Job Title: Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Lead
Project Name:
Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program
Job type:
Full time
Location of Position:
Preference for Brisbane-based candidates, but highly qualified candidates in other locations will be considered
Reporting to:
PLMSP Team Leader
Remuneration:
TBC
Indicative LOE/Time Frame:
Until Sept 2028
Citizenship:
Must have the right to work in Australia
Application Deadline:
September 17, 2025
Application Instructions
1. :A cover letter is mandatory to be considered
. Cover letters should effectively align your skills and experiences with the specific job responsibilities outlined in the position's description, demonstrating your aptitude and enthusiasm for the role, your daily fee and current availability
2. .Click the "Apply now" link to upload your cover letter and CV (Curriculum Vitae)
3. .Only successful candidates will be contacted. No phone calls please
.
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om
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**al.
DEIAB Statement Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Belong**
ing At Alinea International we value diversity, equity, inclusivity, accessibility and belonging in everything we do. We are an equal opportunity employer opposed to all forms of discrimination. We actively seek and encourage applications from people of diverse backgrounds recognizing that an inclusive workforce enriches our organization and achieves smarter, more innovative resu
**lts.
Prote**
ctionAlinea is committed to the protection of children and vulnerable adults. Due to the nature of our work, all candidates will be subject to due diligence checks and extensive background checks where appropr
**iate.
Project Descri**
ption:The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme is a signature initiative for the Australian Government that enables workers from 9 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and Timor-Leste to work in priority sectors in Australia. The Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program (PLMSP) builds on the successes of the Pacific Labour Facility (PLF) program, with a renewed focus on the provision of tailored support to worker sending countries to address their specific needs and priorities. Palladium is contracted to deliver PLMSP on behalf of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), with Alinea International engaged to deliver the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning comp
onent.PLMSP's role is to provide DFAT and governments in 9 PICs and Timor-Leste with support to enable workers to access PALM scheme in inclusive ways that maximise the benefits for the workers and national economies while minimising risks from labour mobility participation. PLMSP's primary functions include capacity building for PALM scheme labour sending units; skills development and training for PALM workers; support for returning PALM workers and their families; information system management; monitoring, evaluation, research and learning; and communica
**tions.
About t**
he w
orkThe Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MER
L) Lead is responsible for providing overarching management of a large multi-country and multicultural team of MERL specialists, coordination of MERL inputs across PLMSP and quality assurance of MERL team products. As a member of PLMSP's Senior Leadership Team (SLT), the MERL lead also helps guide PLMSP's strategy, operations, and engagement with DFAT, partner governments in the Pacific and Timor Leste and Australia's Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
(DEWR).
The RoleLeadership and Ma
* nagementLead, coordinate and motivate a large, multi-country and multicultural team of MER
* L staff.Lead the MERL team to deliver PLMSP End-of-Program Outcome 3 (providing Pacific and Timor Leste stakeholders with more and better information on labour mobility) by collecting and communicating useful information to PLMSP's stake
* holders.In line with PLMSP's MERL plan, oversee operational procedures and practices to deliver PLMSP's MERL function in Australia, the Pacific and Timo
* r Leste.Input into PLMSP SLT strategic discussions on issues impacting program outcomes, especially evidence and desig
* n needs.Drive a system-wide learning culture across the PLMSP and with key stakeholders, particularly through implementation of an adaptive management learnin
* g cycle.Lead annual planning for the MERL stream, and coordinate MERL plans with those of other PLMSP
* streams.Quality assure MERL team outputs, including annual reports, MERL methodologies, and evaluation and research plans and
* reports.Ensure that gender equality, disability inclusion and social inclusion (GEDSI) and other cross-cutting priorities (e.g. climate change, worker agency) are appropriately addressed and integrated in MERL activities and p
* roducts.Work with the wider PLMSP SLT to explore, design and implement ways to best achieve (and demonstrate achievement of) the PLMSP's o
* utcomes.Act as the PLMSP Focal Point for all data sharing obligations. Support appropriate data management (and use) practices across relevant functions and team
* members.Review relevant communication and media content relating to PLMSP MERL act
* ivities.Support PLMSP and PALM scheme commitments such as GEDSI, cultural competence, and Indigenous Australian eng
* agement.Contribute to and represent MERL team internal and external meetings (notably the research technical working group), including presenting on key issues and achie
**vements.
Rela**
* tionshipsProactively build and maintain effective working relationships with the primary clients and support the information needs and dissemination of
* products.Promote effective internal working relationships with the PLMSP management and leaders, maintaining a high degree of professionalism and i
* ntegrity.Focus on self-development, looking for opportunities for continuous growth and development, acting on feedback in a positive way and developing skills in inspirational le
* adership.Mentor and coach others both formally and informally, investing time in their success and ensuring messages from leadership are supported and clearly
* cascadedNurture and maintain positive and value-adding relationships between the MERL stream and other PLMSP streams and stak
* eholders.Provide leadership and direction to the wider PLMSP team, motivating others to achieve goals through collaboration, trust-building and creating an inclusive work env
**ironment.
Human Resource**
* ManagementManage a team of professional staff (located across partner
* countries)Promote strong communication, coordination and collaboration across the various sections of the MERL stream, identifying synergies, gaps and overlaps (considering geographical spread of
* the team).Ensure all team members understand and adhere to PLMSP policies and procedures, including through regular training an
* d updates.Coordinate with Alinea on MERL team management, appropriately managing staff in alignment with Palladium exp
ectat
* ions.
OtherOther tasks as reasonably requested by the T
- eam Leader.Travel locally and internationally, a
- s required.Advocate for Australian development
- priorities.Foster equality, diversity and inclusion, drawing on capabilities from within the country/region whereve
- r possible.Comply with, and advocate for, DFAT's policies in all aspects of implementation, including gender, disability, fraud and anti-corruption, PSEAH, child protection and environmental and social safeguards. This includes incorporating policy principles into planning and everyday work, promoting process improvements, and reporting concerns to your Line Manager or Palladium's Integrity Hotline (details on Palladiu
- m website).Operate with high levels of integrity, consistent with the intent of DFAT's Ethics, Integrity and Professional Standards Pol
**icy Manual.
Required Qua**
* lifications:Tertiary qualifications in international development/relations, monitoring and evaluation, research methods, public policy, or a related field, with more than 10 years' experience operating at se
* nior levels.Senior management experience and capabilities with strong interpersonal and communication skills with experience leading di
* verse teams.An understanding of current issues in relation to circular labour mobility, including relate
* d policy andregulatory frameworks, and the ability to translate these to imp
* lementation.Highly experienced in providing strategic advice to senior officials to lead organisational change and build institutional capacity to implement
* priorities.A demonstrated ability to build productive and sustainable working partnerships with
* a variety ofstakeholders (including partner government, civil society and the priv
* ate sector).Experience working with programs in the Pacific and/or Timor Leste, with a strong understanding of gender equality concepts
* and issues.Ability to produce high quality deliverables within tight
* timeframes.Strong ability to prepare accessible written reports and to present findings to a wide range of s
takeholders.