Senior Executive Administrator | PATH

Commencement: November 2025 

Long term role

Based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Open to PNG Citizens only 

About The Program

The PNG Australia Transition to Health (PATH) is a six and a half -year (July 2020-December 2026) health sector program funded by the Australian Government under the Papua New Guinea – Australia Partnership for Development. PATH supports the Government of PNG (GoPNG) to strengthen essential health service delivery in alignment with the National Health Plan 2021–2030. PATH is guided by the National Department of Health (NDoH), Provincial Health Authorities (PHAs) and the Bougainville Department of Health (BDoH), who together are responsible for the delivery of health services across PNG.

PATH’s most significant areas of service delivery support are tuberculosis, routine immunisation and sexual and reproductive health. PATH is designed to simultaneously use its service delivery projects as an opportunity to build the capacity of PHAs and identify and address Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) issues in the sector.

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

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

Path’S Intermediate Outcome (Io’S) Are:

• PHA Leadership – Leaders and Technical personnel in PHAs/BDoH are performing mandated functions 
• Women in Leadership – Women in Leadership are increasingly influencing more equitable health sector decisions 
• Essential Health Services – Increased delivery and coverage of selected 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 Executive Administrator will work closely with the PATH Team Leader and provide administrative support to strategic programming and operations including ensuring the overall efficient operation of the Executive Office (PATH Team Leader and executive support and administration staff). The role supports the delivery of organisational management planning based on the priorities of the PATH Team Leader

Key Responsibilities

Executive and Team Management Support

• Communicate with the PATH Executive Team (Team Leader and 7 x Lead positions across workstreams of: Frontline Health Outcomes; Health Security and PHA Support; Performance and Learning; Communications and Public Diplomacy; Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion; Operations and AIHSS2) to provide regular updates and reports to the Team Leader on program progress or arising issues; 
• Establish and maintain productive working relationships with PATH staff, Australian High Commission (AHC), Abt Brisbane office, and other key stakeholders;
• Review incoming documentation and preparing high quality and timely responses to enquiries and correspondence. 
• Assist the Team Leader in any follow-up implementation arising from meetings, ensuring closure and delivery of intended results;
• Assist the Team Leader with tasks such as diary and inbox management; answering and returning phone calls; coordinating tasking and reporting requests, making travel arrangements, maintaining records and any other administrative tasks that help them perform their job.
• Support briefings, reports and secretariat support to the PATH Steering Committee and other important meetings as requested by the Team Leader;
• Facilitate internal executive communication and assist the Team Leader in communication with the PATH Leads;
• Identify and analyse emerging organisational issues and advise the Team Leader on options to address these issues including program management;
• Work closely with the PATH Leads and actively support a harmonious working environment;
• Work in conjunction with the Performance and Learning team and, where required, provide reporting support to the Executive Team;
• Where possible identify improvements to enhance communication, services and processes;
• Promote workplace practices consistent with Abt policies and values; and
• Other duties as directed by Team Leader.

PATH Strategy and Planning

• Support the implementation of PATH’s Strategic Framework, Performance and Assessment Framework, Provincial Strategies, and Ways of Working;
• Assist to develop a framework for strategic and program planning to assist the program in the development and management of program plans;
• Support the strategic and program planning across the program to develop timely, consistent, and effective plans that effectively underpin the strategic direction of the program.

Path Program Governance

• Coordinate the Executive level governance arrangements and mechanisms for PATH including Steering Committee support and sub-committees.
• Communicate Steering Committee decisions to the Executive and report actions taken to the Steering Committee. Act as a focal person to coordinate any Steering Committee related events.
• Ensure the Executive are managing the program’s external stakeholders according to Ways of Working including facilitating partnership brokering and resources to support the management of multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Key Deliverables

• Knowledge Management: Support the incorporation of knowledge outputs and into program design and implementation by ensuring that key PATH documents are well maintained, and records kept appropriately.
• Quality Assurance: Ensure timely and quality responses to requests from the Team Leader for information for GoPNG and DFAT reports; ensure inputs align with annual plans and budgets and contribute to PATH outcomes. 
• Manage performance related matters in the executive administration in accordance with Abt Performance Management Policy. Proactively monitor staff of the Executive Office to ensure the achievement of Terms of Reference outcomes.
• Support operationalisation of PATH’s Strategic Framework, Performance and Assessment Framework, Provincial Strategies, and Ways of Working.
• Provide an effective and timely tracking of deliverables, milestones, risks and program progress as well as effective, accurate and regular updates to the Team Leader.
• Actively anticipate the Team Leader’s needs and requirements including preparation of meeting agendas and briefings, drafting of correspondence and presentations, taking of meeting minutes and collating actions for follow up.
• Model, monitor and maintain the highest standards of accountability and consistency in PATH’s work with stakeholders; 
• Work with the Team Leader and other PATH leads to set priorities for the work areas, maintain team cohesion, and ensure quality of outputs; 
• Provide a high level of responsiveness to Team Leader issues and requests; and
• Anticipate and respond to stakeholder needs and expectations.

Key Working Relationships

• Team Leader
• Program Delivery Lead – Frontline Health Outcomes
• Program Delivery Lead – Health Security and PHA Support
• Lead- Performance and Learning 
• Communications and Public Diplomacy Lead
• Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion Lead
• Operations Lead
• Program Lead- AIHSS2
• Relevant AHC Representatives 
• Relevant GoPNG Representatives (NDoH, PHAs)

About You

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

• Over 5 years demonstrated similar experience in DFAT-funded programs in Papua New Guinea.
• Well-developed and demonstrated administrative and executive assistant skills to professionally manage an Executive Office 
• Demonstrated ability to operate with innovation, adaptability, flexibility, and resilience to accommodate change in a complex, uncertain, high-energy environment such as PNG or Pacific region or a comparable experience.
• Experienced user of the Microsoft Office suite of software programs and other graphic/visual software such as Visio or similar.
• Strong analytical and writing skills including the preparation of reports and briefs for internal and external stakeholder audiences, including with senior government officials.

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.
• Applicants must attach a valid Police Clearance Certificate obtained within 12 months from date their application is submitted. 

We welcome and thank all applications; however, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Closing Date:  Tuesday, 7 October 2025 #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.