Senior Manager People & Culture

Program Background

DT Global has been engaged by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to manage the next phase of Australia’s investment in strengthening the delivery of law and justice services in Papua New Guinea for a 4-year period to 31 December 2027.

The Australia-PNG Law and Justice Partnership (APLJ) seeks to contribute to PNG’s law and justice sector capacity to provide inclusive, safe, secure and accountable law and justice foundations for peaceful and prosperous communities, equitable economic development and private sector growth.  The program aligns with GoPNG’s law and justice sector goal of ‘building peaceful and prosperous communities together’.

In the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, APLJ maintains an office in Buka and works closely with the ABG and law and justice stakeholders to support Bougainville’s evolving law and justice sector.

A central element of this work is the Shaping Bougainville Justice (SBJ) program, an ABG-led reform agenda supporting the progressive development of a law and justice system tailored to Bougainville’s constitutional, institutional and social context. SBJ involves complex and interrelated policy, legislative, institutional and operational reforms, including the development and transition of justice institutions and functions to Bougainville. This requires close cooperation between the ABG, GoPNG law and justice agencies and other stakeholders, together with sustained technical assistance to translate policy and legislative reforms into functioning institutions and improved services for the people of Bougainville.

About DT Global Asia Pacific

At DT Global Asia Pacific, we aim to positively impact people’s lives through delivery excellence. As a leading implementing partner across Asia and the Pacific, we co-create locally led solutions in partnership with governments, communities, and stakeholders. We bring together talented teams and deep regional expertise to deliver initiatives that promote inclusive economic growth, essential services, and resilient, secure communities. With over 1,500 staff, experts in 22+ countries and more than 60 years of development experience, we tackle complex community, national and transnational challenges — from governance and justice systems to climate resilience, infrastructure and social equity — with innovative thinking and a commitment to long-term impact.

For more information, please seewww.dt-global.com

The Role

APLJ has grown from a staffing size of approximately 40 personnel to a projected workforce of 80 staff within the span of two years. With this transition, the needs of the program have grown substantially to more effectively support staff. The Senior Manager People & Culture will provide an integrated, organisation-wide approach to supporting both locally engaged and international personnel.

The Senior Manager People & Culture (P&C) is responsible for providing strategic leadership, oversight and continuous improvement of people, culture and safeguarding functions across APLJ. Reporting to the Deputy Team Leader and working with the Senior Management Team (SMT), the role will drive workforce, culture and safeguarding strategies that support effective program delivery while ensuring compliance with local legislation, DFAT requirements, DT Global policies and international standards.

The Senior Manager People & Culture will lead the People & Culture Team and will oversee the delivery of a range of people-focused HR strategies and initiatives and the effective delivery of People & Culture functions across the employee lifecycle including recruitment, talent acquisition, onboarding, payroll oversight, employee relations, capability building, performance management and offboarding.

The Senior Manager People & Culture plays a critical role in shaping organisational culture, workforce planning and ensuring people management contributes directly to the achievement of APLJs strategic objectives and operational requirements.

Click on the link or copy paste it to access the full Terms of Reference for this position: 

https://tinyurl.com/3ucxp9mb 

About You

Qualifications

·      Relevant tertiary qualification in Human Resource Management, Organisational Development, Business Management, International Development or a related discipline

Essential Experience and Knowledge

·      Minimum 10 years’ experience in leading a human resources function, preferably on donor-funded international development programs and/or with complex organisations

·      Demonstrated experience managing teams and supporting change management processes

·      Demonstrated ability in HR policy and strategy development, workforce planning, employee relations, talent management and performance management functions

·      Experience implementing safeguarding requirements in diverse operating environments

·      Demonstrated experience working within an agile, adaptable business and managing HR activities in an adaptive and responsive manner

·      Ability and willingness to work at a senior level and have operational responsibilities needed for working within a program environment

·      Knowledge and/or experience of applying GEDSI, child protection, PSEAH and broader safeguarding principles

·      Ability to interpret and operationalise local labour laws and other regulatory requirements

Personal attributes

·      Proven ability to lead, coach, mentor and develop teams

·      Demonstrated ability to communicate cross-culturally and with sensitivity, preferably with an understanding of PNG or Pacific development context

·      Commitment to teamwork and engaging with all relevant stakeholders

·      Ability to apply independent judgement and influence, develop consensus on difficult and controversial issues, balancing multiple stakeholder expectations and objectives

·      Commitment to fostering inclusive, respectful and safe workplaces

Why join Australia – Papua New Guinea Law and Justice Partnership?

By joining the APLJ, you will be part of a dynamic and effective team where you can collaborate with leading experts and professionals from diverse backgrounds, access development programs to achieve your career goals, and be challenged to take a global outlook.

HOW TO APPLY
Click the 'Apply Now' button.

Please submit
1) Your CV
2) A cover letter addressing the selection criteria

  
APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 16 November 2026, 11.59pm PNG time

People with lived experience of the regions in which DT Global operates are strongly encouraged to apply.  DT Global welcomes applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds including First Nations peoples, diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC), and people with disabilities.

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Engagement with DT Global is subject to formal background screening, criminal record checks, employment verification, and periodic compliance checks. All DT Global staff receive safety, compliance, safeguarding and integrity training, and we expect our personnel and partners to always act in alignment with our company values.