Regional Skills Strengthening and Industry Engagement Lead

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 the Pacific and Timor-Leste. Pacific Australia Skills builds on the achievements of 17 years of Australian Government support for skills and training in the Pacific. 

About DT Global

DT Global is shaping a future where sustainable development and innovation empower individuals, communities, and nations. We work in partnership with local stakeholders to foster inclusive prosperity, social equity, and environmental stewardship. Our global team of 2,500 staff and experts work in over 90 countries to solve complex problems in the peacebuilding, governance, economic development, environment, and human development sectors. With a track record of technical excellence and more than 60 years of international development experience and relationships, we deliver innovative solutions that transform lives.

For more information, please see www.dt-global.com

Background

Pacific Australia Skills supports countries across the Pacific and Timor-Leste to strengthen skills development systems that are responsive to national priorities, economic opportunities, and workforce needs. As trainings and skills systems continue to evolve in response to changing labour market demands, there is a growing need to strengthen institutional capacity, improve the quality and relevance of training provision, and foster stronger partnerships between training providers, governments, and industry.

The Skills Strengthening and Industry Engagement Lead provides strategic leadership for Pacific Australia Skills’ skills systems strengthening and industry engagement agenda across the region. The role works collaboratively with regional organisations, governments, industry bodies, employers, qualifications authorities, training providers, development partners, and country teams to drive initiatives that improve the effectiveness, quality, and relevance of training and skills development systems, ensuring they are aligned with local labour market needs and support national sustainable economic and workforce development outcomes.

The Role

The Skills Strengthening and Industry Engagement Lead provides strategic leadership to strengthen training and skills development systems across the Pacific and Timor-Leste by enhancing the capacity of training providers, qualifications authorities, and skills sector stakeholders. The role drives industry engagement and support partnerships to ensure skills development initiatives are aligned with current and emerging labour market needs, supports evidence-based policy and system reforms, and fosters collaboration among regional organisations, governments, training providers, industry, development partners, and country teams. Through these efforts, the position contributes to improving the quality, relevance, and sustainability of training and skills systems, ultimately supporting employment, productivity, and economic development outcomes across the region.

Roles and Responsibilities

The role will include, but not limited to the following responsibilities: 

• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of regional skills systems strengthening and institutional capacity development strategies to support sustainable workforce development outcomes. 

• Identify emerging workforce and industry priorities in consultation with Country Offices and key stakeholders and develop and implement regional industry engagement strategies that align skills development with labor market needs. 

• Lead the development, finalization, and implementation of Regional Skills Competition Guidelines to support consistent delivery by country offices across the Pacific. 

• Lead the planning, coordination, and delivery of the Pacific Australia Skills Regional Skills Competition, including stakeholder engagement, logistics, and event facilitation. 

• Facilitate and strengthen regional industry advisory mechanisms and employer engagement in curriculum design and review, work-integrated learning, workforce planning, and skills development initiatives. 

• Work closely with the Partnership Lead to support locally led partnerships and maintain productive relationships with regional organizations, employers, industry bodies, development partners, and other key stakeholders. 

• Collaborate with the Technical Skills Panel (TSP) Lead to provide strategic oversight of industry and TSP member engagement, promoting high-quality training delivery standards and industry relevance. 

• Partner with the Academic Services Lead to ensure compliance with quality assurance requirements, accreditation standards, and relevant industry sector frameworks.

Selection Criteria

Essential Experience and Knowledge 

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in TVET, workforce development, economics, education, public policy, international development or related field. 

• Demonstrated experience leading skills systems strengthening or TVET reform initiatives. 

• Extensive knowledge of Australian, Pacific and Timor-Leste skills systems. 

• Proven experience engaging employers, industry bodies, governments and training providers. 

• Experience in DFAT-funded or comparable development programs. 

• Experience working across Pacific Island countries and/or Timor-Leste. 

• Strong communication and relationship management skills, with exceptional stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills. 

• Cultural sensitivity and professional approach suitable for working across Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste contexts, with appreciation for diverse communication styles, protocols, and work approaches. 

• 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.

Click on the link or copy paste it to access the full Terms of Reference for this position: https://tinyurl.com/yyfa8y6m

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 Fiji Time, Sunday 23 August 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.