JOB DESCRIPTION

• Commencement: February or March 2026
• Duration: From February 2026 to February 2030 
• Based in Buka, Autonomous Region of Bougainville, PNG
• Open to PNG national and international candidates
• Short-term or Long-term Adviser (TBC)

About the Program 

For Australia and New Zealand, the emergence of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Bougainville is a key national interest; supporting the Government of PNG and the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) to implement the Bougainville Peace Agreement is an explicit commitment in the Australia government 2017 White Paper. An overriding interest is to maintain the peace that the Agreement brought about and that is enabled by political dialogue, within and outside Bougainville, and economic development. It implies a readiness to engage for the long term, accepting that the development of institutions and diversified economic opportunities will be slow.

 

The Bougainville Partnership (BP) took on its current form in 2016, inheriting activities from a number of separately administered initiatives. The structure of the program remains similar to the BP’s previous program, but with updated outcomes as follows:

Pillar 1 – Capable Institutions 

1. GoPNG and ABG institutions are able to carry out high priority tasks that support Bougainville’s development and the post-referendum dialogue: Supporting defined tasks connected with the development of essential institutions, the draw-down of powers, and Post-Referendum Dialogue.

Pillar 2 – Economic Development

2. ABG and business associations jointly plan and implement initiatives to improve the private sector environment for inclusive economic development: Measures to improve the environment for private sector development and deepen the dialogue between the government and the private sector will be promoted through technical assistance.

3. Women and men engaged in primary production have increased incomes and benefit from inclusive associations and cooperatives: The current agricultural value chain activities will be continued, focussing on improving cocoa quality and linking producers to markets.

Women and men engaged in primary production have increased incomes and benefit from inclusive associations and cooperatives: The current agricultural value chain activities will be continued, focussing on improving cocoa quality and linking producers to markets. This objective must be complemented with an economic inclusive policy and strategy that helps the interest of women, youth and people living with disabilities to actively take part and benefit from the economic activities.

Pillar 3 – Stronger Communities

4. Community, youth and women’s groups collaborate effectively to establish sustainable community assets, deliver services and advocate for their target groups: Formerly the peace-building component, activities will include continuation and expansion of the existing successful community grants program, initiatives to provide skills and foster networks for youth, and community infrastructure.

Pillar Crosscutting Outcome:

5. Women increasingly participate in decision making and take on leadership roles in civic, economic and political spaces: The program will use the entry points from its range of activities to promote women’s leadership.

The BP is part of the Australia PNG Subnational Program (APSP), which is an enabling mechanism comprised of three separately designed programs including: BP, the Western Province Partnership (WPP), the Kokoda Initiative Partnership (KIP), and the Subnational Governance Implementation Plan (SGIP). Each program has its own outcomes, theory of change, operational approach and separate monitoring and evaluation systems.

Position Overview 

In recent years the BP has implemented several infrastructure projects, including but not limited to:

• Arawa Hospital upgrade
• Bougainville Technical College administration block
• Education: 18 double classrooms
• Community Government: 10 Offices and 9 Community Halls
• Bougainville Commodities Regulatory Authority Lab
• More than one hundred small infrastructure projects through community and agricultural grant schemes

 

Going forward the BP program will increase infrastructure investments in governance, economic development, law and justice, education, health and other public infrastructure.

 

Reporting to the Infrastructure and Facilities Lead (IFL), the Infrastructure Advisor (the Advisor) will undertake the following core functions:

BP Infrastructure Delivery

• Provide technical oversight of approved infrastructure projects delivered directly by the BP program.
• Provide technical oversight of approved infrastructure projects delivered by service providers (Contractors) on behalf of the BP program.

Capacitation of the ABG

• Support the capacitation of the Department of Infrastructure & Utilities (DIU) to oversee and deliver infrastructure projects.
• Support the BP and other development partners to progressively utilise DIU systems and process in procurement, contracting, contract management, delivery and compliance.
• Assist the IFL with the development and maintenance of strategic relations and linkages with the ABG and core partners in relation to Bougainville’s infrastructure development.

 

The Advisor will demonstrate a visible and systematic commitment to achieving gender equality through the APSP and for achieving against agreed gender equality performance objectives.

The Advisor will report to the Infrastructure and Facilities Lead (IFL).

Key Responsibilities 

Reporting to the IFL, the Advisor’s specific responsibilities will include:

BP Infrastructure Delivery

• Provide technical oversight of infrastructure procurement processes across the portfolio of infrastructure related works focusing on the development of sub-contracts, bill of quantities, supply chain management, and community agreements, including the management of their successful execution for the delivery of projects on time, cost and quality.
• Assessing sites and building plans, developing scopes of works and costed work plans, and managing requests for proposals/tenders including leading on evaluation committees.
• Prepare all required BP compliance forms for all procurement including limited approach to market, quotation evaluation forms and sole source supplier justifications.
• Maintain tracking and reporting systems on all infrastructure projects in the nominated software system to be adopted across the program. This is to include regular reporting and highlighting issues contract execution based on these systems.
• Prepare written reports on specific issues as requested for regular and ad hoc reporting including collating, storing and managing relevant monitoring and evaluation data and information and support the production of bi-monthly, six monthly and annual reports.
• Travel throughout Bougainville to conduct site inspections and oversee and liaise with consultants, construction contractors and local officials on construction activities to prepare update reports through to final sign off and Taking Over Certificates to end users.
• Provide progress reports, record any delays, detail foreseeable risks with recommendations for the way forward, recorded incidents of non-compliance and remaining activities planned.
• Work with the BP Infrastructure Unit to evaluate service providers (contractors) has comprehensively fulfilled their contractual obligations ensuring the service provider acts quickly to redress faults and the close out of the contract.
• Ensure that infrastructure (construction, refurbishment and maintenance and renovation) activities reflect DFAT development principles of gender equity and social inclusion.

Capacitation of the ABG

• Review the BP-DIU Organisational Capacity Assessments (OCA) and other development partner organisational assessments, including the 2024 Joint Organisational Assessment (JOA)
• Alongside DIU counterparts, support the strengthening DIU’s corporate systems and processes and strengthening counterpart’s skills.
• Support the BP and other development partners to progressively utilise DIU systems and process in procurement, contracting, contract management, delivery and compliance.
• As requested, support the DoTF Advisors to propose recommendations for the design and operation of a centralised ABG procurement system for services, supplies and minor works.
• In cooperation with BP advisers, provide technical advice on the development of a training activity for ABG personnel managing procurement, incorporating the application of the Goods Procurement Manual. Mentor ABG Department staff in standard minor procurement as required.
• In conjunction with Advisers from DoTF, review the ABG contract templates (Minor and Major Works Supplies and Services).

Liaise with Australian-funded transport and infrastructure programs in Bougainville to support implementation effectiveness.

Specific Deliverables

Position Specific Deliverables:

• Successful technical oversight and delivery of approved infrastructure projects implemented directly by the BP program.
• Successful technical oversight and delivery of approved infrastructure projects delivered by service providers on behalf of the BP program.
• The DIU is capacitated to adhere to their core corporate processes and standard operating procedures.
• The BP and other development partners are progressively utilising DIU systems and process in procurement, contracting, contract management, delivery and compliance.
• Enhanced relationships, problem-solving, and GEDSI integration with key stakeholders and counterparts in support of Bougainville Partnership development priorities

Key working relationships 

ABG & GoPNG 

• Secretary, Department of Utilities & Infrastructure
• Senior Staff, Department of Utilities & Infrastructure
• Senior Staff, Office of the Chief Secretary
• Senior Staff, Department of Treasury & Finance (DoTF)
• Senior Staff, National Coordination Office of Bougainville Affairs (NCOBA)
• Other ABG Departments as agreed

 

Bougainville Partnership 

• Infrastructure & Facilities Lead
• Infrastructure Manager & Officers
• Director, BP
• Team Leader, Governance & Institutions (Pillar 1)
• Team Leader, Economic Development (Pillar 2)
• Team Leader, Stronger Communities (Pillar 3)
• Finance & Operations Lead
• MERLA Adviser and MERLA Officers
• GEDSI Manager and GESDI Coordinator
• Long- and short-term Advisers to: DoTF, BTO, DPMAS, DJLS, NCOBA

Primary External Relationships:

• Australian High Commission (Port Moresby)
• New Zealand High Commission (Port Moresby)
• Australia or NZ-funded transport and infrastructure programs in Bougainville

About You 

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications civil engineering, construction management, quantity surveying, or a related engineering discipline.
• Project management certified.

 

Knowledge 

• Demonstrated knowledge of infrastructure project delivery, logistics, coordination and processes appropriate for use in rural and remote infrastructure delivery.
• Demonstrated knowledge of project planning, risk management, monitoring, quality assurance, procurement, and contract management.
• Demonstrated knowledge of sustainability, social and environmental safeguards, health & safety, and inclusive infrastructure development.
• Knowledge of strategic planning, functional analysis, organisational design, organisational governance, capacity building and change management.
• Understanding of government systems and public infrastructure policies in Bougainville, PNG or a low-income country setting.

Skills/Experience

• At least 10 years’ experience in infrastructure development, construction or civil engineering.
• At least 10 years’ experience in procurement, project management, and working with governments or development partners would be advantageous.
• At least 5 years work experience in construction procurement and contract management of sub-contractors.
• Competent level of analytical, written and verbal communication skills in English
• Experience in monitoring & evaluation of complex government or international development programs with multiple contributing workstreams and providing high-level written reports to management and donors.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability work in remote, cross-cultural context in austere environments.
• Willingness to integrate and promote principles of gender equity and social inclusion in all aspects of this role including in program design, implementation, and evaluation where relevant and feasible.

Personal Attributes

• Delivers Results
• Builds Internal and External Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty.
• Develops People
• Communicates
• Sets Vision and Direction
• Demonstrates Sound Financial and Business-Related Practices
• Builds Teams and Cooperation
• Promotes Technical Excellence and Quality
• Promotes Diversity Acts as a Role Model

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.

We welcome and thank all applications; however only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Closing Date:  Friday, 23 January 2026, 12PM (Mid-day, local time) #LI-AUSBRIT

Abt Global is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to upholding high standards of Child Protection, Anti-bribery and Fraud Protection.

We encourage applications from experienced and capable women, and people with disabilities.