Mary MacKillop Today is an international community development organisation. We work with vulnerable individuals and communities regardless of their faith, ethnicity or gender and are committed to protecting the rights of children in all areas we work around the world.
Working to our values of Faith, Courage, Accountability, Respectfulness and Excellence, Mary MacKillop Today helps create generational change through the teaching of practical life skills to women, men and children in Australia and beyond.
Mary MacKillop Today is proud to receive Voice Project’s Best Workplace Award for 2021. This award is given to organisations that have achieved exceptional levels of employee engagement and satisfaction.
Voice Project works with organisations who are committed to providing their employees with a voice, creating positive change and empowering an engaged workforce. Through consistent, joint efforts of leaders and staff, we see ongoing improvements in employee engagement and organisational performance.
Please see our current vacancies below:
International Programs & Quality Director
(maternity leave position)
Reporting to the CEO, the International Programs & Quality Director supports a large team of 7 direct reports (including the Country Director of the Timor-Leste office with 50+ local staff) in the implementation of Mary MacKillop Today’s overseas aid and development programs, including those delivered through our country office in Timor-Leste, and those delivered through partnerships in Peru, and Fiji.
The International Programs & Quality Director will oversee effective program delivery to ensure all programs are high quality and impactful and delivered in alignment with best practice sector standards and contractual requirements, including overseeing all areas of operational management and risk management.
This position sits on the Leadership Team and will contribute to the organisational management and strategic direction of the organisation. The International Programs & Quality Director will be responsible for driving the development and implementation of Mary MacKillop Today’s country strategies, including identifying and developing mutually beneficial partnerships that further the strategic priorities of both Mary MacKillop Today and our partner organisations.
Key Responsibilities
Lead and manage a geographically dispersed team of staff, including overseeing all areas of operational management
- Lead and mentor a geographically dispersed team of staff in Sydney and Timor-Leste, including promoting cross-team learning and effective collaboration.
- Support the Timor-Leste Country Director to oversee the operational management of Mary MacKillop Today’s Timor-Leste Country Office, including overseeing resource and asset management, staff safety and security, and policy compliance.
- Oversee the performance management of the International Programs and Quality Team including orientation, staff training and annual performance reviews.
- Demonstrate a participatory and respectful management style that fosters collegiality between Mary MacKillop Today staff.
- Oversee the identification, assessment and management of financial, reputational and operational risks involved in the delivery of our international programs, including ensuring rigorous safeguarding controls are implemented in our country office and with overseas partners.
- Report to the CEO and Board of Directors on a regular basis ensuring they are informed of key achievements, challenges and risks associated with all Mary MacKillop Today International programs.
Drive the Strategic Development of the International Program
- As part of the Leadership Team, provide Strategic input to the development, implementation and monitoring of the Mary MacKillop Today Strategic Plan.
- Lead the development and implementation of Mary MacKillop Today’s Country Strategies, ensuring they effectively capture and reflect the voices of the communities where we work.
- Ensure the International Program portfolio is delivered in-line with best practice sector standards and regulatory requirements for accreditation including those of DFAT and ACFID.
- Drive the continual development and application of Mary MacKillop Today’s Development Effectiveness and Learning framework and ‘Learning for Life’ strategy across the International Programs.
- Identify, develop and manage mutually beneficial partnerships that further the strategic priorities of both Mary MacKillop Today and our partner organisations.
- Provide innovative strategic direction to our work with staff and partners which demonstrates, defines and measures the “value add” of Mary MacKillop Today.
- Proactively represent Mary MacKillop Today to key stakeholders, including major donors, the church, government representatives, and international development networks.
- Lead and manage Partner Learning Forums and online learning events to promote opportunities for learning and collaboration across our international programs.
Ensure the effective delivery of our International Programs
- Manage the effective design, coordination, and delivery of Mary MacKillop Today’s International Programs.
- Support the team to coordinate all aspects of the project cycle, including program design, submission of program reports and preparation of funds transfers.
- Deliver financial and narrative reporting for the program, including liaising with program staff and partners to ensure deadlines are met.
- Oversee all ANCP grant management, compliance, and reporting, including reaccreditation.
- Lead the scoping, planning and negotiation phase of all new international partnerships and coordinate related tasks including negotiating partnership agreements, conducting capacity assessments and due diligence checks, and developing learning action plans with the relevant Program Coordinator.
- Remain abreast of contemporary thinking on international development and implications for Mary MacKillop Today’s program development and implementation.
- Support the timely lodgement of tenders or submissions of applications for program funding or grants to support the growth and sustainability of Mary MacKillop Today’s international programs.
Enhance organisation-wide Program Quality
- Strengthen MMT programs to be high quality, evidence-based, and aligned to MMT’s strategic plan.
- Manage and support the continual development and application of MMT’s Design, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning framework across the whole organisation.
- Develop and manage processes for the dissemination of learning data and results with key stakeholders.
- Support staff in undertaking monitoring visits to program sites and participate in field visits as required.
Key Competencies
- Extensive experience managing complex international development programs, preferably within a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) setting. Experience working with faith-based organisations desirable
- Tertiary qualification in International Development or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience in managing and mentoring staff and the ability to lead a team of remote-based staff in a cross-cultural setting.
- Strong financial acumen including demonstrated experience in developing and monitoring program budgets, budget forecasting, and financial reporting in alignment with donor and contractual requirements.
- High level of cross-cultural communication skills, and exceptional stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
- Extensive experience in the implementation and oversight of ACFID Code Compliance and DFAT accreditation requirements, and experience managing projects funded by institutional donors. Experience managing projects funded via the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) desirable.
- Highly developed English communication skills
- Spoken and written language skills in Tetun and/or Spanish desirable but not mandatory.
- Ability to travel internationally and domestically as required.
- Ability to work within and contribute to the Mission and Values of Mary MacKillop Today.
- Adherence to Mary MacKillop Today’s Safeguarding Policy, and willingness to undergo a criminal record check or statutory declaration of local legal equivalent where criminal records checks are unavailable or unreliable.
General Information
This position is a full-time role based in North Sydney, and reports to the CEO of Mary MacKillop Today. It is a maternity leave fixed term 12-month contract, planned to start Monday 9th of September 2024.
The working environment is informal but professional, with very high standards of output and delivery. We are a happy, enthusiastic and energy filled group, with a positive, values-driven culture.
This is classified as a Contact with Children position and therefore subject to child-safe recruitment screening. The preferred candidate must be willing to undergo a criminal record check or statutory declaration of local legal equivalent where criminal records checks are unavailable or unreliable. Where possible and as required by Mary MacKillop Today the Candidate must also be willing to undergo a working with children check.
Mary MacKillop Today is committed to achieving an inclusive and diverse workforce.
Application Process
To apply, submit a CV and a 2-page cover letter outlining why you are interested in working at Mary MacKillop Today, addressing all the key competencies listed above and how your skills align to this opportunity to: [email protected]. Applications close at midnight on Sunday 28 July 2024.
If you have specific questions about this opportunity, please contact [email protected] or call 02 8912 2777.
