Outreach and Alumni Lead, New Colombo Plan (NCP)

Ready to lead the Communications and Alumni team for a high profile Australian overseas study program? As the Outreach and Alumni Lead, you will deliver strategic engagement with New Colombo Plan stakeholders and successfully communicate program outcomes of one of Australia’s most prominent international education initiatives.

• Location – Australia (ideally, Adelaide based)
• Duration – 3 years
• Applications close on Wednesday 17th June 2026 at 11:59pm AEST
• Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible

About Palladium
Palladium is a global development and consulting firm, part of the GISI Consulting Group, working alongside some of the world’s leading project management and engineering organisations. We partner with governments, businesses, investors and communities to design and deliver complex programs that create lasting impact. With a presence across more than 90 countries, Palladium offers the opportunity to work on meaningful challenges, alongside talented colleagues, in environments where your work can truly make a difference.

About the New Colombo Plan (NCP) Program Support Unit (PSU)
The New Colombo Plan (NCP) plays a key role in supporting the Australian Government’s objectives in building Asia capability. It aims to lift the Indo-Pacific capability and Asia literacy in Australia by supporting Australian undergraduates to undertake study, language learning and internships in the Indo-Pacific. The goal of NCP is NCP alumni contribute their skills, knowledge and networks to Australia’s enduring engagement in the Indo-Pacific region. This is achieved through three complementary grants programs: the Scholarship Program, Mobility Program and Semester Program.

The NCP PSU is administered by Palladium on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) under the Australia Awards Global Support Mechanism (AAGSM). The AAGSM provides operational and technical support services to DFAT’s International Education and Scholarships Branch, with two End of Investment Outcomes (EOIOs):

• EOIO 1 - Operational Support: High quality and efficient administrative and standard business support services provided to DFAT.
• EOIO 2: Technical Support: High quality, coherent, consistent and fit for purpose technical support services that also promote gender equality, disability and social inclusion outcomes throughout DFAT’s international scholarship programs network.

The NCP Program Support Unit (NCP PSU) supports DFAT’s New Colombo Plan Secretariat (NCS) with high-quality grant administration and management consistent with the principles of the Commonwealth Grant Rules and Principles. Support service delivery includes end-to-end grants cycle and funds management, as well as technical support in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL), alumni engagement, communications, events management, business sector engagement and risk management.

About the Role
The Outreach and Alumni Lead is responsible for the Communications and Alumni and Engagement functions of NCP. The role will focus on delivering coherent and strategic engagement with NCP stakeholders to strengthen NCP brand recognition, increase stakeholder engagement and effectively communicate program priorities and outcomes.

Primary Responsibilities

• As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, support the Team Leader to lead and manage the NCP PSU in accordance with DFAT’s policy settings, ensuring delivery is adaptive and responsive to emerging issues, risks and priorities.
• Lead a strategic communications function to support program objectives.
• Oversee the delivery of targeted communications across social media, web and other channels, including content development, copywriting, video production and editing and coordinated campaign execution.
• Operationalise the communications function through clear workflows, channel governance, performance metrics and platform analytics, using insights to drive continuous improvement and measurable results.
• Oversee the Alumni team and contribute to the development and delivery of NCP Alumni strategies in collaboration with DFAT.
• Drive initiatives such as Alumni Representatives and Alumni Network Leads, and co-design and deliver targeted events aligned with NCP priorities.
• Oversee planning and delivery of high-quality events.
• In collaboration with NCS, lead continuous review of the Outreach and Alumni function, reflect on inputs and processes, providing recommendations on service delivery improvements, innovation, operational efficiencies and support reporting requirements.

Please refer to the Terms of Reference to learn more about the role, click here.

About You

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in communications, public relations, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Substantial leadership experience in the field of communications, public diplomacy and/or stakeholder engagement, experience in the university, education or sector is favourable.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and executing successful communication strategies and campaigns across social media, other channels and stakeholder communications.
• Experience in working in alumni engagement is desirable.
• Excellent leadership capability, including management of teams, setting clear expectations, monitoring performance, supporting staff to deliver consistent, high-quality work, and working collaboratively to meet delivery requirements including under competing priorities.
• Proven ability to lead change and continuously improve service delivery, systems and processes.
• Strong analytical capability, including setting and reporting on meaningful KPIs and using insights to optimise performance.
• High level stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with senior government clients.
• High level writing skills with the ability to adapt styles to different audiences and purposes, influencing a wide range of stakeholders.

How to Apply
Click the "Apply Now" button below and please submit your application online, including your CV and a cover letter, outlining your suitability in line with the requirements of the position.

Closing date: Wednesday 17th June at 11:59pm AEST

This position is open to residents with authority to live and work in Australia. Rates of pay are based on local labour standards.

If this opportunity interests you, we encourage you to apply promptly, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

About Palladium
Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 4,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.

Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.