About The Role

Location: Port Moresby
Commencement: October 2026
Duration of contract: Up to 28 February 2030
Open to PNG Citizens only

About the Program

A stable, prosperous, peaceful, and resilient PNG is critical to Australia's interests. Australia is PNG's largest development partner, its main partner on economic and security issues.

The Australia Papua New Guinea Subnational Program (APSP) is an enabling mechanism comprised of three separately designed programs including: Bougainville Partnership (BP), Kokoda Initiative Partnership (KIP), and the Western Province Partnership (WPP).

The APSP also includes the Subnational Governance Implementation Plan (SGIP) that proposes a scalable foundational delivery model of subnational engagement. The SGIP is referenced in the APSP Contract and Strategic Framework as the continuation of the current network of subnational advisers (SNA) in the Western Province, Highlands, Sepik’s and Morobe.

Each of the four components (BP; WPP; KIP; SGIP) has its own outcomes, theory of change, operational approach and separate monitoring and evaluation systems.

There are five high level objectives which span all APSP programmed components

Output one: Effective gender-centred programs delivered for BP, KIP, WPP and SGIP.
Output two: Support DFAT to coordinate Australian inputs in selected subnational contexts.
Output three: Technical assistance targeted at key institutions and policy reforms.
Output four: Rapid programming of resources in support of DFAT development and key policy priorities.
Output five and six: Analysis, learning, and adaptation.

Managed by Abt Associates under a single contract from 2022 and guided by the APSP Performance Assessment Framework (PAF) the centralised approach is aimed to ensure and drive value for money by realising back-office efficiencies, ensure gender is consistently at the forefront of each program and deliver opportunities for learning and adaptation between programs.

The key policy priorities of gender, disability, climate change and subnational governance, are cross cutting priorities for all programmed components.

Locally led development principles guide delivery modalities to strengthen opportunity for strategic alignment, systemic integration, spending through social procurement and staff development.

APSP’s Climate Integration Strategy 2026–2030: Advancing Risk-Informed Development guides implementation and integration of climate actions across all programmed components. Building on the previous strategy (Towards Risk-Informed Development, 2024–2026), it marks a shift from building internal capacity to supporting governments and communities to risk-inform their development and implement targeted adaptation measures through APSP’s place-based programs. All new investments will integrate climate change and a commitment to APSP key policy priorities.

About the Opportunity

The Climate Integration Manager is a full-time national position embedded within the APSP facility. The role leads implementation of the APSP Climate Integration Strategy 2026–2030: Advancing Risk-Informed Development and is responsible for driving consistent, practical and high-quality climate integration across all programmed components.

The Manager will provide recognised climate expertise across APSP and coordinate climate outcomes across BP, WPP, KIP and SGIP. The role will work with the SGIP Team Leader, APSP Climate Change Adviser, APSP Executive Director, Component Program Team Leaders and cross-cutting teams to embed climate risk assessment, climate finance accounting, and climate-related monitoring, evaluation and learning into program systems, workplans and delivery.

The Manager will act as a trusted adviser to APSP teams, DFAT and government counterparts, applying sound technical judgement to help translate climate evidence, local knowledge and policy priorities into practical adaptation actions. The role will also oversee knowledge management, learning and capacity development so that APSP teams and counterparts can progressively strengthen risk-informed development practice.

Government engagement is central to the role. The Manager will build and maintain effective relationships with national and subnational government counterparts and support teams to introduce and progress risk-informed governance reforms. The APSP Climate Change Adviser will provide senior technical backstopping and mentoring, while the Manager will be expected to exercise a high degree of initiative, coordination and professional judgement in day-to-day implementation

Key Responsibilities

In accordance with the APSP Climate Integration Strategy 2026–2030, the Manager will

Lead implementation of the APSP Climate Integration Strategy 2026–2030, including annual planning, prioritisation, coordination, tracking and reporting of progress across all programmed components.
Provide recognised climate expertise and practical guidance to program teams on operationalising APSP climate integration systems and tools, including:
Project-level climate risk assessment (Annex C of the Strategy) – supporting application to new initiatives, project concepts and major redesigns across the facility.
Climate finance accounting (Annex D) – supporting preparation of climate finance estimates enabling DFAT to report against its international climate finance commitments.
Climate-related monitoring and evaluation – supporting integration of climate considerations, including the thematic adaptation indicators at Annex E, into facility and program-level M&E frameworks, and supporting annual reflection sessions, the APSP Learning Event and learning briefs.
Coordinate climate outcomes across all program components, working with team leaders and cross-cutting teams to align climate integration with program priorities, workplans, monitoring and reporting.
Act as a trusted adviser to APSP teams, DFAT and counterpart governments on integrating climate risk assessment and resilience considerations into government systems, plans and processes, applying sound judgement and technical expertise to support risk-informed governance reforms.
Facilitate and coordinate targeted technical assistance inputs to program teams and projects where needed, including working with the APSP Climate Change Adviser to program annual technical assistance workplans and ensure timely follow-up.
Progressively design and deliver training and capacity building for APSP staff in climate risk management practice, with support from the APSP Climate Change Adviser.
Contribute to the comprehensive mid-term review of the Strategy in late 2028, recommending refinements for 2029–2030.
Any other reasonable duties as agreed.

Key Deliverables

The Climate Integration Manager will be required to

Prepare, manage and drive delivery of an annual climate integration workplan, agreed with the SGIP Team Leader, aligned with the Strategy and program annual plans.
Ensure project-level climate risk assessments are consistently documented, quality assured and reflected in program risk registers, design documents and implementation decisions.
Lead coordination of annual climate finance estimates supporting DFAT reporting, aligned to the financial year reporting cycle.
Coordinate climate-related inputs to annual reflection sessions, the APSP Learning Event and learning briefs, ensuring climate outcomes are clearly captured and used for adaptive management.
Establish, maintain and actively use the repository of PNG climate change knowledge products – including climate information services (climate science and traditional knowledge) – to inform program decisions and support cross-program learning.
Provide periodic strategic and operational progress reports on implementation of the Strategy to the SGIP Team Leader and APSP Executive Director.
Provide inputs to the comprehensive mid-term review of the Strategy (late 2028).

Key working relationships

Reporting to

SGIP Team Leader (Supervisor)

Working alongside

APSP Climate Change Adviser (technical counterpart and mentor)
APSP Executive Director (key stakeholder)
Team Leaders BP, KIP and WPP (key stakeholders)
APSP senior managers and cross-cutting teams, including the Performance, Learning and Communications Team and GEDSI Lead (key stakeholders)
Counterpart government agencies, including DCG, DLPPEC and the ABG Department of Infrastructure and Utilities (Bougainville); the Western Province Administration; and CEPA (Kokoda)
Other climate change programs and development partners across PNG (knowledge sharing and repository development)
Abt Global (Managing Contractor)
DFAT (client)

About You

For applications to be considered, a response to the key selection criteria below must be provided .

Qualifications

Relevant tertiary qualification in climate change, environment, planning, agriculture, water, public policy, governance, public administration, development studies or a related field. Postgraduate qualifications will be considered favourably.

Knowledge

Strong knowledge of climate change adaptation, climate risk management, resilience programming, risk-informed development and locally led adaptation.
Knowledge of practical climate integration in program tools, workplans, risk registers, design documents, reporting and monitoring systems.
Understanding of PNG development context.
Awareness of climate finance accounting is desirable.

Skills/Experience

At least five years’ relevant experience in climate change, environment, governance, planning, development programming or a related field.
Experience supporting climate risk assessment, adaptation planning or practical climate integration.
Experience working in PNG or Pacific development contexts, including with governments, communities, development programs or partners.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with national or subnational government agencies to progress policy, governance or institutional reforms, using sound judgement and technical expertise.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to build productive relationships, influence stakeholders and explain climate risks and responses clearly in a cross-cultural setting.
Extensive experience in climate change adaptation, climate risk management or resilience programming, with climate change as a demonstrated career focus.
Strong coordination, organisational and knowledge management skills, including the ability to manage delivery across multiple teams, maintain workplans, and adapt systems, tools and knowledge repositories.
Ability to analyse information and turn it into clear advice, tools and action points.
Ability to support training, mentoring, coaching and follow-up with staff and counterparts.
Good written and spoken communication skills, including the ability to explain climate risks in simple language.
Good organisational skills, attention to detail and ability to deliver agreed tasks on time.
Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
Self-starter with the ability to work independently and as part of a multi-cultural team.
Ability to travel to provinces and work in challenging operating environments.

Personal Attributes

Delivers results.
Builds strong internal and external relationships.
Develops people and builds cooperative teams.
Demonstrates sound financial and business practices.
Promotes technical excellence, quality, diversity and professional conduct.
Demonstrates commitment to capacity development, inclusion, localisation and equity.
Resilient and adaptable in changing and challenging contexts.

How to Apply

Please ensure to address the Key Selection Criteria (About You) in your cover letter, and submit your application online, along with your CV as a single document.
Applications must be submitted personally by individuals only. Applications submitted by a company or organisation will not be accepted.
The successful applicant will be engaged through an employment agreement determined by Abt.
Applicants must attach a valid Police Clearance Certificate obtained within 12 months from date their application is submitted.

We welcome and thank all applications; however, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted .
Closing Date: Friday, 18 September 2026, (Midday, local time) #LI-AUSBRIT