OPM Australia builds on OPM’s work across South and South East Asia and the Pacific, by deepening OPM’s engagement with public and private sector organisations in the region, including the Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the New Zealand Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade. We are committed to helping low-and middle-income countries achieve growth and reduce poverty and disadvantage through public policy reform.

We are seeking a Governance Consultant to lead OPM Australia’s development of its expertise and pipeline of work in the South-East Asia and Pacific international development markets.

This role will involve responsibility for working with OPM Australia’s Country Director and the Public Sector Governance (PSG) portfolio; building and managing strategic relationships and networks with key donors in the region; provide technical inputs into OPM’s governance programming in the region and globally; prepare for bids and proposals for work with key donors in the region; and expanding OPM’s strategic network of relevant regional technical independent consultants.

The Governance Consultant will have responsibilities in four areas which are aligned to the OPM Australia and PSG strategies. In performing these responsibilities, the consultant will be expected to spend 80-90% of their time in the Australasia region, with the balance spent contributing to PSG’s global practice, where appropriate.

Please note candidates must own the pre-existing right to work in Australia before applying to this role.

The four areas and their day to day responsibilities (non-exhaustive) include:

Project Delivery – 65%

• Undertake and lead on technical work in on-going and new projects;
• Provide technical inputs into project covering policy, implementation, research and training related interventions;
• Demonstrate knowledge and expertise in two of more of the following areas – policy making and planning, politics and democracy, policy delivery, and programme implementation;
• Ensure that outputs are delivered on time and in accordance with OPM quality and report writing standards;
• Manage small consulting projects falling within the governance area within the Australasia region.

Business Development – 15%

• Maintain and expand network of regional consultants to work on programmes;
• Cultivate and foster relationships with key experts and contacts in the technical field;
• Establish strong relationships with other organisations for potential collaboration on future opportunities;
• Build and maintain strong collaborative, consultative and collegial working relationships with clients; and,
• Lead OPM Australia’s profile building activities in the area of governance.

Project Acquisition – 20%

• Track short and multi-year opportunities in-line with OPM Australia’s and PSG’s strategies and pipeline targets;
• Develop and maintain project references; and,
• Research and develop understanding of regional market.

Training and Technical Leadership – 10%

• Engage in OPM technical network learning events;
• Take a proactive approach to on- and off-job personal and career development by working on projects in other OPM portfolio areas, keeping abreast of latest developments within the Portfolio and taking opportunities to attend training events as appropriate;
• Develop strong and effective working relationships with OPM colleagues based in other OPM offices; and,
• Participate, through portfolio meetings and by other means, in the general development of the work of the governance portfolio and the Company in general.

In order to be considered at shortlisting stage, applicants must own the following essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Minimum of 5 years work experience in a relevant sector, and ideally 8 to 10 years of experience;
• Degree and post-graduate qualification in relevant discipline (for example, public policy, economics, finance);
• A solid grounding in the subject matter with associated relevant work experience on governance programmes in a developing country context;
• Knowledge and understanding of issues relating to governance across South-East Asia and/or the Pacific region;
• Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues and clients, both verbally and in writing;
• Exceptional research, writing and oral communication skills, with high levels of attentiveness to diverse audiences;
• Proven ability to multi task and prioritise under pressure, and meet deadlines;
• Willingness to focus future work opportunities on the Pacific and South-East Asia, including Papua New Guinea;
• Willingness to work across different time zones; and,
• Willingness to be based in Canberra (please note no relocation payments available).

This is a full time, fixed term position for two years.