The Opportunity

An exciting opportunity exists for an Operations Team Leader to join our Tuberculosis Elimination and Implementation Science team, based in Daru, Western Province, Papua New Guinea.

The main purpose of this role is to manage the day-to-day operations functions of the Daru office. This is inclusive of managing finances, human resources, safety and security and stakeholder relationships for Burnet programs based in Western Province. You will be part of an experienced team of managers, clinicians and public health professionals based in Melbourne and Daru, providing inputs in Western Province.

In this role, you will:

• Manage the project budget and contribute to donor reporting
• Oversee all financial reporting and liaise with the Burnet finance manager
• Manage the procurement process with the Project Manager
• Oversee asset management including project registers, asset review, asset incident reports and manage necessary equipment replacements
• Oversee workplace health and safety
• Manage security incidents in Western Province within delegation
• Risk management of project field visits, activities, workshops and other events
• Manage HR issues with the support and guidance of HR as needed
• Oversight of the recruitment, selection, and retention of staff in Western Province

Refer to the attached position description for full details. This is a full-time contract until 31 December 2023 with possibility of extension.

Remuneration package includes accommodation in Daru, mobilisation and demobilisation expenses (visa, return airfares, additional luggage, transit accommodation), medical and emergency evacuation insurance while in PNG or when travelling for work, and access to project vehicles in Daru.

Let’s talk about you

The following criteria are essential requirements:

• Qualification in business, management, or a related field or equivalent relevant experience for 3-5 years in a leadership position

• Prior experience in office management and financial/administrative/human resources management
• Strong computer skills including experience with Microsoft Windows and Office applications, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Excellent relationship management and communication skills, including counterpart agencies and colleagues
• Demonstrated capacity to work independently exercising strong judgement, decision-making and problem-solving skills
• The ability to respond rapidly and practically to a demanding environment, proactively identifying issues and working to develop and lead solutions
• Demonstrated cultural competency and effective and collegial cross-cultural communication skills
• Experience in report writing, monitoring and evaluation, health program design or research
• Strong organisational and time-management skills, including the ability to manage own workload
• Honest and hardworking with strong integrity and accountability

The following experience is also desirable but not essential:

• Previous work experience in PNG or the Pacific
• Previous work/living experience in low-resource settings

The Burnet experience…

We want you to have a successful and meaningful career at Burnet and are committed to providing a supportive workplace environment for all our people. You will be part of a collaborative culture where progressive leadership, innovation, respect, and excellence are valued. Join a team of talented individuals who are passionate about what they do – achieving a more equitable world through better health.

Who are we?

Burnet Institute is a leading Australian, unaligned, not-for-profit, organisation passionate about social justice, equality and evidence-based research.

Burnet Institute brings together a highly diverse skill base, with more than 400 staff and students working across cutting-edge research and projects to address some of the most relevant global health issues. Institute-wide interdisciplinary health programs Disease Elimination, Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness, and Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health are at the heart of our daily decision making. Harnessing our international and local field presence, our laboratories, and our mixed development and research cultures drives a greater focus on the most relevant health issues and achieves a greater impact as a result.

Whilst our headquarters is in Melbourne, Australia, we also have offices in Papua New Guinea and Myanmar, and are actively involved in research and public health programs throughout Australia, the Asia-Pacific region and Africa. Burnet is the only unaligned organisation in Australia that has dual accreditation with both the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Bring your whole self to work

At Burnet, we foster a diverse and inclusive culture. We want our people to feel like they belong and are free to be themselves at work. We have an active Gender Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (GEDI) Council that works to promote and improve gender equity, diversity and inclusion across the Institute, by developing and implementing strategies informed by both national and international best practice and staff input. Burnet holds an Athena SWAN Institutional Bronze Award from Science in Gender Equity (SAGE).

Sounds great! How do I apply?

Apply below and attach the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

As part of our commitment to gender equity, we have included a question in the application process on gender. This will allow us to monitor and report on gender in relation to our recruitment process.

Burnet is a child safe organisation. The successful applicant will be required to apply for a Working with Children check and/or National Police Check. Evidence of full vaccination against Covid-19 will also be required.