Location: Ideally Brisbane, but flexible for anywhere in Australia | Full-time |2 year fixed term contract.

Must have valid work rights in Australia.

• Drive excellence in program delivery, financial oversight and operational systems.
• Full time, 2 year fixed term contract
• Ideally Brisbane based with hybrid working, flexible for remote based in Australia for right candidate

Contribute to a world where people, communities and the planet thrive.

Tetra Tech International Development is a leading development consulting firm working with government, businesses, and NGOs to solve complex development challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. For more information please visit our website.

The opportunity

The Humanitarian Logistics Capability (HLC), is a cornerstone of Australia’s rapid and coordinated humanitarian action across the Indo-Pacific. As the Program and Operations Lead, you will play a key leadership role in ensuring the smooth, compliant, and high-performing delivery of HLC’s operations.

You will oversee program management systems, financial and contract oversight, HR and office operations, and risk and safeguarding frameworks. Working closely with DFAT, Tetra Tech corporate teams, and humanitarian partners, you will ensure that HLC’s operations are disciplined, adaptive, and aligned with Australia’s development priorities.

This is a unique opportunity to lead and shape the operational backbone of a program that delivers life-saving humanitarian support across the region.

The Program: Humanitarian Logistics Capability

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Humanitarian Logistics Capability (HLC) facilitates the timely, effective, and flexible delivery of the Australian Government’s humanitarian assistance and emergency relief program around the world, providing high quality, multifaceted, flexible and responsive project management and humanitarian supply chain solutions in support of Australia’s Humanitarian Emergency Relief activities.

The goal of HLC is to facilitate humanitarian action that saves lives, alleviates suffering, and enhances human dignity during and in the aftermath of conflict, disasters, and other humanitarian crises. The HLC warehouse in Brisbane maintains the largest stockpile of prepositioned humanitarian emergency relief supplies within the Southern Hemisphere, with the capacity to respond to three simultaneous crises and can support at least 11,500 families – or 57,500 people.

The HLC maintains core capabilities to perform critical tasks across six functional areas: Logistics Planning and Coordination; Procurement; Warehousing; Shipping and Transport; Deployment Support and Technical Assistance and Program Management and integrates cross-cutting, thematic priorities of Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI), Greening, Localisation, Innovation, Partnerships and Indigenous engagement into all operations and activities

Tetra Tech International Development, as the Implementing Contractor for the HLC, will work closely with DFAT, other Commonwealth response capabilities, international organisations and humanitarian partners to implement HLC operations and activities across all aspects of program management and delivery.

Your Role:

• Lead the integration and delivery of program operations, including scheduling, reporting, budgeting, and compliance.
• Oversee financial performance and resource management, ensuring value for money and strong financial controls.
• Manage procurement and contract processes in line with Commonwealth Procurement Rules.
• Supervise HR planning, performance management, and office administration.
• Ensure workplace health, safety, and security systems are in place and effective.
• Lead risk management and safeguarding efforts, including maintaining the HLC Risk Register.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance team culture across all operational functions.

About You:

You are a seasoned operations and program leader with a strong track record in managing complex development or humanitarian programs, or similar. You bring a systems mindset, a commitment to excellence, and a collaborative leadership style that empowers teams and builds trust.

You will possess:

• Significant experience managing program operations, financial systems, and donor compliance (DFAT experience preferred).
• Strong leadership and team management skills, including HR and performance oversight.
• Demonstrated experience in procurement, contract management, and office administration.
• Knowledge of DFAT’s policies on safeguarding, gender equality, disability inclusion, and risk management.
• Excellent communication, coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• A high degree of cultural sensitivity and cross-cultural competence, especially in the Indo-Pacific.

For a complete position description, please click here.

Have questions or want to know more about the role, please contact:

Katie Wilde

Associate Director, Talent Acquisition

Email: [email protected], using the subject line: Program and Operations Lead enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Telephone: +61 3 9290 7060

How to Apply

If we have sparked your interest and you meet the requirements of the role, click the "Apply for Job" button and submit your application before the closing date — we’d love to have you join our team supporting our humanitarian logistics operations.

Your completed application will include:

• Resume
• Cover letter (not exceeding two pages), outlining your suitability for the position by demonstrating how your experience, knowledge, skills, and personal attributes align with the selection criteria.