Manager Scholarships (On Program), New Colombo Plan Program Support Unit
Senior leadership role responsible for managing the end-to-end delivery of scholar support services.
Based in Adelaide, 3-Year fixed term contract.
Lead meaningful change during an exciting growth phase.
About Palladium
Palladium is a global development and consulting firm, part of the GISI Consulting Group, working alongside some of the world's leading project management and engineering organisations. We partner with governments, businesses, investors and communities to design and deliver complex programmes that create lasting impact. With a presence across more than 90 countries, Palladium offers the opportunity to work on meaningful challenges alongside talented colleagues, in environments where your work can truly make a difference.
About Australia Awards Global Support Mechanism (AAGSM) Program Support Unit (PSU)
The New Colombo Plan (NCP) plays a key role in supporting the Australian Government's objectives in building Asia capability. It aims to lift the Indo-Pacific capability and Asia literacy in Australia by supporting Australian undergraduates to undertake study, language learning and internships in the Indo-Pacific.
NCP alumni contribute their Indo-Pacific capability and Asia literacy to Australia's enduring engagement in the Indo-Pacific region. This is achieved through three complementary grant programs: the Scholarship Program, Mobility Program and Semester Program.
Program Delivery & Performance
* Lead day‐to‐day scholar support and grants administration in line with NCP Scholarship Program Guidelines and the Commonwealth Grant Rules and Principles.
* Lead, coach and develop a team of Senior Coordinators and Scholarship Coordinators.
* Drive change management initiatives, supporting a shift toward a scalable, accountability‐based grants management model.
DFAT & Stakeholder Engagement
* Engage regularly with the New Colombo Plan Secretariat, contributing to reporting and operational decision‐making.
* Build constructive relationships with universities, DFAT stakeholders and delivery partners, clearly articulating program intent and policy.
Risk, Safeguarding & Compliance
* Ensure effective risk, incident and safeguarding systems are in place and actively implemented.
* Coordinate with DFAT, universities, insurers and emergency service providers on scholar incidents and emerging risks.
Reporting, Monitoring & Improvement
* Ensure timely, accurate data capture in DFAT systems and oversee regular quality audits.
About you
* Experience in leading a support service function, ideally as part of a government‐funded program.
* Knowledge and understanding of the Australian university sector, particularly international education and scholarships.
* Experience in managing and administering grants highly desirable.
* Strong people's leadership skills, with a track record of building high‐performing teams.
* Proven ability to implement change and continuously improve systems and processes.
* Excellent organisational and analytical skills, with confidence managing high‐volume, detail‐heavy workloads.
* Strong written and verbal communication skills, including providing concise, evidence‐based advice.
* Relevant tertiary qualifications (or equivalent experience) in management, business, public policy or related field.
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: socio‐economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.
Safeguarding
We define Safeguarding as the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding‐focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.
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