in VET, preferably in the Pacific.
Demonstrated experience leading diverse teams relating to skills development, capacity building or education.
Proven capacity to develop, manage and oversee budgets.
Senior First Aid Certificate.

Personal Abilities/Aptitudes/Skills:
Experience working with multiple stakeholders such as DFAT, partner governments and employers.
Demonstrated capacity to manage staff and lead teams across different locations, cultures and language groups.
Ability to work respectfully and in a way that builds staff capacity, commitment, ownership and performance.
Demonstrated understanding of development cooperation and developing country contexts.
Ability to adapt and respond to changing circumstances.
Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to negotiate with a variety of different people and to communicate complex issues in plain language.
Proven ability to live and work effectively in cross-cultural contexts.
High ethical standards and a commitment to demonstrating integrity and professionalism.

Desired
Experience
Experience working on the Pacific region, especially in Micronesian cultures.
Knowledge:
Knowledge of DFAT policies and guidelines concerning the use of advisers, safeguards and cross-cutting issues.
Knowledge of DFAT Aid investment in the Pacific.
Knowledge of political, economic, and social issues in Kiribati, including specific country cultural understanding and requirements.
Knowledge of Pacific training regulations and regulation processes and procedures.

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.

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 diversit y 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.

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.

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 candidat es will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.