Deputy Program Director – Overseas Programming, Australian Volunteers Program
- Maximum term contract, full-time role based in Melbourne
- Flexible Working Arrangements
- Competitive Total Remuneration Package with salary packaging benefits
Are you a purpose-driven leader with a passion for international development and strategic program excellence? Join the Australian Volunteers Program as the Deputy Program Director – Overseas Programming and help shape a globally impactful initiative!
AVI supports the implementation of the Australian Volunteers Program on behalf of the Australian Government. The Australian Volunteers Program enables skilled Australian volunteers to support partner organisations in 26 countries across the Pacific, Asia and Africa to progress their development objectives.
Role overview
The Deputy Program Director – Overseas Programming is a key member of the senior executive team, responsible for the strategic leadership and effective delivery of the Australian Volunteers Program’s operations across 26 countries in the Pacific, Asia, and Africa. This role ensures the program operates with consistency, quality, and alignment to the Australian Government’s development priorities.
Key responsibilities include:
- Provide high-level leadership and management of overseas operations to ensure the program achieves desired outcomes, delivers consistent performance across all program countries and meets program compliance requirements.
- Provide strategic oversight of regional and country level planning and program delivery, including partnership development, knowledge and learning exchange and effective volunteer management.
- Ensure that the Australian Government’s priorities for the Australian Volunteers Program are considered and incorporated across all overseas program activities.
- Foster an achievement-oriented culture overseeing the delivery of quality program outcomes and responsive support services.
Position Requirements
This role will suit someone with:
- Demonstrated, sound experience in senior management roles, including leading diverse teams, and providing strategic advice.
- Demonstrated analytical and conceptual skills to identify complex issues and risks, anticipate barriers, and create innovative and practical solutions.
- Strong stakeholder management skills with proven ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, and a strong ability to communicate effectively in a cross-cultural environment.
- Exceptional leadership and people management skills, including change management, team building, coaching, mentoring and providing direction to staff.
- Sound understanding of contemporary international development issues and challenges, including locally-led development and the contribution of international volunteering.
- Demonstrated experience in international volunteer management, including a sound understanding of emerging issues and best practice.
- High level program management, including strategic and operational program planning, program design, implementation, financial management, reporting and program monitoring and evaluation.
- Exceptional cross-cultural awareness and demonstrated experience working with people from different cultural backgrounds.
- Understanding of and commitment to Equal Employment Opportunity, Occupational Health & Safety, Child Protection and Privacy principles.
- Relevant tertiary qualifications and/or extensive experience in a similar role.
In return, you will:
- Join a long-standing not-for-profit organisation with a rich history and a team of passionate individuals
- Have the best of both worlds with time in the office and flexible work arrangements for remote work
- Be offered a competitive remuneration package.
Application Procedure:
- For a full outline of the position and applicant requirements please review the Position Description at www.avi.org.au/careers-at-avi/ and submit a cover letter and a current resume.
- Application Closing date: Sunday, 17 August 2025 (11.59am).
- Any questions regarding this role? Please email our P&C team at careers@avi.org.au
AVI is committed to child protection and safeguarding the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults in the delivery of all our work. We are committed to the Prevention of Sexual Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH), and fraud prevention. We have robust screening procedures for all staff. This screening includes criminal record checks and referee checks prior to commencement and throughout employment.
AVI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. AVI actively encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds, LGBTIQA+ people, people with disability and others who have diverse experiences of our world to apply for this opportunity. AVI will provide reasonable workplace adjustments for applicants with disability.
Your privacy is important to AVI. It is the policy of AVI to respect the confidentiality of information and privacy of individuals. Personal information provided by you as part of your application (whether oral, electronic, or written) will be collected and processed for the purpose of evaluating your application for employment. In order to carry out this purpose, your information may be disclosed to appropriate persons in our offices. Any information we hold will be governed by the most current version of the AVI Privacy Policy which is available upon request.
