SLSU 2 - Project Manager – Skills for an inclusive economy

Overview:

The Sri Lanka Support Unit manages part of Australia’s aid program in Sri Lanka and provides strategic and technical advisory services to the Australian High Commission, along with administrative, monitoring, evaluation and investment management support.

Skills for an inclusive economy requires dedicated project management capacity to ensure that day-to-day implementation, partner coordination, contracts, work planning, reporting, operational follow-up, logistics and compliance processes are managed efficiently. This role is created to absorb the operational and project-management responsibilities previously held by the Skills Lead, enabling the Skills Lead to focus on higher-level technical leadership, programme design, advisory support and strategic engagement.

Position Summary:

The Project Manager – Skills for an inclusive economy is responsible for day- to-day management and operational coordination of S4IE activities, partners, consultants, workplans, deliverables, contracts, budgets, reporting cycles and implementation processes.

The role ensures that S4IE activities are delivered on time, within agreed budgets, in line with contract requirements and in compliance with Abt, DFAT and SLSU policies. The Project Manager works under the technical direction of the Skills Lead and in close coordination with SLSU Operations, Finance, MEL and Communications teams.

The role does not replace the Skills Lead’s strategic and technical accountability. It provides dedicated project-management capacity so that technical decisions, partner performance, implementation risks and activity delivery are systematically tracked, documented and escalated.

Key Responsibilities:

Project management and implementation coordination

• Coordinate the day-to-day implementation of S4IE activities in line with approved workplans, budgets, contracts and agreed timelines.
• Maintain detailed implementation trackers, including activity schedules, partner deliverables, milestones, approvals, dependencies, risks and follow-up actions.
• Coordinate internal S4IE planning meetings, partner check-ins, implementation reviews and action follow-up.
• Identify implementation issues early and escalate them to the Skills Lead with clear options for decision-making.
• Prepare concise internal progress updates for the Skills Lead, Team Leader and relevant SLSU team members.

Partner coordination and follow-up

• Serve as the main day-to-day coordination point for S4IE implementing partners on operational matters.
• Follow up with partners on workplans, deliverables, activity schedules, reporting deadlines, financial documentation, visibility requirements and compliance obligations.
• Coordinate partner meetings, prepare agendas, record decisions and track action points.
• Support partners to understand reporting timelines, documentation expectations, milestone submission requirements and operational procedures.
• Escalate technical, performance, safeguarding, financial or reputational concerns to the Skills Lead and relevant SLSU leads.

Work planning and activity tracking

• Coordinate preparation, updating and monitoring of S4IE annual, quarterly and monthly workplans.
• Track progress against agreed outputs, milestones and timelines.
• Identify implementation delays, bottlenecks and dependencies and propose practical follow-up actions.
• Coordinate across MEL, Communications, Operations and Finance teams to ensure activity planning reflects evidence, communications needs, procurement timelines, budget availability and compliance requirements.
• Maintain a consolidated S4IE delivery calendar covering partner milestones, reporting deadlines, events, missions, consultations, procurement processes and donor submissions.

Contract and procurement coordination

• Support preparation, review and processing of partner agreements, consultant contracts, contract amendments and related documentation in coordination with Operations and Finance.
• Coordinate administrative aspects of partner selection and evaluation processes, including scheduling, document collection, evaluation records and due diligence documentation.
• Maintain complete and accurate contract files, including approvals, signed agreements, amendments, deliverables, correspondence, payment records and close-out documents.
• Track contract deliverables and alert the Senior Technical Lead, Operations Lead and Finance team to upcoming deadlines or compliance issues.
• Coordinate contract close-out processes, including final deliverables, completion records, asset handover where relevant and documentation of lessons.

Milestone and deliverable management

• Maintain a milestone tracker for all S4IE partner and consultant agreements.
• Coordinate receipt of milestone deliverables and ensure documentation packages are complete before technical review.
• Facilitate technical review by the Skills Lead and relevant team members.
• Coordinate revisions with partners and consultants based on technical feedback.
• Prepare complete payment documentation packages for Finance once technical approval has been provided.
• Track outstanding payments, acquittals and supporting documents in coordination with Finance.

Budget and financial coordination

• Work with the Finance Manager and Finance and Administration Officer to track S4IE expenditure, commitments, forecasts and outstanding acquittals.
• Maintain operational budget trackers for activities, events, partner agreements, consultants and travel.
• Support monthly or periodic budget review meetings by preparing updated information on commitments, pipeline expenditure and implementation-linked financial issues.
• Identify budget variances or spending delays and escalate them to the Skills Lead and Finance Manager.
• Ensure partner financial documentation is submitted on time and filed appropriately.

Reporting coordination

• Coordinate collection of inputs for S4IE reporting, including partner reports, activity updates, MEL inputs, communications inputs and financial information.
• Prepare first drafts of routine implementation updates, progress summaries and reporting inputs for review by the Senior Technical Lead.
• Maintain a reporting calendar covering partner reports, SLSU internal reports, AHC updates, annual reporting inputs and other required submissions.
• Ensure evidence, data, case studies, photos, participant information and supporting documentation are collected in coordination with MEL and Communications teams.
• Support the Skills Lead to provide timely and high-quality inputs to SLSU-wide reporting.

Event, mission and consultation coordination

• Coordinate logistics for S4IE workshops, consultations, missions, partner events, trainings, learning sessions and stakeholder meetings.
• Prepare event plans, participant lists, budgets, logistics notes, travel arrangements, procurement requests, agendas and briefing packs.
• Coordinate with partners, district stakeholders, consultants and SLSU team members to ensure smooth delivery of events and field activities.
• Ensure event documentation is completed, including attendance records, photos, consent forms, meeting notes, action trackers and post-event summaries.
• Work with Communications and MEL teams to capture outputs, lessons, visibility products and evidence from events.

Risk, compliance and safeguarding coordination

• Maintain the S4IE operational risk tracker and support regular review of implementation, partner, financial, safeguarding, fraud, procurement and reputational risks.
• Ensure partners and consultants submit required compliance documents and understand relevant policies, including safeguarding, fraud control, anti-corruption, child protection, branding and communications requirements.
• Coordinate partner onboarding sessions in collaboration with Operations, Finance, MEL and Communications teams.
• Escalate any safeguarding, fraud, conflict of interest or serious compliance concerns immediately through appropriate SLSU channels.
• Ensure implementation records are complete and audit-ready.

MEL, communications and administration support

• Work with the MEL team to ensure monitoring missions, data collection activities, partner reporting, learning events and evidence products are scheduled and operationally supported.
• Coordinate partner submission of MEL data, participant information, activity reports and supporting evidence.
• Work with the Communications Specialist to coordinate partner compliance with branding and visibility requirements, collect content for stories and social media, and support planning for public-facing outputs.
• Maintain a well-organised S4IE filing system covering contracts, partner documents, activity records, reports, approvals, MEL evidence, communications materials, financial records and meeting notes.
• Perform other duties as requested by the Skills Lead or Team Leader.

Key Working Relationships:

• Reports to: Skills Lead
• Receives technical direction from: Senior Technical Lead.
• Closely coordinates with: Operations Lead, Finance Manager, Finance and Administration Officer, MEL Lead, MEL Officer, Communications Specialist and S4IE technical team.
• Coordinates with: S4IE partners, consultants, service providers, government counterparts, district stakeholders and training providers.
• Escalates to: Skills Lead for technical issues; Operations and Finance for compliance, contract and financial issues; Team Leader for high-level risks as directed.

Performance Competencies

• Project & Task Management
• Delivery tracking and follow-through
• Partner coordination
• Contract and compliance administration
• Financial coordination
• Risk and issue escalation
• Communication and documentation
• Team collaboration
• Attention to detail
• Client and stakeholder responsiveness

Cultural Competencies

• Be a Good Corporate Citizen
• Adopting an Equity Lens
• Adapting to Change
• Promoting inclusion, respect and integrity
• Supporting balance and sustainable ways of working

Closing Date: 30 June 2026 #LI-AUSBRIT

A bt 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

About Us

Abt Global is a mission-driven, global leader with a proven track record in complex program implementation in the international development sector. We offer bold solutions and technical excellence in Health, Economic Growth, Governance, Research & Evaluation, Environment & Energy, Gender Equality & Social Inclusion. Working with our many partners, we have driven measurable social impact for more than 55 years, to achieve our mission of improving the quality of life and economic well-being of people worldwide. We operate in remote and challenging environments and employ more than 3,700 staff in over 50 countries. For more information about us and what we do, visit our website at www.abtglobal.com

Equity

Abt Global values individuality and celebrates difference with a strong commitment to diversity, equality, racial equity, gender, and disability inclusion. We strongly encourage people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply for this position. We offer flexible work arrangements and a culturally safe environment for staff members from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Safeguarding

We are deeply committed to safeguarding, to protect and prevent harm and abuse to individuals we work for and who work for us. Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. We will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, child abuse, sexual abuse or exploitation in any form, and expect everyone to be treated with respect and dignity.