Program and Project Management roles

Jobs in this category typically involve working for a particular program or project of an organisation – or multiple programs – to help achieve the organisation’s aims and create a positive impact in its area of influence.

This may include technical support, assistance or management of activities such as program implementation, documentation, report production and stakeholder communication, as well as research, analysis, and strategic advice and guidance for existing and future programs.

Roles in this category can be roughly split into the following sub-categories:

Program and Project Management

These types of roles are in high demand in Australia as well as in the Asia Pacific and internationally, in many different types of organisations (primarily bilaterals, multilaterals, INGOs and many NGOs).

Typically there are not many entry-level positions for program and project roles, however, with the right transferable skills, obtaining employment in this type of role is still achievable without years of experience.

Program or project assistants

Program or project assistants generally work with a team of staff and are led by project managers to execute a program/project and meet objectives: they help with the general smooth running of the program, including adhering to time and budget limits, assisting with administrative tasks, helping produce reports, and research and organisational assistance.

Managers and coordinators lead the program toward completion or help program objectives to be achieved.

Consultant

Consultants are often hired for program/project roles either for a short- or medium-term temporary contract or on a full-time permanent basis. In large organisations, including bilaterals, multilaterals, INGOs and IGOs, consultants are generally hired as experts for a specific project, for example to produce a report in a specialised area, work on a specific program, develop strategies, or monitor and evaluate projects. Often these roles are well-paid due to the level of expertise required. In other NFP organisations, particularly medium-sized NGOs, the job title of ‘Consultant’ often refers to a permanent employee who provides support in research, project management, technical assistance, strategy and/or business development.

In general, consultants are responsible for providing high-quality advice or services to an organisation for the purpose of improving their programs, activities and outputs. Often this involves producing specific products (e.g. reports).

Program and project roles are usually office-based but may involve field trips to program sites. Many program and project roles are advertised by INGOs and IGOs in country offices in developing countries, as well as in global headquarters. Smaller NGOs also often recruit for these positions also, both in Australia and abroad.

Project management

Project management in the NFP sector generally requires subject knowledge as well as technical knowledge of project management and coordination.

Project management skills are essential for Officer, Coordinator, Manager, Director and Associate roles, though previous experience does not have to be in the NFP sector (but candidates would need to demonstrate an appropriate level of subject knowledge to be competitive).   

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