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AVI Pacific People are proud to partner with Oxfam in the Pacific in the search for a Senior Project Manager to join their team.


ABOUT OXFAM IN THE PACIFIC

Oxfam is a global aid and development organisation that mobilises the power of people against poverty. Across the Pacific, we work alongside local partners and communities to address gender, economic and climate injustice, including in situations of crisis. Our work is guided by Oxfam's global values and Pacific values of openness, flexibility, respect, equity, justice, solidarity, collaboration, sharing and humility. We are committed to supporting local ownership and leadership of change.


ABOUT THE PROJECT

Papua New Guinea is home to some of the world's largest remaining tropical rainforests and significant biodiversity. Many rural communities depend on forests and natural resources for their livelihoods. However, deforestation, climate change, limited infrastructure and governance challenges continue to affect sustainable natural resource management.

Oxfam France, in partnership with Oxfam in the Pacific, will deliver the 36-month Forest Connect project. The project supports the European Union's FCCB programme by strengthening the capacity of communities, civil society organisations and private-sector actors to participate in conservation-compatible economic activities and climate-resilient land management.


ABOUT THE ROLE

The Senior Project Manager will provide overall leadership, management and oversight of the Forest Connect project in Papua New Guinea. This is a senior project leadership position with direct and matrix management responsibilities. The role will coordinate teams, technical functions, partners and stakeholders to deliver a high-value and high-risk donor-funded programme.


The successful candidate will balance strategic leadership with practical implementation while maintaining a strong focus on accountability, stakeholder engagement, financial management, compliance, risk management and sustainable community impact.


KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Project Leadership and Delivery

  • Lead the overall implementation of the project in line with approved objectives, budgets and timelines.
  • Translate the project design into practical implementation plans, workplans, budgets and delivery schedules.
  • Monitor project progress and adapt implementation approaches when required.
  • Ensure project activities align with Oxfam's priorities, donor commitments and relevant national development objectives.
  • Provide strategic advice to senior leadership on project performance, opportunities and risks.
  • Promote adaptive management, evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement.

Team Leadership and People Management

  • Lead and coordinate a multidisciplinary project team.
  • Create an inclusive, collaborative, accountable and high-performing team environment.
  • Establish clear responsibilities, performance expectations and workplans for direct reports.
  • Conduct regular performance discussions, coaching sessions and formal reviews.
  • Address capability gaps, performance concerns and workforce risks in a timely manner.
  • Support staff development through feedback, mentoring, learning opportunities and stretch assignments.
  • Promote staff wellbeing, psychological safety and respectful workplace behaviour.
  • Manage team conflicts and operational challenges constructively.
  • Support recruitment, onboarding, succession planning and workforce planning.
  • Allocate workloads and resources effectively across the project team.

Matrix Management and Coordination

  • Serve as the central point of accountability and coordination for project delivery.
  • Work closely with technical and functional leads across Finance, MEAL, Safeguarding, Communications and Grants Management.
  • Coordinate technical advice, quality assurance and risk management across all project functions.
  • Work closely with Oxfam France to meet donor requirements.
  • Ensure project implementation remains aligned with organisational and donor standards.

Partner and Stakeholder Engagement

  • Build and maintain productive relationships with government ministries, regional agencies, donors, development partners, civil society organisations, communities and private-sector stakeholders.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for key project stakeholders.
  • Facilitate consultations, meetings, workshops and project governance forums.
  • Negotiate project priorities, partnerships and implementation arrangements.
  • Promote local ownership and inclusive participation throughout project delivery.
  • Monitor partner performance and provide appropriate support.
  • Ensure partners remain accountable for agreed deliverables and standards.

Grants, Finance and Resource Management

  • Oversee project grant facilities and grant-management processes.
  • Lead budgeting, forecasting and resource-allocation activities.
  • Monitor expenditure and ensure the project operates within approved budgets.
  • Review financial reports and address budget variances.
  • Ensure compliance with donor funding agreements and financial-management requirements.
  • Oversee procurement, contracting and contract-management processes.

Governance, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

  • Support project governance structures, including steering committees, technical panels and provincial grant forums.
  • Provide regular updates on project progress, risks, performance and key decisions.
  • Ensure robust monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning systems are established and maintained.
  • Track performance against approved indicators, outputs, outcomes and targets.
  • Analyse project results and recommend improvements.
  • Prepare clear, accurate and timely reports for donors, management, boards and other stakeholders.
  • Facilitate project reviews, evaluations and impact assessments.

Risk, Safeguarding, Compliance and Quality

  • Identify and manage strategic, operational, financial, safeguarding and reputational risks.
  • Maintain project risk registers and mitigation plans.
  • Ensure safeguarding, fraud-prevention and financial controls are implemented.
  • Maintain audit readiness and support internal and external audits.
  • Ensure compliance with organisational policies, donor requirements and applicable laws.
  • Promote gender equality, disability inclusion, safeguarding and protection standards.
  • Ensure health, safety and security requirements are understood and followed.
  • Monitor the quality of project activities, outputs and deliverables and ensure corrective actions are implemented when required.

Project Start-Up and Systems Establishment

  • Lead the project mobilisation and start-up process.
  • Establish the operational systems required for effective project delivery.
  • Support the recruitment, onboarding and integration of project staff.
  • Coordinate partner onboarding and the establishment of governance arrangements.

Knowledge Management and Organisational Learning

  • Document and share lessons learned, good practices and project insights.
  • Support organisational learning, innovation and knowledge sharing.
  • Promote evidence-based and adaptive programming.
  • Contribute to relevant proposals, concept notes and partnership opportunities.


WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

  • Approved project implementation plans, budgets, schedules and risk registers developed during the project start-up period.
  • Project staff recruited, partners onboarded and governance arrangements established.
  • At least 90 percent of planned activities delivered in accordance with approved workplans.
  • Project expenditure maintained within approved budget tolerances.
  • Accurate and high-quality donor and management reports submitted on time.
  • Effective stakeholder engagement and regular governance meetings.
  • Project risks identified, monitored and actively managed.
  • Performance indicators and progress against targets regularly monitored.
  • Staff performance plans completed and regular supervision provided.
  • Audit, safeguarding and donor-compliance requirements met.
  • Lessons learned and knowledge products developed and shared.
  • Project closure obligations completed within the required timeframe.


ABOUT YOU

Essential qualifications and experience:

  • A bachelor's degree in development studies, Environmental Management, Business, Economics, Social Science, Project Management, International Development, Public Policy or another relevant field.
  • Eight to ten years of progressively responsible programme or project-management experience.
  • At least five years of experience in a senior leadership or management role.
  • Proven experience managing large donor-funded programmes supported by organisations such as the European Union, United Nations, USAID or similar donors.
  • Demonstrated experience managing multimillion-dollar budgets and complex, multi-partner programmes.
  • Strong experience in team leadership, people management and performance management.
  • Experience managing programmes involving government, NGOs, communities, donors and private-sector stakeholders in Papua New Guinea or the wider Pacific.
  • Experience in community livelihoods, natural-resource management, conservation, climate resilience, sustainable development or related programming.


Applications Close 8 September 2026.