Indonesia Group
Director Decentralization Section – Jakarta
Duty Statement and Selection Criteria

About AusAID
AusAID manages the Australian Government’s overseas aid program. AusAID’s work contributes to a global commitment to achieve eight ‘Millennium Development Goals’ to:

  • halve the number of people living in extreme poverty and hunger;
  • ensure that all children receive primary education;
  • promote sexual equality and give women a stronger voice;
  • reduce child death rates;
  • improve the health of mothers;
  • combat HIV & AIDS, malaria and other diseases;
  • make sure the environment is protected; and
  • build a global partnership for those working in development.

With a head office in Canberra, Australia and field offices around the world, AusAID works in close partnership with foreign government officials, international and multilateral organisations (including the United Nations, World Bank and Asian Development Bank), the private sector, non-government and community organisations, and civil society, to design and deliver development assistance.

Given Australia’s geographic location, our assistance is primarily provided to the Asia-Pacific region with large programs of assistance in:

  • Papua New Guinea
  • Indonesia
  • Solomon Islands
  • Other Pacific Island Countries (including Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, Kiribati and other small island states)
  • East Timor
  • Philippines
  • South East Asia (including Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Burma)

Significant assistance is provided to countries and regions in South Asia, North Asia, Middle East, and Sub-Saharan Africa. AusAID also responds on behalf of the Australian Government to emergencies and disasters that occur in developing countries.

About the Indonesia Program/Background to the position

Australia is the largest bilateral grant donor in Indonesia, spending approximately AUD$450million per annum supporting Indonesia. A large proportion of this support is targeted at the sub-national level and includes significant investments in health, education, infrastructure, Indonesia’s national poverty reduction program (PNPM) and direct support to local governments and communities to more effectively utilise resources available to improve service delivery and reduce poverty under the decentralised system in Indonesia.

Poor service delivery in many parts of decentralised Indonesia is due to a lack of government capacity to efficiently and effectively manage available resources, particularly amongst provincial and district governments. While in principle the main elements for efficient service delivery are already in place, many local governments are only just developing an understanding of how to allocate public resources effectively and in ways that respond to communities’ needs.

The scale of decentralisation is enormous, with over two million public service positions transferred from the centre to sub-national governments, and districts being given the responsibility of managing around 40% of public expenditure in Indonesia (up from about 12% in the mid 1990s). These large and relatively recent decentralisation reforms mean it is important to support the various stakeholders in formative years to ensure decentralisation succeeds.

In this context, the Australian government bilateral aid program, the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), is seeking an Indonesian national to provide high level management input to: deepen its understanding of decentralization issues and advise across its significant portfolio of work at the sub-national level; to assess how to make better strategic choices and interventions for better development outcomes; improve working relationships at all levels of government (central, provincial and district); and directly oversee the management and implementation of a range activities aimed at supporting local governments fulfill their mandates and communities to engage in a decentralised democracy in Indonesia.

Job Description

As a Director you will:
Generic

  • Bring a strategic perspective to the development and delivery of the Australian government aid program and how to most effectively support decentralisation reforms.
  • Provide timely reporting of critical issues and engagement in high level policy dialogue with Government of Indonesia.
  • Broaden participation in the Australian aid program through a more comprehensive and strategic engagement with key stakeholders, including other donors, regional and multilateral organizations, universities and civil society.
  • Represent the Australian Government through a range of relationship-building activities and other duties.
  • Be a key member of the management team of AusAID Jakarta, providing input to the overall directions of the aid program and its implementation, with specific inputs on promoting effective ways to operate at the sub-national level

Specific

  • Lead and manage the team responsible for the Decentralization programs this will include full responsibility for direction and strategy of the section by utilising effective work practices, performance feedback mechanisms, staff development and specialist expertise. The team consists of approximately 18 Australian and Indonesian staff, including out-posted officers, managing around $50million direct program implementation per annum. In addition the team has a role in collecting and disseminating expertise, knowledge and learning across the Branch, (a team of over 140). Enhancing coordination and coherence of the Australian aid program that is being delivered at the sub-national level will be a key component of the program.
  • Monitor and report on the programs within the Decentralization portfolio, ensuring coherence with the Australia Indonesia Partnership Country Strategy 2008-2013 and the Government of Indonesia Medium Term Development plan.
  • Lead the development and implementation of a common results framework for AusAID programs operating at the sub-national level.
  • Ensure the implementation of risk management and fraud control measures and staff awareness of these issues.

Reporting
The Director for Decentralization will report through the Chief of Operations to the Minister-Counsellor (Head of AusAID, Indonesia).

Occupational Experience
Substantial experience in the area of decentralisation in the Indonesia context with strong leadership, management and communication skills

Terms of Employment
This position will be filled as an overseas based employee of AusAID. The position is for an initial period of 12 months with the possibility of an extension of an additional 24 months.

The successful applicant will be required to travel regularly.

An attractive remuneration package and conditions of employment will be negotiated commensurate with the demonstrated experience, expertise and skills of the successful applicant.

Selection Criteria
Important: The Selection Criteria are used to assess an applicant’s suitability for a position. Applicants must provide a statement of claims addressing the selection criteria below. Statements should detail suitability to perform the duties of the position including personal qualities, experience, skills and knowledge relative to the selection criteria.

  1. Excellent representational and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to develop effective working relationships with a large range of stakeholders, including Government of Indonesia at central and sub-national levels and AusAID staff based in head-quarters (Canberra).
  2. In depth understanding and knowledge of development and, particularly decentralization issues in Indonesia, including political issues at all levels.
  3. Highly developed analytical skills and the ability to apply these to the practical implementation of the whole-of-AusAID program in Indonesia, including identification of risks, opportunities and ways to integrate AusAID activities at a practical level across sectors.
  4. Ability to manage and prioritise your own workload and that of your team and to work within strict deadlines and deliver results.
  5. Ability to provide analytical reporting, program reporting and feedback to be incorporated into the strategic planning for future programming.
  6. An understanding of or the demonstrated ability to gain knowledge and adapt to work practices to suit an Australian government business environment.

Further Information for Your Application
Applications addressing the selection criteria and written in English should be received before close of business on Monday, 7 September 2009, and should be addressed to: Recruitment Manager at the following email address: hrindo@ausaid.gov.au.

Due to the volume of applications, AusAID will not be able to respond to inquiries about application status and will only contact short listed candidates. Applications lacking the job title or using the wrong email address will not be considered.

Please include the following title in the subject line Reference: Director Decentralization Section.
Your application should include:

  • a curriculum vitae (resume) of no more than 2 pages
  • a statement (no more than half a page per selection criteria as listed above) in support of your application. The statement should outline your skills and abilities that relate to the criterion you are addressing and should briefly describe how you consider yourself suitable. You should use the Selection Criteria as headings. E.g. 5. Tertiary qualifications in a relevant field. In addressing the criterion you should think broadly about the different experiences you have had and how they would be advantageous to the position you are applying for. Responses should be clear and concise.
  • Also include the names, addresses and phone numbers of at least two referees. Should you be successful in gaining an interview, the Selection Committee may require you to obtain referee reports from current and former supervisors who are able to comment on your work performance.

NB: All AusAID employees demonstrate a commitment to the Australian Public Service Code of Conduct and Values, as well as to workplace diversity, occupational health and safety and employee participation principles and have appropriate cross-cultural sensitivities.

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