Legal Policy Support Adviser – Strongim Wok Long TVET

• Fixed term contract up to December 2027 (with possible extension)
• Based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
• Open to PNG and International candidates
• Up to 100 input days, remote and in-country

About Palladium

Palladium is a global leader in the design, development, and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world's most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 2,000 employees operating in 75-plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies, and, most importantly, people's lives.

About PNG-Australia Strongim Wok Long TVET (SWLT)

The PNG–Australia Strongim Wok Long Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) (SWLT) program is a four-year, AUD 80 million investment by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to support Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) efforts to strengthen its TVET sector. Aligned with PNG’s national priority to build an educated and skilled workforce for resilient economic growth, SWLT aims to enhance the quality, relevance, and inclusiveness of skills development. The program supports improvements in national quality assurance systems, technical college standards, graduate employability, and Australia’s visible and trusted development partnership with PNG.

The program aligns with the broader goals of the Australia–PNG Development Partnership Plan 2024–2029, which emphasises locally led development, education investment, and inclusive growth, as well as PNG’s Higher and Technical Education Reform Act 2020.

This Opportunity

As Legal Policy Support Adviser, you will provide development support to PNG’s Department of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology (DHERST) legal staff to strengthen individual and institutional capacity to fulfil their legislated functions and lead priority higher education and TVET reforms.

You will provide capacity building support to DHERST counterparts to assist with the implementation of priority reform initiatives. The role will improve DHERST’s capacity and capability to undertake policy development, legislative reform, regulatory oversight and service delivery, while strengthening institutional systems and processes required to implement and sustain reform outcomes in line with Government of Papua New Guinea (GoPNG) and DHERST legislative, policies, strategies and plans.

Primary Responsibilities

The activity will comprise of but not be limited to the following:

Policy, Legislative and Regulatory Reform

• Work with DHERST counterparts to strengthen legal and regulatory capability in support of higher and technical education reforms.
• Support DHERST counterparts to interpret, apply, and implement legislative, regulatory, and policy reforms, and identify practical solutions to reform barriers.
• Work with DHERST counterparts, including the Quality Assurance Division, to strengthen regulatory processes and oversight of higher and technical education institutions.
• Develop practical tools, templates, guidance materials, and procedures with DHERST counterparts to support legal, regulatory, and compliance functions.
• Review legal and regulatory processes with DHERST counterparts and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, consistency, and compliance.
• Support DHERST counterparts to implement regulatory oversight functions across universities, technical institutions, and other tertiary education providers.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Support counterparts in advocacy and negotiation processes associated with reform initiatives.
• Collaborate with counterparts on stakeholder communications and engagement approaches.
• Support counterparts to develop tools and approaches for consultations with government agencies, institutions and industry stakeholders.

Capacity Strengthening

• Work closely with DHERST counterparts to build legal and regulatory capability through mentoring, coaching, on-the-job training, and knowledge transfer.
• Support DHERST counterparts to strengthen their skills in legal research, legislative interpretation, regulatory implementation, compliance monitoring, and stakeholder engagement.
• Work with DHERST counterparts to develop practical tools, guidance materials, and documented processes that support sustainable legal and regulatory functions.
• Facilitate stakeholder engagement and consultation activities with DHERST counterparts to support legal and regulatory implementation.
• Monitor capability development progress with DHERST counterparts, incorporating feedback and lessons learned to strengthen long-term institutional capability.
• Support DHERST counterparts to undertake planning, monitoring, reporting, and learning activities in line with SWLT and DHERST priorities.
• Participate in self-reflection, feedback and pulse-check activities to monitor the effectiveness of the capability strengthening approach and adjust support in response to feedback.

Coordination and Integration

• Work closely with DHERST counterparts, SWLT team members and other related activities to ensure approaches are coherent and complementary, including participation in scheduled coordination meetings within SWLT, DHERST and DFAT.
• Support alignment between MEL, planning, budgeting, reporting, reform implementation and digital systems development where relevant.

Cross-cutting Priorities

• Ensure advice, support and review processes consider and address a) gender equality, b) disability and c) social inclusion, locally led development, child protection and PSEAH safeguarding, sustainability and other SWLT cross-cutting priorities.
• Support the collection and use of disaggregated data where practical and appropriate, including data relevant to gender, disability, youth, location and other priority groups.
• Ensure proposed systems, tools and reporting processes are practical, ethical, inclusive and aligned with SWLT and DHERST requirements.

General SWLT

• Contribute to the development and implementation of solutions that deliver value and ensure SWLT principles[1] are embedded within program delivery.
• Comply with all safeguarding, including child protection and PSEAH requirements, and promptly report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with SWLT and Palladium policies and procedures.
• Support and uphold the organisation’s commitment to environmental sustainability, such as reducing resource use and promoting climate-friendly practices.

About you

You will demonstrate proven experience in the following areas:

Technical Skills and Experience

• Minimum seven years' experience providing legal, legislative, regulatory and/or legal policy advice.
• Demonstrated experience in mentoring, skills transfer and institutional capacity development, including supporting counterparts to strengthen legal, policy and regulatory capability.
• Significant experience supporting legislative reviews, policy reform processes and the development of legal and regulatory frameworks, preferably within the public sector, higher education, TVET or related sectors.
• Demonstrated experience working with senior government officials and executive decision-makers.
• Strong legal research, policy analysis and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex legal concepts into practical and accessible guidance for a range of audiences.
• Excellent drafting skills, including experience preparing legislation, regulations, policy papers, briefs, reports and other technical or knowledge products.
• Demonstrated understanding of government legislative and policy processes, within Papua New Guinea or a comparable context.
• Experience working with, or knowledge of, the higher education and/or TVET sector, including relevant legislative, policy and institutional arrangements.
• Proven ability to facilitate consultations, manage stakeholder relationships and build consensus among diverse groups.

Personal Attributes

• Excellent interpersonal, communication and cross-cultural engagement skills, with the ability to work effectively with government, development partners and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively, adapt to changing priorities and deliver high-quality outputs within agreed timeframes.
• Knowledge of the international development sector and an interest in supporting sustainable institutional strengthening and reform.
• Demonstrated commitment to environmental and social safeguards and the integration of gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) principles and commitments in program delivery and capacity development activities.

To Apply

Please submit your application online, including your CV and brief cover letter, outlining your suitability in line with the requirements of the position through https://palladium.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/2/home/requisition/25737?c=palladium

Closing date: Friday 20^th November 2026, 5.00pm AEST

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.

Should you require any adjustments to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at [email protected] and we will be in touch to discuss.

Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.