Group Leader - Pacific

Caritas Australia is the Catholic agency for international aid and development in Australia and works with partners in Australia, Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific. We work to address the causes of poverty and bring about long term change, by working with communities who experience poverty, injustice, hunger and oppression regardless of their religious, political or cultural beliefs.

The Pacific Group Leader (GL) is responsible for guiding the development, implementation and review of CA’s strategy in the Pacific, and ensuring that the partnerships and programs in this region contribute to and build on the agency’s strategic plan.  The Pacific GL leads a team of 14, ten of which are located in overseas offices in the Pacific.  The Pacific GL oversees an annual budget of 4-5 m AUD and guides the team and partners in proactively managing risks.  The Pacific GL serves as a key agency representative internally and externally on matters related to the Pacific region.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience (selection criteria)

The successful candidate will demonstrate and provide examples from their professional experience of the following essential skills;

Essential

• Extensive experience working in the international aid & development sector, preferably from a faith-based perspective
• At least 5 years experience in a senior role managing international program teams, programs and partnerships in the Pacific region / Africa and Latin American regions
• Demonstrate capacity to plan and manage complex Church, government and NGO partnerships and programs, including analytical reporting on program and financial results, and strategic planning
• Expertise in the latest international standards in participatory program design, monitoring, evaluation and learning
• Demonstrated experience in cross-cultural and facilitation, coaching and mentoring skills, particularly in the Pacific
• Demonstrated experience with strategic analysis and reporting
• Strong verbal and written communications and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated commitment to working with local partners in development and humanitarian responses, with a focus on capacity strengthening
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to work within the principles and values of Catholic Social Teaching
• Demonstrated ability to remain calm, productive and a leader in crisis situations
• Relevant tertiary qualifications.

Desirable

• Familiarity with the Not-For-Profit and the Catholic sector
• Familiarity with the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) Code of Conduct.
• Awareness of EEO and equity issues in international development as well as Caritas Australia.
• Commitment to participate in OH&S initiatives in the workplace and foster safe work practices.
• Commitment to participate in initiatives that foster workplace relations (eg, Performance and Development Reviews, KPIs, staff meetings and workplace social events).

A full position description is attached below and also available on our website at www.caritas.org.au/jobs.

In the spirit of hope and peace, Caritas Australia works in partnership with some of the most disadvantaged members of our global community regardless of race, gender and religion to alleviate poverty and injustice.