Short-Term Adviser – SITESA Act Amendments Review and Policy Recommendation

Program Background 

Pacific Australia Skills is a significant Australian investment which stands to make a major contribution to supporting social and economic growth in the region through strengthening the skills and training sector across Timor-Leste and the Pacific. Pacific Australia Skills builds on the achievements of prior Australian Government support for skills and training in Timor-Leste.

 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
The purpose of the assignment is to engage a short-term adviser to review Solomon Islands Tertiary Education and Skills Authority Act 2017 (SITESA) current policy framework and regulatory instruments against the applicable provisions of the SITESA Act 2017 and proposed amendments to the Act, and to provide practical recommendations to strengthen SITESA’s role as a pure national qualifications and accreditation authority aligned with best practice in the Pacific region and comparable jurisdictions.

The Short-Term Adviser – SITESA Act Amendments Review and Policy Recommendation Adviser will report directly to the Skills Reform Manager and work closely with SITESA management, Pacific Australia Skills staff, and relevant stakeholders.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Review SITESA’s current policy framework, including relevant policies, standards, gazettes in effect, procedures and regulatory instruments, against the objects, functions and regulatory provisions of the SITESA Act 2017.

• Assess the implications of the revised SITESA Act for SITESA’s regulatory role, statutory functions and policy framework.

• Identify policy and operational steps required for SITESA to meet its role as a national qualifications and accreditation authority with consideration to the policy goals of the qualifications framework. The work will review current quality standards, processes of accreditation, provider registration, auditing, reviews and offences to ensure alignment with the goals of the amendments to the Act.

• Provide advice on the recognition, treatment and quality assurance of foreign qualifications.

• Review the current approach to protected terms and recommend improvements or developments to the current system that will assure protection of the integrity of nationally recognised qualifications and regulated terminology.

• Benchmark SITESA’s regulatory role and instruments against good practice in the Pacific region and other comparable regions.

• Facilitate consultations with relevant stakeholders.

• Propose recommendations for necessary policy changes.

• This ToR may vary and change in future.

Selection Criteria 

Essential Experience and Knowledge

• Advanced expertise in qualifications frameworks, quality assurance, accreditation and tertiary and TVET provider regulation.

• Demonstrated experience advising national qualifications authorities, accreditation bodies or education regulators.

• Experience in Solomon Islands’ qualifications systems.

• Strong understanding of policy and legislative frameworks for qualifications recognition, including foreign qualifications and protected terms.

• Excellent analytical, writing, facilitation and communication skills.

• Experience in conducting policy review, stakeholder consultation and practical implementation-planning in a Pacific Island country or comparable setting.

• Understanding of institutional strengthening and public-sector reform processes.

• Understanding of and commitment to Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI), Child Protection, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH), prevention of human trafficking, environmental protection, anti-corruption and other DFAT safeguarding policies.

• DT Global strongly encourages applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds including first nations, diverse SOGIESC and people with disabilities.

• Peoplewithlivedexperienceoftheregionsinwhich PacificAustraliaSkillsoperatearestronglyencouraged to apply.

Click on the link or copy paste it to access the full Terms of Reference for this position: https://tinyurl.com/ysj8zrkv

HOW TO APPLY

Click the 'Apply Now' button.

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

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 11.59pm Solomon Islands time, Tuesday 10 November 2026.

Should this role be of interest, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. All applications will be reviewed on a 'rolling basis'. Kindly note only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

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.

We take a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation, abuse and harm of adults and children; fraud, corruption and bribery; modern slavery; and any form of exploitation across our operations, partnerships, and supply chains. We uphold the highest standards of integrity and expect the same of those we work with.

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.