Operations Director

KEY INFORMATION 
Job Title: Operations Director 
Reports to: Contractor Representative  
Location: Dili, Timor-Leste (with in-country and regional travel as required) 
Duration: 2026 -2027, with possibility of multi-year extension    
 
 
PROJECT SUMMARY 
The Australia-Timor-Leste Human Development Initiative (HDI) is a major upcoming investment funded by DFAT, supporting equitable, quality health and education services and advancing disability rights over five years (2026-2031), with potential extension. HDI comprises three sector programs—Health Partnership, Education Partnership, and Disability Rights, underpinned by a shared services platform and a pilot Locally Led Development Hub. The program integrates gender equality, disability inclusion, climate resilience, and locally led development as cross-cutting priorities. 
 
 
SUMMARY OF POSITION 
The Operations Director provides strategic and operational leadership for HDI, ensuring full compliance with DFAT requirements and effective, efficient delivery of program outcomes. The role oversees day-to-day program management, risk mitigation, quality assurance, and coordination across teams and sectors. Key responsibilities include managing annual work plans, maintaining the program risk register, and supporting the MERL Leads to ensure strong monitoring, evaluation, and reporting systems. The Operations Director will also lead shared services and support the Locally Led Development Hub, while producing high-quality reports and communications for DFAT. By fostering strong stakeholder relationships and integrating cross-cutting priorities, the Operations Director ensures the program achieves its objectives to a high standard. 
 
 
KEY RESPONSIBILITES 
Strategic Leadership & Governance 

• Provide strategic advice on governance arrangements, adaptive management, and operational efficiency. 
• Act as secretariat for governance committees and technical working groups, ensuring effective coordination and decision tracking. 

Mobilisation and Inception 

• Lead timely start-up of the Program, including mobilisation, office establishment and setup, and recruitment of core personnel for the three pillar programs, shared services unit and the Locally Led Development Hub. 
• Coordinate and quality assure all inception deliverables, including strategic and operational plans, first‑year workplans and budgets, and agreed "ways of working" and coordination protocols. 
• Oversee the drafting, finalisation and rollout of the Operations Manual (risk management, safeguarding, fraud and corruption control, security and related procedures), ensuring it is fit for Timor‑Leste and fully compliant with DFAT and GoTL requirements. 
• Define and operationalise systems, processes and resources required for implementation, working closely with Team Leaders so that operations directly support delivery of program outcomes. 

Operational and Contract Oversight 

• Establish and oversee a shared services platform for centralised operational support (finance, HR, procurement, administration, logistics, grants and compliance). 
• Oversee and quality assure procurement and contracting (tendering, contract management, financial management of activities), ensuring value for money and adherence to program, DFAT and Commonwealth Procurement requirements. 
• Provide clear operational guidance and strategic advice to Team Leaders, DFAT and program teams on contractual obligations, policies, procedures and performance management systems. 
• Manage contract administration, supplier selection, supervision and reporting, and support management, audit and reporting of program funds. 
• Provide operational support to sector program leaders and the Locally Led Development Hub to ensure efficient resource allocation, cost effectiveness and support for locally led development partnerships and capacity building. 

Safeguarding and Risk Management 

• Identify early operational, safeguarding, fiduciary and contextual risks, maintain risk registers from inception, and implement practical mitigation measures. 
• Champion safeguarding and risk management (including PSEAH, child protection) and ensure ongoing compliance and due diligence for all program functions and downstream partners. 

Operationalising Locally Led Hub 

• Oversee the design, operationalisation, and performance monitoring of the Locally Led Development Hub, ensuring it delivers capacity-building and compliance support for OPDs and civil society partners. 
• Champion localisation strategies, including progressive transfer of leadership and resources to Timorese actors. 

Quality Assurance and Program Management 

• Serve as a primary operational liaison with DFAT, supporting communication on strategic planning, progress and performance, and providing high‑quality, timely narrative and financial reports (annual work plans and budgets, six‑monthly and annual progress, risk and safeguarding updates) to DFAT and governance bodies. 
• Support and oversee governance and coordination mechanisms (joint GoA/GoTL governance bodies and Technical Working Groups), ensuring effective secretariat functions and systematic follow‑up of decisions. 
• Supervise integration between program and operational teams, including regular reviews of budget and human resource allocations to optimise efficiency. 
• Lead implementation and oversight of the Program Quality Assurance and Implementation Framework, Inception Plan, Mobilisation Action Plan, Annual Work Plans and Budgets. 
• Ensure Program implementation aligns with Australian international development priorities, including sustainability, localisation, climate change, GEDSI, Indigenous engagement and partnership strengthening. 
• Uphold continuous improvement, capture and apply lessons learned, and ensure compliant handover and close‑out. 
• Other duties as requested by the Team Leaders. 

 
 
JOB REQUIRMENTS 
Education   

• Master's degree or equivalent post-graduate qualification in international development, public policy, business administration, or a relevant field (health, education, disability) preferred. 

Relevant Skills and Experience 

• Extensive experience leading implementation and operations for large, complex international development programs, preferably DFAT‑funded and/or in the Pacific and/or Southeast Asia. 
• Proven experience in high‑level policy dialogue, governance support and representing programs with senior government and donor stakeholders. 
• Strong track record managing core operational functions for donor‑funded programs, including finance, HR, procurement, logistics, start‑up and compliance, applying adaptive management in complex, multi‑stakeholder settings. 
• Demonstrated expertise in risk management, safeguarding, governance and quality assurance, including practical application of PSEAH, child protection and fraud/corruption control standards. 
• Experience designing or managing centralised shared services and implementing localisation strategies, including capacity development for civil society and OPDs, grounded in a strong understanding of locally led development principles. 
• Strong working knowledge of DFAT requirements, Commonwealth Procurement Rules and related safeguarding and compliance frameworks, with experience integrating gender equality, disability inclusion, climate resilience and locally led capacity building into operational systems. 
• Excellent team leadership, supervision and mentoring skills, with a record of building high‑performing national teams and developing local managers. 
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain effective partnerships across government, civil society, OPDs, private sector and donor partners in cross‑cultural environments. 
• High‑level written and verbal communication skills for reporting, policy dialogue, stakeholder engagement and operational guidance. 
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, including troubleshooting, MEL integration, adaptive management, and continuous improvement. 
• Deep commitment to ethical, principled and inclusive leadership, including "do no harm", safeguarding, disability and gender equity, and cultural sensitivity with proven ability to work respectfully and effectively in Timor‑Leste or similar contexts.  

 
 
APPLICATION PROCESS 
Interested candidates are invited to apply by 20 December 2025. 
To apply, please submit the following in a single email to cv@cowater.com:   

• Cover letter outlining your interest in the role and the Platform  
• Updated CV  
• Contact details for at least two (2) references  

For your application to be considered, please rename your documents as followed: Candidate Last Name, First Name, date, Title of the Position. 
 
Equal Opportunity:  
Women and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.  
 
Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring based on merit and qualifications. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law.   
 
 
ABOUT US 
Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila, Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International has successfully delivered a portfolio of over 2,500 projects and assignments in more than 95 countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, environmental improvements and advance equal opportunities for all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies since 2017. 
 
We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow.