MEL & Inclusion Senior Specialist Australia – Pacific Partnerships for Aviation (P4A)

Program: Australia – Pacific Partnerships for Aviation (P4A)

Location: The role will be a full-time role based in Nadi with the P4A team. Consideration may be given to a regionally based Pacific candidate

Duration: An initial term of 1.5 years to 30 June 2027, with an extension option

Required Travel: Some Pacific regional travel as required to support delivery of the MEL Plan. Travel to Australia may also be required.

Reports To: P4A Communications, Performance and Inclusion Lead (CPIL)

Works with: Team Leader, Communications, Performance and Inclusion Lead, Communications Specialist, if required with Advisors and STAs

Remuneration: FJD 120-160,000 per year including benefits.

About the Program

Adam Smith International (ASI) is the managing contractor responsible for delivery of the Australia-Pacific Partnerships for Aviation (P4A) program. P4A is a 5-year program supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia. P4A is a regional program headquartered in Nadi, Fiji.

P4A will be delivered through three key outcome areas, including (but not limited to):

1. A stronger enabling environment, including improved management, regulations, policies, and plans that strengthen the Pacific aviation and tourism sector and reform unsustainable practices.

2. Improved Safety, Quality and Reliability through strengthened technical capability and more common approaches that improve aviation operations' safety, quality, and reliability.

3. Greater coordination, cooperation, and connectivity are needed to maintain connectivity between Pacific Island countries and strengthen regional and bilateral coordination and cooperation in regulatory and operational areas.

P4A will also mainstream cross-cutting sectors to ensure outcomes strengthen child protection and safeguarding, climate change resilience and adaptation, support locally led leadership and improve Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) outcomes.

Position Summary

The MEL & Inclusion Senior Specialist will work with the Communications, Performance and Inclusion Lead (CPIL) to operationalize the program MEL plan and review and update MEL systems.  The MEL & inclusion Senior Specialist is a highly experienced technical professional who will work independently to design program and country plans, update MEL results framework, online data system and dashboard and deliver the Annual Workplan MEL activities. This includes drafting of MEL sections for program strategies such as GEDSI Strategy, Performance Framework, Pacific Skills and Education Strategy and other strategies / plans in line with DFAT MEL Standards.  

Monitoring and Evaluation (MEL)

The Senior Specialist will update and maintain the MEL systems and processes, in line with DFAT standards, to ensure that P4A activities are monitored and analysed, to inform planning and program management decisions. This includes designing MEL templates, survey and evaluation tools, such as reporting dashboards, to effectively deliver the MEL Framework and Plan.  

The Senior Specialist will set-up, operationalise and manage the P4A Data Management system. The role will be responsible for collecting baselines for the program, identifying and measuring against targets, collecting and analysing disaggregated data against the MEL Framework and other program strategies to support effective program-level reporting.  The position will lead quantitative and qualitative MEL interventions, including performance and impact stories that will be promoted using P4A social media channels. The Senior Specialist will be expected to actively promote learning and continuous improvement and capacity building.

The Senior Specialist will work closely with the CPIL to integrate cross-cutting priorities including climate change, disaster resilience and localisation in MEL systems.  The Position will identify and manage MEL ethical standards and GEDSI safeguarding associated risks (including the principles of do no harm and compliance to Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) and Child Protection.

Inclusion

The Senior Specialist will support the CPIL to implement the GEDSI Strategy and Action Plan and ensure program activities and the country and regional engagement strategies follow the DFAT’s requirements and standards specific to GEDSI. Following ongoing mentoring and coaching by the CPIL, the Specialist will deliver the GEDSI mainstreaming interventions and delivery of targeted activities prioritized in the GEDSI Strategy and Action Plan.   

Duties & Responsibilities

The MEL and Inclusion Senior Specialist will:

• Update the MEL Framework to include and collate indicators, baselines and targets in line with  the country and regional engagement strategies. This work is expected to be undertaken in collaboration with the MEL Short Term Adviser (STA)

• Support effective design and delivery of the MEL Results Framework and MEL Plan in line with the DFAT Design, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Standards. Design and update MEL systems, processes, tools and templates required to implement the MEL Plan. 

• Develop reporting templates for 6-monthly and Annual Reports to enable evidence- based decision making and to demonstrate performance progress.

• Develop a practical approach to collection of baselines and complete the baseline data collection for PICs

• Update and operationalise the P4A Data Management and Information System. Preferably using Power BI tools to create and update data dashboard to analyse P4A deliverables.

• Develop a Community of Practice across P4A for MEL & Data Management and Information System

• Provide technical support and quality assurance for consideration of MEL in new initiatives, evaluations and reviews, Value for Money analysis and best practice guidance notes.  

• Coordinate regular learning including 6 Monthly Reflection processes, impact assessments and rapid reviews.  

• Support the CPI Lead in the delivery of P4A GEDSI Strategy, Action Plan, Disability Inclusion and mainstreaming activities

• Integrate cross-cutting priorities of GEDSI, safeguarding and climate and disaster resilience, localisation throughout MEL activities and deliverables. 

• Provide support to the CPIL by undertaking research, assessments and GEDSI analysis to inform and update strategies. Ensure all reports are prepared in accordance with DFAT’s reporting guidelines.

• Undertake other tasks as directed by P4A.

Key Performance Indicators

• Timely delivery of high-quality outputs. 

• Effective delivery of results as agreed in the program plans.  

• Identify opportunities for the program and assess and manage risk.

• Responsiveness to requests from P4A Team

• Effective stakeholder and partner engagement and coordination

Qualifications & Experience

Proven experience in evaluating and communicating results in regional / multi-country programs in the Pacific.

Qualifications

• Tertiary degree (post graduate level desirable) in relevant field- economics, international development, evaluation, sector policy; social development

Required Experience

• Significant practical experience (minimum of 8 years) implementing MEL systems for programs (international development or relevant private sector). 

• Experience implementing GEDSI activities in development programs

• Demonstrated expertise with MEL-related activities such as performance monitoring, MEL plan drafting, methodology design, sampling, qualitative and quantitative analysis, instrument design, field survey management and authoring reports. 

• Demonstrated experience in developing and applying MEL systems with high levels of autonomy. 

• Experience designing, leading, and facilitating learning events and advising on or operationalising learning processes in programs. 

• Experience with MS Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and working with Power BI. 

• Experience in integrating gender equality, disability inclusion and/or social inclusion, climate change, disaster resilience, localisation in MEL systems and processes. 

• Experience in stakeholder management and working with GEDSI organisations.

How to apply

Please submit a CV and cover letter by 2nd October 2025.

Your cover letter should detail your expertise, capability statement, and alignment with the requirements of the P4A program.