Abt Associates

Fiji Program Support Platform (FPSP)

• Locally Engaged Personnel – commencing July 2025 – 30 July 2027 with possible extension
• Role is for Fiji Nationals only
• Suva, Fiji with travel to Divisions

FPSP Overview:

The Fiji Program Support Platform (FPSP, or the ‘Platform’) is a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) investment that will contribute to the delivery of Fiji’s national development priorities, in line with the Australia’s International Development Policy, the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership and the Development Partnership Plan.

The Platform will deliver key bilateral programs, such as health, education, scholarships, social infrastructure, governance, climate and emergency preparedness and response. Platform activities will identify and address climate risks, promote climate action, and gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) across and beyond the sector programs.

The Platform has three functional Outcomes:

1. The Platform has delivered its sector program outcomes, including through supporting strategic coherence, planning, partnerships management, data and learning across the portfolio of investments.
2. The Platform has prioritised gender equality and disability-inclusive development, and climate and disaster resilience, in its systems and practices. This includes in how it undertakes sector programming and its engagement with selected Government of Fiji agencies.
3. The Platform administers timely and efficient programming that is: value for money; maximises use of local supply chains; and supports good governance and public diplomacy, effective decision making and risk management.

The Platform implements over fifty percent of Australia’s bilateral development support to Fiji across a range of sector programs in education, health, Australia Awards, disaster response, cyclone recovery, social infrastructure and technical assistance to improve public sector governance in Fiji.

The Platform integrates cross-cutting themes, including gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), climate and disaster resilience, across sectoral programs. In particular, the Platform seeks to strengthen program outcomes by better addressing the needs of targeted beneficiaries including those who are often marginalised.

Infrastructure Programs Overview:

The Australian Government is currently delivering three social infrastructure programs (Infrastructure Programs) in Fiji:

• The Cyclone Recovery Program will deliver infrastructure upgrades at Taveuni and Kadavu hospitals. The program will conclude 31 December 2025.
• The Colonial War Memorial (CWM) Hospital Redevelopment Master Plan will deliver a comprehensive masterplan for a new national referral hospital.
• Fiji Social Infrastructure Program (FSIP) will support upgrades to school infrastructure, commencing with priority schools identified through an audit of Suva-Nausori school infrastructure; and provide technical assistance to the Ministries of Education and Health to uplift their systems, process and capacity for maintenance and upgrades over the medium term.

The Social Infrastructure team will also manage the Platform’s Infrastructure flexible fund. These programs will be delivered through the Platform, and compliment other infrastructure investments that are delivered through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP).

Position Summary:

The Project Manager is accountable to the Senior Project Manager within the Infrastructure team. They are responsible for providing day to day support for contract administration, procurement, meetings, record management and day to day financial support for payment and expenditure.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and coordinate day-to-day project management activities across multiple infrastructure projects, ensuring alignment with scope, schedule, budget, and quality standards.
• Act as the primary liaison between design consultants, contractors and stakeholders to ensure timely resolution of issues and effective delivery of project milestones.
• Supporting the Senior Project Manager and Team Leader, oversee project planning and implementation activities, including scheduling, risk management and procurement planning and activities.
• Review and provide input on design documentation (architectural, structural, civil, and services) to ensure technical adequacy, constructability, and alignment with project objectives.
• Manage contract administration activities, including drafting instructions, assessing variations and extension of time claims, tracking Requests for Information (RFIs) and ensuring compliance with contract terms.
• In coordination with the Senior Project Manager and Team Leader, monitor project budgets, validate invoices and payment claims and support financial reporting in collaboration with the finance team.
• Ensure robust quality assurance and control systems are in place throughout the project lifecycle, including during construction, Practical Completion and the Defects Liability Period.
• Maintain comprehensive project records on SharePoint, including contract and financial documentation, design drawings, trackers, action lists and meeting minutes, ensuring accessibility and version control.
• Lead or support site and coordination meetings, ensuring actions are documented, assigned, and tracked through to completion.
• Undertake project reporting, preparing progress and monthly reports, risk logs and dashboards for internal and client reporting.
• Support the integration of cross-cutting themes (e.g. gender equality, disability and social inclusion, climate resilience, disaster risk reduction) in project planning and delivery.
• Ensure compliance with DFAT’s child protection, PSEAH and safeguarding requirements across all downstream partners and procurement processes.
• Contribute to procurement planning and implementation, including preparing scopes of work, reviewing tender submissions and managing contractor onboarding and performance.
• Participate in recruitment activities including reviewing candidate applications and interview panels.
• Provide technical and strategic input into project scoping, feasibility assessments and stakeholder consultations to guide informed decision-making.
• Represent the program in cross-program or platform-level working groups, forums and stakeholder engagements as required.
• Perform any other duties as reasonably directed by the Senior Project Manager or Team Leader.

Key Deliverables:

• Ensure accurate and up-to-date maintenance of all project trackers, records and documentation, demonstrating attention to detail and alignment with program governance requirements.
• Prepare and deliver high-quality meeting minutes and project reports that support timely decision-making and track progress against deliverables.
• Conduct regular site visits and coordinate site reports with Construction Management Services (CMS) consultants that identify construction progress, risks, safety issues and defects, with appropriate recommendations for corrective actions.
• Maintain the Partner Portal to accurately reflect project status and ensure compliance with DFAT’s mandatory requirements, including Child Protection (CP) and Preventing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) for all implementing partners.
• Provide support to the Senior Project Manager with contract administration, including monitoring contractor performance, tracking variations and claims, and ensuring contract deliverables, timeframes and quality standards are met.

Key Working Relationships:

• Team Leader – Infrastructure
• Senior Project Manager
• Fiji Australia Social Infrastructure Program team
• The Platform Management Unit (PMU)

Selection Criteria:

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification related to Architecture (degree or diploma), Construction, Civil or Structural Engineering, Project Management or other relevant fields.

Experience (essential)

• 5 years of experience working in Project Management, Architecture or Construction fields
• Experience in office administration in an architectural, civil/structural engineering or building construction company setting is preferred but not essential as this is a graduate opportunity
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with persons of various cultures and disciplines representing a range of client organisations, stakeholder agencies and government departments.
• Demonstrated understanding and experience using MS Office is essential
• Technical knowledge of design and building industry through tertiary studies and qualification. Knowledge of contract administration is advantageous
• Knowledge and understanding of project management principles including the management of time, cost and quality within infrastructure projects
• Office administration, logistics including making travel and accommodation arrangements, organising meetings, preparing meeting minutes, reports and managing records
• Excellent MS Office applications (Word and Excel) is required, and MS Project knowledge skills are advantageous.

Personal Attributes

• Desire to learn and grow, particularly on infrastructure projects within education and health sectors within Fiji.
• Enthusiasm, strong work ethic, flexibility, and willingness to learn and take direction on-the job
• Attention to detail is a key attribute.
• Ability to work independently, but also within teams
• Sensitivity to other cultures and the ability to act appropriately in the context of Fijian culture and the workplace.
• Commitment to Abt’s values and the Platform’s principles including transparency, accountability, fairness and collaboration.

How to apply

Applications close on 2 July 2025.

Please apply online by submitting a cover letter addressing how you meet the requirements of this role and up-to-date comprehensive CV.

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Abt Global is a mission-driven, global leader in research and program implementation in the fields of health, social and environmental policy, and international development. Known for its rigorous approach to solving complex challenges, Abt Global is regularly ranked as one of the top global research firms and one of the international development innovators. The company has multiple offices in the U.S. and program offices in more than 40 countries.

Abt is a mission-driven, global leader with a proven track record in complex program implementation in the international development sector. We offer bold solutions and technical excellence in Health, Economic Growth, Governance, Research & Evaluation & Energy. Working with our many partners, we have driven measurable impact for more than 55 years, to achieve our mission of improving the quality of life and economic well-being of people worldwide. We operate in remote and challenging environments and employ more than 3000 staff in over 50 countries.