Background
Indonesia's Vision 2045 sets the goal for Indonesia to transition from a resource-based economy towards an advanced service, technology, and knowledge-based economy by the centenary of its independence (2045). The 2025-2045 National Long Term Development Plan emphasises the urgency of Indonesia's human resource development to fully realise 2045 goals.
Faced however with persistent low student performance that is emblematic of a learning crisis, significant improvement in student learning will be required to reach Indonesia's 2045 goals. Government of Indonesia (GoI) has started an ambitious program of education reforms. Successive education ministers have set out to modernise the education system through reforming the national curriculum and teaching and assessment approaches, to produce citizens with strong foundational skills, open minds, and inclusive values.
Australia is a long-term supporter of the Indonesian basic education sector, with continuous investments supporting education quality improvements for the past two decades, including through the INOVASI program (Phase 1 2016-2020; Phase 2 2020-2023) that focused on supporting acquisition of literacy and numeracy foundational skills in early grades classrooms; exploring local problems and solutions; and generating evidence to inform government policy development and practices.
This third phase of INOVASI (2024-2027) builds upon the existing program's approach and lessons learned and takes the focus on the development of foundational skills through to the end of the primary grades. Phase 3 will engage with priority issues of Australia's development policy: gender equality, effective inclusion of children with a disability, responses to the climate change challenge in education. It will focus on the challenge of policy implementation and the gaps that exist between national policies and practices at district and school levels, and use the well attested-success of INOVASI's local problem-based approach to continuously support policy development for effective fit between policy and implementation context.
INOVASI Phase 3 is implemented in 25 districts and cities across Indonesia, in the provinces of West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, North Kalimantan, East Java, West Java, and Maluku. The program also works in Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN).
The Program is implemented by Palladium on behalf of DFAT.
Purpose of the Position
The Deputy Program Director – Operations will be responsible for overseeing the effective and efficient management (HR, Finance, Procurement, Grants, Administration and IT functions) of national and sub‑national operations, ensuring that project implementation is aligned with approved program plans; support systems operate smoothly in accordance with Palladium, DFAT, and Government of Indonesia (GoI) policies and regulations; and remain responsive to evolving program requirements.
The Deputy Program Director – Operations is also responsible for overseeing the INOVASI Operations Manager, Finance Manager, HR Coordinator and Budget & Implementation Coordinator for performance management purposes. The Deputy Program Director – Operations may serve as the Acting Program Director, as assigned by the Program Director, on specific issues or during periods of absence.
Working with children
Is this position likely to come into contact with children? ☒ Yes☐ No
Duties
Under the direction of Program Director, the Deputy Program Director – Operations will:
- Oversee and provide leadership and strategic management to INOVASI's operations to ensure effective program implementation and adherence to Palladium, DFAT, and GOI regulations and requirements. This includes the Provincial Operations, HR, Finance, Procurement, Grants, Administration and IT functions performed by a team of international, national, and sub-national staff;
- Oversee and supervise the INOVASI Operations Manager, Finance Manager, HR Coordinator and Budget & Implementation Coordinator in Jakarta, and provide guidance and support to their teams as needed;
- Provide strategic advice to the Program Director on all aspects of operations, including practical strategies for implementation, liaise with Program Director on provincial operational issues to ensure that targeted operational support is provided to the provincial teams in accordance with the needs and priorities for subnational implementation;
- Maintain the high-level management of INOVASI Program Budget. Prepare budget updates and forecast in a timely manner for routine reporting on expenditure to program and provincial managers, and for routine reports and plans: Six-Monthly Progress Reports and Annual Plans;
- Oversee INOVASI reporting, including financial reporting and expenditures, and ensure that national and provincial budgets and spending are aligned with the approved INOVASI Head Contract and Annual Plans. Provide budget tracking and analysis to the INOVASI Program Director and Managers to inform spending, planning, and budget management; oversee operational reporting aligned with Palladium, DFAT, and GoI requirements; and coordinate inputs from program and operations teams across program offices and provincial stakeholders;
- Lead the review, revision, and adaptation of the INOVASI Operations Manual for Phase 3 through regular review to improve efficiency and streamline work processes, including necessary updates to ensure alignment with Palladium, DFAT, and GoI latest policies and regulations, as well as Phase 3's new structure and implementation requirements;
- Support the establishment of new operational platforms to automate the storage, reporting, and approval processes for INOVASI transactions. Such systems may include Microsoft Dynamics 365, Power Automate, or other platforms as required. Ensure that these platforms, including automated forms and processes, integrate effectively with Palladium guidelines, the INOVASI Operations Manual, and relevant requirements;
- In coordination with the Deputy Program Director – Education Ecosystems and Subnational Management, ensure that provincial implementation plans and provincial budgets are developed by Provincial Managers and approved by INOVASI Program Director and DFAT as per INOVASI procedures; In collaboration with other members of the INOVASI leadership team, support the timely and quality completion of required program plans and reports and ensure that all program materials comply with DFAT policies and procedures;
- Lead the process of Financial Reporting to Government of Indonesia and Government of Australia, including the yearly process of BAST submission and approval;
- Maintain the operational part of INOVASI Risk Management Matrix in consultation with the Program Director. Coordinate with INOVASI Managers and DFAT to update the operational parts of the risk matrix on a quarterly basis. Highlight operational risks to INOVASI Program Director and liaise with INOVASI managers to manage, address and mitigate those risks;
- Support engagement with senior counterparts at national level and in provincial and district governments in INOVASI partner provinces when needed, to ensure effective implementation of activities;
- Oversee the application of the INOVASI Program Operations Manual and other strategic operational documents to ensure compliance with INOVASI, Palladium, and DFAT requirements. Approve any changes proposed by the Operations team to the Program Operations Manual to ensure alignment with adjustments to the Program's strategic direction;
- Provide capacity building on leadership and management to INOVASI staff when required, such as in whole staff meetings, internal trainings or one-on-one mentoring;
- Work closely with other INOVASI Deputy Program Directors, Managers, and Leads to maintain a culture in which all teams operate cohesively and efficiently to achieve INOVASI's objectives. Foster a collaborative, accountable, and high‑performance culture across operations and program teams.
- Liaise and Consult with Palladium, DFAT, MoPSE and MoRA on the progress and direction of the Program when needed;
- Other duties as may reasonably be required by the Program Director, consistent with the incumbent's qualifications and experience.
- Comply with, and advocate for, DFAT's policies in all aspects of implementation, including gender, disability, fraud and anti-corruption, PSEAH, child protection and environmental and social safeguards
Qualifications and Experience
The Deputy Director – Operations willpossess the following qualifications and experience:
- Advanced degree in a relevant development subject or appropriate tertiary qualification and significant, relevant experience in education;
- Over 15 years of professional experience on donor-funded development programs, experience on DFAT-funded programs is highly desirable;
- Substantial experience in senior management positions on donor funded development projects;
- Strong experience designing program management systems and procedures for donor-funded programs;
- Ability to provide leadership and guidance to a multi-disciplinary team and coordinate and manage a complex program of work to produce measurable outcomes;
- Experience working with GOI, in particular MoPSE and subnational governments, is required;
- Demonstrated ability to lead and manage teams to achieve results, including experience managing subnational teams;
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills in English and Bahasa, with strong analytical capabilities;
- Strong ability to manage and work with Excell spreadsheets and budget data
- Sound problem solving and decision-making skills; ability to work independently and as a part of a team; and
- A high level of integrity, initiative, adaptability, and ability to perform in a high-pressure environment.
Core Capabilities
Palladium's Core Capability Framework for APAC Projects outlines the standard of performance and behaviours expected at each level within the organisation. It also provides a benchmark for assessing areas of potential strength as well as the identification of potential skill gaps or areas for development and improvement.
The Capability Framework forms the basis of how we recruit, how we lead and the behaviours we exhibit, how we manage performance excellence and develop our future workforce.
Our capabilities link to a number of other processes, policies and guidelines including:
- Performance management/ performance excellence - setting and maintaining standards and helping employees excel and develop
- Career Pathways including our Career Progression Framework
- Organisational design – identifying any skills gaps, outlining job roles and responsibilities
- Development, growth, learning, and training
- Sustainable business – going beyond compliance to ensure sustainable and ethical considerations are woven throughout everything we do.This aligns equity, diversity and inclusion; safeguarding; and environmental objectives
- 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
This position is open to Indonesia nationals and permanent residents with authority to live and work in Indonesia.
INOVASI encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including persons with disabilities, and others from underrepresented groups.
To apply, please click here to submit your resume and cover letter by 12 April 2026 at 23:59, Jakarta Time ensuring you highlight your relevant experience and skills.
Should you experience any issues logging in or submitting your CV, or if you have any questions, please contact inovasi.recruitment@thepalladiumgroup.com
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.
Women are encouraged to apply.
INOVASI has zero tolerance for child abuse and exploitation. All successful candidates will be required to adhere to our Child Protection Policy and will be subject to background checks as a condition of employment.
