Infrastructure Adviser (Education), Ministry of Education (MoE) - Fiji Social Infrastructure Program

Fiji Program Support Platform (FPSP) 

• Long term position
• Contract duration: commencing as soon as possible to 30 June 2027, with the intent to extend to 2 years with possible further extension (subject to Program end date extension and program funding)
• This position is open to both international and national applicants.

FPSP Overview: 

The Fiji Program Support Platform (FPSP, or the ‘Platform’) is a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) investment that will contribute to the delivery of Fiji’s national development priorities, in line with the Australia’s International Development Policy, the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership and the Development Partnership Plan. 

The Platform will deliver key bilateral programs, such as health, education, scholarships, social infrastructure, governance, climate and emergency preparedness and response. Platform activities will identify and address climate risks, promote climate action, and gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) across and beyond the sector programs. 

The Platform has three functional Outcomes: 

1. The Platform has delivered its sector program outcomes, including through supporting strategic coherence, planning, partnerships management, data and learning across the portfolio of investments. 
2. The Platform has prioritised gender equality and disability-inclusive development, and climate and disaster resilience, in its systems and practices. This includes in how it undertakes sector programming and its engagement with selected Government of Fiji agencies. 
3. The Platform administers timely and efficient programming that is: value for money; maximises use of local supply chains; and supports good governance and public diplomacy, effective decision making and risk management. 

The Platform implements over fifty percent of Australia’s bilateral development support to Fiji across a range of sector programs in education, health, Australia Awards, disaster response, cyclone recovery, social infrastructure and technical assistance to improve public sector governance in Fiji.   

The Platform integrates cross-cutting themes, including gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), climate and disaster resilience, across sectoral programs. In particular, the Platform seeks to strengthen program outcomes by better addressing the needs of targeted beneficiaries including those who are often marginalised. 

Program Overview: 

The Vuvale Partnership between Australia and Fiji, along with the Australia-Fiji Development Partnership Plan 2024–2028, outlines priority outcomes across five (5) pillars of support. These include a stronger emphasis on sustainable human development and infrastructure development.

Aligned with these priorities, Australia supports targeted multi-year health and education sector programs focused on policy and systems strengthening. Complementing these efforts are two (2) major social infrastructure initiatives:

• The Fiji Social Infrastructure Program (FSIP)
• The Colonial War Memorial (CWM) Hospital Redevelopment Project

FSIP delivers infrastructure upgrades to schools and hospitals, through the FPSP, managed by Abt Associates. In recognition that infrastructure is being delivered outside of Government systems, FSIP also includes a capacity-building component for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MoHMS) and the Ministry of Education (MoE), aimed at strengthening the capacity of their asset management units to deliver maintenance and capital works. 

MoHMS – Asset Management Unit 

MHMS’s AMU manages regulatory approvals and coordination (fire, council, lands, environment), maintains the asset register, plans/monitors capital and maintenance projects, and oversees staff quarters/fleet and disposals. Technical design/supervision commonly involves Ministry of Public Works Meteorology Services and Transport (MoPWMST), with procurement pathways shaped by Fiji Procurement Office (FPO) thresholds. Close MoPWMST coordination is essential for maintenance handover and lifecycle continuity.

FSIP efforts will be coordinated with the Australia‑Fiji Health Program (AFHP), including an Australian funded‑funded Public Financial Management Advisor to strengthen MHMS financial planning, budget execution and expenditure control. The Health Infrastructure Adviser will also align with the Social Infrastructure Adviser placed within Ministry of Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics (MoSPNDS) to ensure coherence across major capital planning (e.g., CWM priority infrastructure).

Given this context, MoHMS has requested an embedded Health Infrastructure Adviser to strengthen capital works planning, maintenance systems, asset management, and AMU’s organisational capability.

Position Summary: 

The Education Infrastructure Adviser will support the Ministry of Education’s AIS Division to strengthen school infrastructure planning, delivery and management through three (3) core functions:

1. Strengthen MoE’s capacity to plan, monitor, evaluate, and coordinate capital works and maintenance programs 
2. Support AIS’s oversight and implementation of capital works, including a establishing a medium-term capital pipeline and priority maintenance program
3. Enhance institutional capability and collaboration across Government of Fiji including MoE, Ministry of Finance, Ministry for Public Works, Meteorological Services & Transport (MPWMST), Ministry of Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics (MoSPNDS) and partner organisations to improve procurement, contract management, maintenance systems and project delivery. 

Key Responsibilities:

The Adviser will:

Rapid Review

• Conduct a Rapid Review of AIS to identify capacity gaps, system bottlenecks and organisational needs, and recommend changes to systems and processes to improve efficiencies. 
   

Capital Works Planning and Delivery

• Support MoE to identify, prioritise, and cost capital works. Lead the development of a short to medium term capital works plan/pipeline (5-10 years), with reference to the recent school assessment documents (e.g., 86 School Suva-Nausori Audit (2024)).
• Strengthen MoE’s capability in project scoping, tendering, procurement models, contract administration, and quality assurance
• Work with AIS to deliver priority capital works using improved systems and frameworks.
• Support the preparation of budget proposals linked to the pipeline
• Improve coordination between ministries, donor partners and religious school owners for capital projects. 

Asset Management Systems

• Assist AIS develop / improve a comprehensive MoE Education Asset Register capturing age, type, condition, location and lifecycle requirements of all MoE‑managed assets.
• Introduce systematic asset condition assessments and a structured approach to lifecycle planning.
• Support MoE to develop long‑term maintenance planning aligned to standards and GoF requirements.
• Strengthen MoE’s maintenance execution capacity including exploring the potential of major maintenance contracts managed centrally by AIS.
• Support creation and institutionalisation of practical tools, SOPs, contract templates and manuals for maintenance delivery. 

Systems Strengthening & Reform

• Align AIS systems and processes with FMIS (if applicable), annual procurement planning, contract management requirements and public financial management reforms. 
• Support the development and rollout of SOPs, tools, workflow procedures, procurement and contract administration templates for capital works and maintenance. 

Capacity Building

• Build AIS capability through mentoring, coaching, on‑the‑job training and structured skills development activities.
• Strengthen AIS staff capacity in infrastructure planning, FMIS utilisation (if applicable), procurement, contract management, asset management, and monitoring/reporting.
• Enhance AIS capacity to apply data-driven decision-making and adopt improved planning and delivery systems.
• Support long-term institutionalisation of systems, tools and processes to support AIS reform efforts. 

Key Deliverables: 

• Rapid Review of AIS systems, processes, procurement, contract management and delivery performance
• Implement recommendations from the rapid review, including, for example, SOPs, templates and tools for health capital works planning, procurement, contract administration and infrastructure delivery
• Medium term Education Capital Works Plan/Pipeline (including costing and prioritisation)
• Updated Asset Register and Asset Management System for MoE-managed assets
• Maintenance planning framework and proposed major maintenance contract model (pilot + scale-up pathway) or other model that will improve maintenance of school infrastructure.
• Quarterly reports to MoE Leadership and FPSP
• Contributions to FPSP Infrastructure Monthly Reports
• Ongoing provision of high-quality technical and policy advice to MoE.  
• Support consultations with line ministries, implementing agencies, and development partners.
• Build staff capacity through mentoring and skills development.
• Support AIS to develop annual procurement and maintenance work plans

• Support Ministry briefings and correspondence as required including briefings, reports, speeches, presentations and other. 

   

Key Working Relationships:

• Permanent Secretary - MoE
• Heads of AIS Units (Establishment & Development; Capital/Rehabilitation; DRR/Climate)
• FPSP Team Leaders – Infrastructure and Education  
• Other Australian-funded technical advisers, including the Social Infrastructure Adviser in MoSPNDS
• MoPWMST (owner’s engineer), Department of Building and Government Architects (DBGA) (design/technical services), MoF, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change

• Community and religious school owners/committees 

   

Selection Criteria:

• Tertiary qualifications in project management/planning, engineering, architecture, international development, or related field
• Minimum 7 years’ experience in infrastructure planning, procurement, contract management, project implementation, advisory, budgeting and delivery
• Demonstrated experience working with government agencies and/or development partners to deliver results.  
• Knowledge and understanding of Fiji’s education system highly desirable (but not mandatory), including understanding of infrastructure challenges.
• Demonstrated communication, negotiation, diplomacy and inter-personal skills in working with a diverse range of partners, including Ministers, senior government officials, international organisations and development partners
• Demonstrated cultural competency, including the ability to work in a multicultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity

• Experience working in Fiji or the Pacific is highly desirable. 

   

How to apply:

Abt Associates is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce. Abt Associates provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits. Local candidates strongly encouraged to apply.

Disclaimer: Abt Associates will never ask candidates for money in exchange for an offer of employment.