• Management, technical advice and relationship building
• Competitive salary + benefits for the right candidate
• Challenging and rewarding role

A crucial role in establishing close working relationships with stakeholders to deliver relevant, timely and high-quality advice on activities and policies relating to inclusive infrastructure planning, financing, delivery and maintenance.

About the Program

The Solomon Islands Infrastructure Program (SIIP) is a flagship 10 year infrastructure program funded by the Australian Government. Launched in mid-2021, SIIP aims to improve the quality and accessibility of economic infrastructure to contribute to broad-based, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the Solomon Islands. After SIIP, it is expected that:

• Solomon Islands will have enhanced capacity to plan, manage, finance, construct and maintain critical economic infrastructure.
• Solomon Islands will have more infrastructure assets across the country that are resilient and accessible and support inclusive economic growth.

Overview of the Role

The Policy and Technical Advisory (TA) Lead will be responsible for overseeing and coordinating technical support provided by SIIP to SIG central and line agencies in priority areas of policy, planning, regulation, and infrastructure project preparation and financing.

The Policy and TA Lead will establish close working relationships with Solomon Islands Government (SIG) counterparts and stakeholders, DFAT, SIIP personnel and sub-consultants. They will provide DFAT, SIG and stakeholders with relevant, timely and high-quality guidance and advice to assist them in developing and implementing activities and/or policies relating to the planning, financing, delivery and maintenance of inclusive, climate-resilient, sustainable economic infrastructure. Other priorities will include policies and regulations around building standards, environmental standards, social safeguards and the integration of Gender, Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) and Climate Change and Disaster Resilience (CCDR) principles.

The Policy and TA Lead will also identify issues and opportunities for engagement arising out of the planning and delivery of activities at the project level and feed them into the appropriate forums.

About You

The Policy and TA Lead will have experience providing policy advice to development agencies and/or governments in the Pacific region. Their high-level critical analysis skills will allow them to review, prepare and provide advice on legislative, institutional, regulatory and policy development relating to the planning and implementing of major capital projects. Experience in management and program coordination will enable them to lead technical teams and specialists to assist SIG and other SIIP partners.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

Leadership, Management and Coordination

• Establish and lead the SIIP policy and technical advisory function in accordance with the SIIP Guiding Principles and the Statement of Requirements.
• Provide DFAT and the SIIP leadership team with insight into the operating environment, risks and opportunities and suggest plans and strategies for the most significant impact.
• Ensure coordination with other Australian-funded policy and technical advice programs and activities.
• Lead and oversee advisers appointed in the Policy and TA workstream.
• Work collaboratively with the SIIP’s cross-cutting team and ensure program delivery aligns and complies with all program cross-cutting strategies and plans.

Policy Advice and Relationship Management

• Prepare and/or oversee reviews of existing activities and/or legislative, institutional, regulatory and policy frameworks in key focal areas and identify potential SIIP engagement opportunities.
• Work with SIG, DFAT and other stakeholders as needed to design activities that aim to support legislative, institutional, regulatory and policy strengthening, in line with program goals and Head Contract standards.
• Provide senior oversight and coordination of analytical inputs.
• Support engagement with donors on Australian co-financing commitments.
• Undertake or oversee research and analysis as necessary.
• Engage with the private sector to gather evidence and understand issues in the business enabling environment that may be addressed by SIIP.
• Support the SIIP Leads to develop strategies to address legislative, institutional and regulatory barriers in their workstreams.
• Advise, if and when requested, SIG agencies or relevant government technical working groups in support of infrastructure policies, planning and delivery.
• Oversee the development of tools and strategies to support relationship building and collaboration between the Policy and Technical Advice function, SIG agencies, the Steering Committee, DFAT Post and other Australian-funded programs in Solomon Islands.
• Support DFAT, as requested, with technical advice during consultations with SIG stakeholders.
• Provide briefings to DFAT on the progress of activities and engagement with SIG officials and other stakeholders.

Program Performance

• Support the Team Leader to ensure that program performance meets the agreed Performance Framework, as agreed with DFAT on an annual basis.
• Responsibility for quality assurance of SIIP Hub Policy and TA outputs to meet Performance Framework.
• Ensure that Program activities align with and contribute directly towards the SIIP outcomes as defined in the SIIP Annual Implementation Plan, MEL Plan, and other SIIP planning documents.
• Contribute to the MEL framework and maintain records of information as required for the MEL of the program.

To access the Terms of Reference detailing the role, responsibilities and selection criteria for this position, please copy and paste this link into a web browser: https://www.cardno.com/media/7769/policy-and-ta-lead_terms-of-reference.pdf

Key Selection Criteria

• Tertiary qualifications in a relevant area such as: International Development, Public Policy, Politics, Law, Economics, or a related discipline.
• At least 10 years of experience in senior infrastructure-related policy and planning roles, either in government or the private sector, with core competencies in policy development, policy and/or regulatory reform and/or infrastructure financing.
• Practical and conceptual knowledge of the infrastructure sector and development challenges in the Pacific.
• Strong stakeholder engagement experience, with proven ability to develop effective relationships with key senior government and private sector stakeholders.
• Demonstrated skills in effective leadership, capacity building, problem-solving and coordination of large multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
• Experienced in driving strategic agendas and delivering long-term objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to meet performance frameworks and demonstrated performance management capability.

How to Apply?

We welcome your interest in joining the SIIP team, please submit the following:

• A cover letter and CV –submitted as ONE document
• A SIIP application form, copy and paste this link into your web browser: https://bit.ly/3rpaMCB

This contract role is unaccompanied until further notice due to COVID-19 restrictions. Once Cardno determine that it is safe, accompanied deployments will be considered on a case by case basis in accordance with our occupational immunisation policy and any requirements of Solomon Islands Government.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and abilities, LGBTQ+, women, mature age workers and people with different abilities.

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected] using the subject line: Policy and Technical Advisory Lead - Solomon Islands Infrastructure Program enquiry via EthicalJobs.

About the Solomon Islands

Situated in the South Pacific between Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands extends over 990 islands and has a population of approximately 721,000 people. Local customs and traditions remain a very important part of life for Solomon Islanders. The program office is located in the capital Honiara, with a population of about 130,000, however, the majority of Solomon Islanders live in rural villages. Agriculture, forestry and tourism are important sectors of the economy.

About Cardno

We are a global provider of integrated professional services which enrich the physical and social environment for the communities in which we live and work. Our team of multidisciplinary specialists has more than 70 years experience in designing, developing and delivering sustainable projects and community advancement programs.

Cardno ID (International Development) has extensive experience managing a number of donor-funded programs in the Asia Pacific region. We engage in international development as a holistic, multidisciplinary and integrated process. Strengthened by our geographic and market diversity, we are committed to providing innovative and integrated solutions that create opportunities for significant, lasting change in emerging economies. Collaborating with multilateral and bilateral donors, private clients, governments and communities to develop sustainable solutions to complex challenges, we work with local counterparts to achieve meaningful impact.

Cardno is committed to Safety and the Prevention of Sexual Abuse, Exploitation and Harassment (PSEAH), Child Protection, fraud and bribery prevention. We want to engage with the right people to deliver our client programs. As part of our approach you will be subjected to formal background screening, criminal record checks, employment verification, and periodic compliance checks. All Cardno staff receive safety, compliance and safeguards training and are responsible for contributing to a safer working culture.

Solomon Islands Infrastructure Program is supported by the Australian Government and implemented by Cardno.