Country Safeguards Manager, Fiji

Job Brief

Full-Time Opportunity Locally based Suva, Fiji

Program Background

Pacific Australia Skills is a significant Australian investment which stands to make a major contribution to supporting social and economic growth in the region through strengthening the skills and training sector across Timor-Leste and the Pacific. Pacific Australia Skills builds on the achievements of prior Australian Government support for skills and training in Timor-Leste.

About DT Global Asia Pacific

At DT Global Asia Pacific, we aim to positively impact people’s lives through delivery excellence. As a leading implementing partner across Asia and the Pacific, we co-create locally led solutions in partnership with governments, communities, and stakeholders. We bring together talented teams and deep regional expertise to deliver initiatives that promote inclusive economic growth, essential services, and resilient, secure communities. With over 1,500 staff, experts in 22+ countries and more than 60 years of development experience, we tackle complex community, national and transnational challenges — from governance and justice systems to climate resilience, infrastructure and social equity — with innovative thinking and a commitment to long-term impact.

For more information, please see www.dt-global.com

The Role
The Country Safeguards Manager is responsible for leading the implementation, coordination and continuous improvement of safeguarding systems across the Pacific Australia Skills Fiji program. The role provides strategic and technical leadership to ensure safeguarding is effectively integrated into program planning, procurement, partnership management, activity implementation and organisational operations.

The position is accountable for ensuring compliance with DFAT safeguarding requirements, DT Global safeguarding policies, procedures and Pacific Australia Skills safeguarding strategy through the delivery of safeguarding risk management, due diligence, incident management, monitoring, compliance and capacity strengthening activities. The Country Safeguards Manager also supports the development of a strong safeguarding culture by promoting accountability, prevention, respectful behaviours and continuous organisational learning.

Roles and Responsibilities

1. Strategic Safeguarding Leadership

• Lead the implementation of the Pacific Australia Skills Safeguarding Strategy and annual country safeguarding workplan, ensuring safeguarding is embedded across all aspects of program delivery in Fiji.
• Provide strategic and technical advice to the Country Director and Country Leadership Team on safeguarding risks, compliance obligations, emerging issues and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Champion a culture of safeguarding, accountability and respectful behaviours by promoting awareness, prevention and shared responsibility across the program.
• Ensure safeguarding considerations are integrated into program planning, activity design, procurement, partnership development and operational decision-making.
• Contribute to regional safeguarding priorities and support the consistent application of safeguarding standards across Pacific Australia Skills.

2. Safeguarding Risk Management and Due Diligence

• Lead the implementation of safeguarding due diligence processes for implementing partners, contractors, service providers and other stakeholders in accordance with DFAT and DT Global safeguarding requirements and procedures.
• Conduct Safeguards Risk and Capacity Assessments and develop practical safeguarding plans to strengthen organisational capability and compliance.
• Review and provide technical quality assurance of Activity Safeguards Risk Assessments, ensuring risks are appropriately identified, mitigated, monitored and documented.
• Monitor implementation of safeguarding mitigation measures and partner action plans, providing technical support to address identified gaps and strengthen safeguarding systems.
• Work collaboratively with procurement, partnerships and program teams to ensure safeguarding considerations are appropriately incorporated throughout the partnership lifecycle.

3. Incident Management and Case Coordination

• Ensure safeguarding incidents are reported, managed and escalated within required timeframes while maintaining confidentiality and appropriate information management.
• Coordinate survivor-centred and child-centred responses, including referrals to appropriate support services and monitoring implementation of agreed actions.
• Provide technical advice and support to managers and staff in responding to safeguarding concerns and implementing appropriate risk mitigation measures.

4. Capacity Development and Technical Support

• Coordinate and deliver safeguarding induction, briefings, awareness and capacity strengthening initiatives for Pacific Australia Skills staff, implementing partners, government stakeholders, contractors and service providers.
• Build safeguarding capability through coaching, mentoring and ongoing technical support to Safeguards Focal Points and key stakeholders.
• Support partners to strengthen safeguarding governance, policies, procedures, reporting mechanisms and organisational practices aligned with DFAT safeguarding requirements.
• Promote continuous learning by identifying emerging safeguarding issues, lessons learned and opportunities to strengthen organisational capability.

5. Monitoring, Compliance and Quality Assurance

• Monitor safeguarding implementation through regular field visits, compliance reviews, partner engagement and activity monitoring to assess the effectiveness of safeguarding measures.
• Track implementation of safeguarding action plans, recommendations and corrective actions, ensuring timely follow-up and continuous improvement.
• Prepare high-quality safeguarding reports, dashboards, risk analyses, briefing papers and technical updates for the Country Director, Regional Safeguards Manager and other stakeholders as required.
• Monitor compliance with DT Global safeguarding policies, Codes of Conduct, DFAT safeguarding requirements and contractual safeguarding obligations.
• Contribute to internal audits, assurance processes and organisational reporting to demonstrate safeguarding compliance and program performance.

6. Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with government agencies, TVET institutions, employers, civil society organisations, implementing partners, contractors and development partners to strengthen safeguarding outcomes.
• Provide trusted technical advice to internal and external stakeholders on safeguarding policy, risk management and good practice.
• Represent Pacific Australia Skills in safeguarding-related meetings, working groups, technical forums and partner consultations as delegated by the Country Director.
• Foster collaborative partnerships that strengthen safeguarding capability, promote organisational learning and support sustainable safeguarding systems across the program.

Selection Criteria

Essential Experience and Knowledge

• A tertiary qualification in Social Work, Psychology, Law, Human Rights, International Development, Education, Gender Studies, Public Policy or another relevant discipline. Postgraduate qualifications are desirable.
• Demonstrated experience (minimum five years) in safeguarding, child protection, protection from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (PSEAH), gender equality, disability inclusion, protection or a related social development field.
• Demonstrated experience implementing safeguarding systems, policies and procedures within DFAT-funded or other donor-funded international development programs.
• Proven experience conducting safeguarding due diligence, organizational safeguarding assessments, safeguarding risk assessments and developing risk mitigation and capacity strengthening plans.
• Demonstrated experience managing safeguarding incidents in accordance with survivor-centered, child-centered and trauma-informed approaches, while maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality and professionalism.
• Experience designing, facilitating and evaluating safeguarding training, capacity strengthening initiatives and organizational learning programs for diverse stakeholder groups.
• Demonstrated ability to build safeguarding capability through coaching, mentoring and technical advisory support to staff, implementing partners and external stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to assess risk, exercise sound judgement and provide practical safeguarding solutions within complex operating environments.
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare high-quality reports, technical guidance, briefing papers and presentations for senior management and development partners.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships with governments, development partners, civil society organizations, contractors, service providers and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, work independently and deliver high-quality outcomes within agreed timeframes.

About You

• Experience working within the Pacific region, with an understanding of Pacific cultures, governance systems and development contexts.
• Knowledge of Fiji's legislative, policy and institutional framework relating to safeguarding, child protection, gender equality and protection.
• Experience working with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, government agencies or education sector programs.
• Demonstrated experience supporting organisational safeguarding system strengthening, policy development or institutional capacity building.
• Experience working on Australian Government (DFAT) funded programs or with other bilateral or multilateral development agencies.
• DT Global strongly encourages applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds including first nations, diverse SOGIESC and people with disabilities.

Click on the link or copy paste it to access the full Terms of Reference for this position: https://tinyurl.com/2we2j3hk