Senior Coordinator (On Program), New Colombo Plan (NCP)
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Location – Australia (ideally, Adelaide based)
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Duration – 3 years
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Applications close on Friday 12th June 2026 at 11:59pm AEST
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Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible
About Palladium
Palladium is a global development and consulting firm, part of the GISI Consulting Group, working alongside some of the world’s leading project management and engineering organisations. We partner with governments, businesses, investors and communities to design and deliver complex programs that create lasting impact. With a presence across more than 90 countries, Palladium offers the opportunity to work on meaningful challenges, alongside talented colleagues, in environments where your work can truly make a difference.
About the New Colombo Plan (NCP) Program Support Unit (PSU)
The New Colombo Plan (NCP) plays a key role in supporting the Australian Government’s objectives in building Asia capability. It aims to lift the Indo-Pacific capability and Asia literacy in Australia by supporting Australian undergraduates to undertake study, language learning and internships in the Indo-Pacific. The goal of NCP is NCP alumni contribute their skills, knowledge and networks to Australia’s enduring engagement in the Indo-Pacific region. This is achieved through three complementary grants programs: the Scholarship Program, Mobility Program and Semester Program.
The NCP PSU is administered by Palladium on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) under the Australia Awards Global Support Mechanism (AAGSM). The AAGSM provides operational and technical support services to DFAT’s International Education and Scholarships Branch, with two End of Investment Outcomes (EOIOs):
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EOIO 1 - Operational Support: High quality and efficient administrative and standard business support services provided to DFAT.
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EOIO 2: Technical Support: High quality, coherent, consistent and fit for purpose technical support services that also promote gender equality, disability and social inclusion outcomes throughout DFAT’s international scholarship programs network.
The NCP Program Support Unit (NCP PSU) supports DFAT’s New Colombo Plan Secretariat (NCS) with high-quality grant administration and management consistent with the principles of the Commonwealth Grant Rules and Principles. Support service delivery includes end-to-end grants cycle and funds management, as well as technical support in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL), alumni engagement, communications, events management, business sector engagement and risk management.
About the Role
The Senior Coordinator, Scholarships (On Program) leads a team of Scholarship Coordinators responsible for managing pre‑departure preparation and the full “on-scholarship” experience of NCP scholars assigned to particular regions or countries within the Indo-Pacific. This role operates alongside another regional Senior Coordinator, working together to ensure a consistent, high‑quality approach to scholar management across all regions and countries.
The position has a strong change and systems focus. It is responsible for helping shift scholar support toward a modern, grants-based approach that promotes scholar self-reliance, clear accountability, and early identification of risk. The role plays a key part in embedding new systems, tools and ways of working; uplifting scholars’ understanding of their responsibilities; and ensuring operations are scalable, efficient and fit for purpose as scholar numbers grow.
Primary Responsibilities
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Supervise and support a team of Scholarship Coordinators manage their scholar caseloads and lead the team through significant systems and process changes, ensuring clear, practical guidance is provided and consistently applied.
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Manage escalated cases, provide coaching, quality assurance and feedback, and act as a key operational contact for day-to-day scholar matters.
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Lead the delivery of scholar management services for NCP scholars, covering pre‑departure preparation and the full duration of the scholarship period, in line with NCP Guidelines and program requirements.
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Support effective management of scholar risks and incidents across team caseloads, ensuring risk and incident recording is accurate and complete, and matters are escalated appropriately.
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Ensure timely, accurate recording of scholar data, decisions and interactions for all caseloads, supported by routine quality checks and spot reviews.
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Prepare and contribute to clear, well‑evidenced advice and reporting inputs on scholar cases, trends and system impacts for escalation to the NCP Secretariat in DFAT.
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Identify recurring issues, procedural gaps or system‑related inefficiencies, and propose practical improvements to support consistency, efficiency, compliance and continuous improvement.
Please refer to the Terms of Reference to learn more about the role, click here.
About You
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Demonstrated excellence in support services functions and stakeholder engagement to maintain engaged and productive relationships.
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Experience working with a government‑funded program, and/or experience working in a higher education or international education environment.
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Experience in grants administration highly desirable.
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Demonstrated experience managing complex caseloads, including balancing competing priorities, applying guidelines consistently, and supporting individuals to meet their responsibilities.
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Ability to supervise staff, set clear expectations, provide practical coaching and feedback, and support teams to deliver consistent, high‑quality services.
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Proven ability to implement and adapt to systems and process change, translating new requirements into practice.
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Sound understanding of compliance, risk, safety and safeguarding responsibilities, including ability to maintain accurate records, and escalate incidents appropriately.
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Excellent interpersonal and social skills including cross-cultural experience and communication skills, business writing skills and the ability to influence a wide range of stakeholders.
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Relevant tertiary qualifications in management, business administration, public policy, information management or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
How to Apply
Click the "Apply Now" button below and please submit your application online, including your CV and a cover letter, outlining your suitability in line with the requirements of the position.
Closing date: Friday 12th June at 11:59pm AEST
This position is open to residents with authority to live and work in Australia. Rates of pay are based on local labour standards.
If this opportunity interests you, we encourage you to apply promptly, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
About Palladium
Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 4,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.
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 or accommodations 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.
