Pacific Program Coordinator

ABOUT GOOD RETURN

Good Return is a social purpose organisation working across the Asia Pacific region. We enable women and their families to access opportunity and build financial security. Our focus is providing responsible finance to local entrepreneurs, as well as education and business training to women and other excluded groups to build confidence and financial capability. The result is a growing generation of empowered entrepreneurs, taking control of their finances, their livelihoods, and their futures.

We are regulated as a public not-for-profit organisation by the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC) and are fully accredited by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Scope of position 

The Pacific Program Coordinator is responsible for engaging the Program Team, partners and beneficiaries to coordinate and support Good Return's strategy in the region with a focus on Fiji. The role will have the support of Technical Leads and Specialists to translate program level strategies to regional and country specific application.

The role of the Good Return Pacific Program Coordinator is to act as a focal point of Good Return ensuring Good Return’s position is well represented at relevant platforms or meetings in Fiji and the Pacific. The role also provides coordination and implementation support for projects and partnerships that fall under Good Return’s core program areas (Financial Capability and Inclusive Finance), with a particular focus on gender mainstreaming initiatives in Fiji. In doing so the Pacific Program Coordinator will coordinate with Good Return team members (particularly technical specialists) and partner focal points to build partner agencies’ internal capacity in these core programs/projects.

The Pacific Program Coordinator will support the Pacific Regional Manager in terms of relationship management, project management and specific areas of project implementation. The role is responsible for supporting the Pacific team in regular stakeholder consultation and program development.

The role is also responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Good Return Office and / or desk in Fiji.  This includes coordination with other shared office members if required. The Pacific Program Coordinator has also scope to proactively identify new projects and partnerships. This may include scoping visits, needs assessment, partner assessments, and stakeholder and donor engagement. Project proposals and project design documents will be developed by the Pacific Program Coordinator in collaboration with the Pacific Regional Manager, the Grants Writer, and other Program Team staff.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Note: The KPIs outlined below are provided as a guide. Specific quarterly targets (OKRs) are to be negotiated with the supervisor.

1. Project Development and maintaining current & establishing new partnerships in the Pacific (20%)

• Conduct scoping visits and needs assessments to determine project and partnership opportunities that align with Good Return’s mission, vision, values and strategy
• Promote Good Return’s two core programs in collaboration with program team among potential partners in Fiji and on occasion in the Pacific, and support the Pacific team to conduct due diligence and MoU/contract process to create partnerships with support from Good Return team members
• Create and maintain partnerships with existing and potential partners
• Work alongside the  Pacific Regional Manager and other Program Team members to strategise about funding sources, prepare project proposals and project design documents, as per the Good Return Program Manual
• Research and implement options for Good Return’s growth in Fiji and the Pacific, including potential registration or other mechanisms for Good Return to operate effectively and grow the team/projects 

KPIs

1. Contribution to the development of at least 2 concept notes/project proposals in Fiji per year 
2. Lead the development of funding proposal for at least one new funding/donor partner in Fiji per year    
3. Contribute substantially to the establishment of two new Pacific partnerships for CAFE or Inclusive Finance program per year
4. Contribute substantially to min. AUD$50,000 raised in new program funds, increasing by 20% year-on-year

2. Coordinates Good Return program/project activities in Fiji (50%)

In compliance with the Program Manual:

• Coordinate and support needs assessment and field research activities
• Organise and support training delivery, workshops, meetings and visits as per needs of Good Return programmes and activities. Coordinate and support field level monitoring and evaluation activities in coordination with Project Manager/s and Program Impact & Effectiveness Manager
• Support the capacity building of partner organisation staff
• Coordinate and support stakeholder management (e.g. partner reporting, donor reporting, meetings to brief stakeholders on project progress/outcomes)
• Coordinate regular project level reporting with Project Manager/s’ support
• Coordinate and support the implementation of gender lens investing activities with gender focal points.
• Support the contextualization and upgrading of CAFE curriculum to ensure it integrates insights from the pilot and feedback from partners
• Support the scoping and implementation of Good Return’s Impact Investment activities in Fiji. 
• Monitor the implementation of partner Gender Action Plans and provide support/troubleshooting on gender integration as needed.
• Provide close support to other gender lens investing activities including completing supporting gender value chain analysis.
• Support delivery of training to partner organisations, particularly on gender and components related to gender analysis.

KPIs

1. Improvement in the capacity of partner organisation staff and evidence of partner satisfaction through Annual Partnership Survey
2. Proactive and timely coordination support to project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation activities, including stakeholder engagement and support, field travel scheduling and translation support across all 3 program areas
3. Monitoring and reporting on implementation of partner organisation Gender Action Plans is completed according to required timelines. 
4. Compliance with Program Manual
5. Staff & visitors report high satisfaction with local coordination of visits.
6. Staff reports high satisfaction with office culture and office work environment
7. Visitors report high satisfaction with local coordination of visits

3. Supports the delivery of Good Return programs in the Pacific (30%)

In compliance with the Program Manual

• Support Country Coordinators in Tonga, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea to deliver scheduled program activities in their respective countries
• Support Country Coordinators in Tonga, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea to promote Good Return’s two core programs in collaboration with program team among potential partners in Fiji, and conduct due diligence and MoU/contract process to create partnerships with support from Good Return team members

KPIs

1. Proactive and timely coordination support to Pacific country Coordinators to project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation activities, including stakeholder engagement and support, field travel scheduling and translation support across the two program areas
2.  Compliance to Program Manual across all Pacific countries

4. Other Duties as required

SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES

Essential

• Fijian national / citizen preferred
• Fluency in written and spoken English and some spoken Fijian and Fiji Hindhi would be an advantage
• 3+ years experience working/volunteering in economic empowerment and/or training sector and / or financial inclusion - Experience or knowledge in various financing vehicles for MSMEs would be an advantage
• Experience working with technology or multimedia tools for education and/or awareness-building
• Experience in project management
• University level diploma or degree in business, finance, education, or a related field.
• A passion and a commitment to Good Return’s vision of a world without poverty
• Ability and willingness to travel within Fiji and the Pacific region

Location:  The role is based full-time in Fiji. The role involves considerable domestic and some regional travel and requires an availability and willingness to spend up to 50% of time traveling within Fiji and the Pacific.

Level of Effort: Full-time. 

Direct Reports: This role may supervise up to 3 direct reports, based on the needs of the organisation from time to time.

Applications can be submitted by selecting the 'I'm interested' link below.

Applicants should provide their Cover Letter and CV addressing how they meet the criteria for the position. Cover Letters can be written in the message section or uploaded together with a CV file.

Please indicate how you heard about this position.

Enquiries can be directed via the Good Return website https://goodreturn.org.au/contact/

Applications close: Please apply as soon as possible. Applications will be reviewed continually.

Additional notes: 

• Good Return is an inclusive organisation. We strive to build a team that truly represents our diverse society and those of the Asia-Pacific communities we operate in. We actively encourage all applicants, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, disability and sexuality, to apply. If you require adjustments to the recruitment or interview process to accommodate your specific needs, let us know and we will try to provide them.
• Good Return is a child safe organisation. Our recruitment processes reflect our commitment to the protection of children from abuse; successful candidates will need to comply by our Child Protection Policy and undergo pre-employment checks.