Program Activity Manager | Australia Pacific Leaders Program (APLP)

• Location:  Australia (Canberra or Brisbane Preferred). Domestic and international travel may be required.
• Commencement: August 2026 
• Duration of contract: Asap to 30 June 2027
• Open to those with full work rights for Australia

About the Program

The Australia Pacific Leaders Program (APLP) is an Australian Government initiative that seeks to empower current and emerging Pacific leaders to deliver outcomes in their communities, strengthen their skills and build relationships with Australian agencies and institutions. 

Activities include study tours, high-level visits, professional development and support for locally led projects, including assistance to deliver community-level initiatives.

APLP aims to:

• empower leaders to deliver practical outcomes in their communities

• build stronger, long-term relationships between Pacific leaders and Australia

• strengthen leadership capability across the Pacific. 

About the Program Support Unit (PSU)

The Program Support Unit (PSU) supports DFAT to deliver the program. Abt Global is contracted to deliver the PSU. 

The PSU provides the practical support needed to deliver activities including planning, logistics, procurement and coordination. This includes supporting DFAT-led study tours and visits to Australia, coordinating training and events and supporting the delivery of grants and other program activities.

The PSU works closely with DFAT in Canberra and Posts across the Pacific to ensure activities are delivered to a high standard.

About the opportunity

Abt are seeking to engage a Program Activity Manager who will be responsible for the end-to-end planning, management and coordination of all APLP activities, including study tours, high-level visits, events, and professional development initiatives.

The role provides end-to-end coordination, ensuring activities are delivered:

• On time and within scope and budget
• In line with DFAT priorities and requirements
• To a high standard of participant experience
• In compliance with safeguarding, WHS, and program policies

The position manages competing priorities, oversees complex logistics, supervises coordination staff, and supports the Program Activity Lead (PAL) in managing relationships with DFAT, PSU functional teams, and external service providers, while also serving as a key coordination point for these stakeholders.

The role requires flexibility to work outside standard business hours, including evenings and weekends, and to undertake domestic or international travel at short notice.

Key Responsibilities

Activity Delivery

• Manage the end-to-end planning and delivery of APLP activities, including study tours, visits, events, and training programs
• Ownership of activity trackers and ensure completion of activity compliance documents Provide strategic oversight across multiple concurrent activities, ensuring alignment with program objectives and DFAT priorities
• Manage complex, high-profile, and short-notice activity requests
• Support community-led grants through contract administration, implementation tracking, and reporting.

Events and Logistics Oversight

• In close coordination with APLP Travel, oversee all logistics planning, including travel, accommodation, venues, scheduling, and on-the-ground delivery
• Support PAL in ensuring effective coordination across Events, Travel, Operations, and Communications functions
• Provide guidance and quality assurance for event planning tools, timelines, and delivery standards
• Lead critical or high-level events and delegations where required

Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a key point of contact for DFAT, Posts, and senior stakeholders on activity delivery
• Build and maintain effective relationships with service providers, government counterparts, and partners
• Ensure clear, timely, and consistent communication across all stakeholders

Team Leadership and Management

• Supervise and mentor Activity and Logistics Coordinators
• Allocate workload and manage team performance to ensure delivery against priorities
• Build team capability in activity coordination, logistics, and stakeholder engagement

Procurement and Supplier Management

• Oversee procurement processes for activities, ensuring value for money and compliance with Abt and DFAT requirements
• Manage supplier relationships, including venues, travel providers, and event services
• Review and approve procurement documentation and inputs

Participant Experience and Pastoral Care

• Ensure high-quality participant experiences across all activities
• Oversee pastoral care arrangements, including wellbeing, accessibility, and duty of care considerations
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding and inclusion standards

Financial and Operational Management

• Support the PAL and Operations Lead and Finance Manager in ensuring activity budgets and expenditure remain on track
• Support financial integrity by ensuring the timely and accurate processing of invoices and reconciliations
• Support the Finance Manager with monthly and quarterly financial reporting 
• Support the efficient and effective use of program resources

Systems, Process and Continuous Improvement

• Lead the development and continuous improvement of activity management systems and tools
• Ensure accurate tracking and documentation across all activities
• Identify operational risks and implement mitigation strategies

Compliance and Reporting

• Ensure activities comply with DFAT, Abt, safeguarding, and WHS requirements
• Provide inputs to program reporting, including outputs, outcomes, and lessons learned
• Support audit readiness and documentation integrity

Other

Undertake other duties as directed by the Program Activity Lead and Team Leader

About You

We are seeking an individual for this role who brings:

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualification in international development, project management, events, logistics, or related field

Skills and Experience

• More than 5 years’ experience in program delivery, events, logistics, or operations, ideally in international development
• Demonstrated ability to lead management and coordination of complex activities involving multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, and tight timeframes
• Strong logistics and operational management experience, with a proactive, solutions-focused approach to resolving challenges and maintaining delivery momentum
• Sound judgement and decision-making skills, including the ability to assess risks, take appropriate action, and escalate issues when required.
• Experience supervising and coordinating staff to foster a positive, collaborative, and high-performing team environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across government, partners, service providers, and internal teams
• A constructive and adaptable team player who contributes positively to team outcomes and organisational objectives
• Experience working in, or with, Pacific Island contexts highly desirable

Don’t meet every requirement? Studies have shown that women and people with sexual diversity or disability, are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single requirement for a position. At Abt Associates we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every role requirement, we encourage you to apply in any case. You may be just the right candidate for this or for other roles across our programs.

How to Apply    

Applications close at 11:59PM on Tuesday, 4 August 2026. 

Please apply online through Abt Careers addressing the Key Selection Criteria (See: About You) in your cover letter, and submit your application online, along with your CV as a single document. 

Applications must be submitted personally by individuals only. Applications submitted by a company or organisation will not be accepted. 

About Abt          

Abt Global Australia (Abt) is a mission-driven company working in partnership with governments and communities to help create a more equitable, prosperous and sustainable future for people worldwide. 

Drawing on 60 years’ experience, Abt designs, tests and applies evidence-based approaches to development challenges – from design to implementation and technical assistance through to evaluation. Abt has expertise in governance, economic growth, health, education, gender equality, disability and social inclusion, climate and environment, monitoring, evaluation and learning, and infrastructure.  

Abt manages complex development programs on behalf of clients including the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Asia Development Bank, and various Australian state governments. These programs are based in over 15 countries in the Asia Pacific region.

Commitment to Equity  

Commitment to Safeguarding    

We are deeply committed to safeguarding, to protect and prevent harm and abuse to individuals we work for and who work for us. Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. We will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, child abuse, sexual abuse or exploitation in any form, and expect everyone to be treated with respect and dignity.

#LI-AUSBRIT