Senior Program Manager - Frontline Health Outcomes (FHO) | PATH

Location: Port Moresby, PNG

Commencement: January 2025

• Duration of contract: Up to 31 December 2026
• Open to All Applicants 

About The Program

The Papua New Guinea (PNG) Australia Transition to Health (PATH) is a six-year (2020-2026) health sector program funded by the Australian Government under the PNG – Australia Partnership for Development. PATH works with the Government of PNG (GoPNG) to improve coverage and quality of health services for the people of PNG through effective, equitable, efficient, and inclusive interventions.  

Guided by the National Department of Health (NDoH), Provincial Health Authorities (PHAs) and the Bougainville Department of Health (BDoH) are responsible for the delivery of health services across PNG. 

PATH assists NDoH, PHAs and BDoH to strengthen systems for health service delivery targeting infectious diseases, and reproductive, maternal, newborn child and adolescent health, with a focus on promoting women’s leadership. 

PATH’s end of investment outcomes (EOIO) are:  

1. PHAs more able to lead provincial health reform and manage effective, efficient, equitable and quality essential health services in selected provinces.  
2. DFAT-funded health services are demonstrating efficient and effective models of service delivery, influencing PHA performance; and building sustainability by transitioning to PHA management in selected provinces.  

PATH’s intermediate outcome (IOs) are: Provincial Health Authority Leadership, Women in Leadership and Essential Health Services.   

PATH is a locally-led, adaptive, and politically-informed program that seeks to maintain flexibility to respond to changing and local circumstances over the life of the program. 

About The Opportunity

The Senior Program Manager (SPM) – FHO will be responsible for the inception, management and potential closure of FHO -focussed projects, and operationalising PATH’s FHO approach and emerging priorities.  

The SPM- FHO will maintain a particular focus on ensuring all PATH Projects address challenges to equitable access to healthcare services and the root causes of systemic disparities and exclusion within the health sector, requiring identification, mitigation, and integration into project planning and risk management frameworks.

Key Responsibilities

The SPM will work closely with the FHO Program Lead to:

• Manage selected FHO Projects, including working closely with Implementing Service Providers, monitoring budget utilisation, program performance and deliverables, associated risks, issues, gaps and opportunities 
• Work closely with PATH staff, including Programme Managers across PATH and Provincial teams, to monitor and ensure coherence and coordination in the implementation of FHO activities by all PATH projects 
• Collect and analyse project and FHO portfolio-level performance data and produce progress reports and updates on implementation issues. 
• Deliver high quality briefs and reports for a range of audiences as required, including contributions to PATH Annual, 6 monthly and other reporting requirements. 
• Work with PATH PAL Team and Communications and Public Diplomacy Team to plan, create and submit FHO-focused communications and public diplomacy content. 
• Participate in and support the broader Abt initiatives and establish cross-partnership linkages and ensure projects activities are coordinated, coherent and deliver value for money. 
• Develop and maintain working relationships and engagement with key stakeholders, including government (national and provincial) and non-state actors. 
• Other duties as reasonably directed. 

Key Deliverables

• Effective grant management including grant deliverables, milestones, budget, and risks.
• Effective coordination of selected FHO activities across PATH and at the provincial level, including through use of planning and monitoring tools  
• Evidence of PATH projects addressing barriers to equal access to health services and the underlying causes of inequity and exclusion within the health  
• Timely and high-quality progress reporting (and ad-hoc reports as requested), including contributions to PATH’s Annual and 6 monthly reports 
• High level responsiveness to the client and stakeholders 
• Monitoring visits as required

Key Working Relationships

• PATH Team Leader and Executive Team
• Frontline Health Outcomes Program Lead and PATH FHO Unit 
• PATH PAL Team 
• Abt Grants Management Team 
• PATH Communications and Public Diplomacy Team 
• PATH Project staff, particularly Programme Managers and PHA Support Program staff 
• Relevant AHC Representatives  
• Relevant GoPNG Representatives (National Department of Health, Provincial Health Authorities) 
• External Stakeholders including but not limited to CSOs, Disabled Persons Organisation’s, provincial non-state actors, Faith-based actors, female and male reform champions and networks etc 

About You

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

• Demonstrated five years plus experience in international development, humanitarian or health-sector programs is required.  
• Significant experience of Grants Management principals and how they apply in development programming.  
• Significant experience managing development projects/programs, and familiarity with aid quality assurance systems, including DFAT standards. 
• Excellent analytical and writing skills including the preparation of reports, briefs and policy analysis for a government audience. 
• Experience and understanding of Grant Management challenges in Papua New Guinea particularly pertaining to health, including demonstrating an understanding of the public health frameworks in the country.

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: Tuesday, 2 December 2025 (Midday, local time) #LI-AUSBRIT

Abt Global is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to upholding high standards of Child Protection, Anti-bribery and Fraud Protection.

We encourage applications from experienced and capable women, and people with disabilities