JOB DESCRIPTION

About the Program 

The PNG Partnerships for Improving Education (PIE) program is focused on the early grades. Through PIE, early grade teachers are supported to upskill and upgrade their qualifications. PIE works to support the creation of an enabling environment for systemic change through strengthened policies and practice.

The PIE program is a five-year investment in teaching and learning designed to improve access, equity, and student learning outcomes in the early grades through professional development for teachers and improved governance and service delivery. In PNG low attendance and high rates of over-age enrolment, repetition, and retention hinder children’s progress. This is especially true for girls and children living with disabilities in rural remote locations.

The PIE program works at the national and sub-national level to facilitate, test, and monitor emerging good practices and ways to address priority challenges related to access, equity, learning and retention. PIE contributes expertise and resources to the national teacher upgrading program for early grade teachers.

The expected end-of-investment outcomes (EOIO) for the PIE investment are:

• Targeted Outcome 1: More children (girls, boys, and children with disabilities) in the early grades enrol and stay in school in selected locations using replicable and sustainable approaches.
• Targeted Outcome 2: Targeted provinces are using sustainable and replicable approaches to support improvements in the quality of teaching and learning in the early grades.
• Enabling Outcome 3: Evidence of systemic change within the education sector that improves the delivery of early grades education.

About the Opportunity

The Subnational Program Support Coordinator will play a critical coordination and quality assurance role within the PIE Operations Team. The position will support subnational officers to design, implement, and monitor activity plans aligned with the broader PIE work plan and the program’s end-of-investment outcomes.

This role will also ensure subnational activities comply with policy, operational, and contractual requirements, while facilitating cross-team engagement between subnational teams and corporate divisions. The successful candidate will bring a practical, solutions-oriented approach to aligning program expectations with on-the-ground realities and fostering collaborative delivery.

Key responsibilities 

• Work closely with subnational officers to ensure timely and effective development of activity plans aligned with the PIE work plan, budget, and EOIOs.
• Monitor progress against activity plans and flag delays or risks to program leadership.
• Support subnational teams to meet contractual, operational, and policy compliance requirements, including financial accountability and risk management.
• Act as a key liaison between the Subnational Office, PIE Operations Team and the Shared Services Platform (finance, operations, safeguarding, MERLA etc.) to ensure expectations are realistic, contextually appropriate, and aligned.
• Provide hands-on support and coaching to subnational teams to strengthen planning, documentation, and reporting processes.
• Assist in the preparation and review of key program documents (activity designs, implementation plans, reports, etc.).
• Track and report on delivery status of subnational activities, contributing to high-quality program reporting and learning.
• Promote alignment of subnational delivery with the PIE program’s gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) principles and safeguards.

Key deliverables

• Consolidated quarterly updates on subnational activity progress against plans and EOIOs.
• Monthly or fortnightly coordination meetings with subnational officers and PIE Operations Team documented and followed up.
• Quality-assured and reviewed activity plans for each province.
• Compliance checklists and risk logs maintained for subnational activities.
• Contributions to semi-annual and annual program reports relating to subnational activity implementation.
• Monitoring of procurement and travel tracker.
• Capacity-building sessions delivered for subnational staff on planning, compliance, and documentation.

Key working relationships 

• PIE Operations Lead
• PIE Operations team
• PIE Subnational teams
• Abt PNG Shared Services Platform

About You 

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

• Tertiary qualifications in education, business, international development, public administration, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in program coordination or support roles, preferably in a development setting.
• Experience working with subnational or field-based teams and understanding of the PNG education system is highly desirable.

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:  Monday 18^th August 2025, 12PM (Midday, local time) #LI-AUSBRIT