Impactful Program Manager – Australia Awards Malaysia Semester

Palladium: Make It Possible; Australia; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Palladium is seeking an Australia Awards Malaysia Semester Program Manager to lead high‑quality, scalable support services for a pilot delivery. You will work with DFAT and university partners to establish delivery frameworks, identify partner roles, and ensure learning and adaptation across multiple workstreams.

The role emphasizes stakeholder engagement, grants administration, MEL, and a flexible approach to expand to other countries, with salary and benefits locally competitive.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate or bachelor's degree in development, international relations, education or related field.
• Significant experience managing DFAT-funded programs and startup/pilot delivery.
• Experience with Australian higher education sector and Australia Awards programs.
• Experience managing grants across lifecycle with compliance and probity.
• Strong ability to navigate ambiguity and adapt delivery to priorities.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and client management across diverse groups.
• Excellent writing skills for operational guidelines and policy docs.
• Experience with MEL frameworks and program learning.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high‑quality supplementary support services for the pilot program in line with DFAT requirements.
• Develop implementation plans, work plans and risk registers; monitor progress and manage risks.
• Develop and improve program policies, procedures, guidelines and grant agreements.
• Lead framework reviews to support collaboration and decision‑making across stakeholders.
• Oversee scholar monitoring, welfare processes and DFAT reporting when required.
• Support grants administration systems and ongoing systems support.
• Coordinate MEL inputs, communications, compliance and program quality.
• Oversee annual and quarterly reflection workshops and reporting.
• Collaborate with SEALP Team Leader on resourcing and expansion opportunities.

Skills

International development

Stakeholder engagement

Grant management

Program delivery

Communication

MEL frameworks

Written guidelines

Information systems

Working with DFAT

Malaysia context

Education

Tertiary qualification in international development/relations/education

Tools

SmartyGrants

Job description

Palladium is seeking an Australia Awards Malaysia Semester Program Manager to lead high‑quality, scalable support services for a pilot delivery. You will work with DFAT and university partners to establish delivery frameworks, identify partner roles, and ensure learning and adaptation across multiple workstreams.

The role emphasizes stakeholder engagement, grants administration, MEL, and a flexible approach to expand to other countries, with salary and benefits locally competitive.