Assistant Manager – International Development (Graduate & Early Career Opportunity)

Assistant Manager – International Development (Graduate & Early Career Opportunity)

Team: Asia Pacific

Location: Sydney, Australia

Are you an early-career professional looking to build a career in international development?

• Adam Smith International’s Professional Development Scheme (PDS) offers graduates and emerging professionals a structured pathway to develop project management, business development and consulting skills whilst working on major development programs across the Asia-Pacific region.
• This role is ideally suited to graduates and early-career professionals with up to 5 years of professional experience who are seeking to establish a long-term career in international development consulting.

What is ASI’s Professional Development Scheme (PDS)?

• As part of ASI’s Professional Development Scheme, you will receive structured learning, mentoring and practical experience across project management and business development functions.
• The program typically runs for 12-18 months and is designed to prepare high-performing participants for future Program Manager opportunities within ASI.
• High-performing participants may progress to Program Manager roles following successful completion of the PDS. 

This position is designed as an entry-level development opportunity and is best suited to graduates and early-career professionals seeking to build a career in international development consulting. ASI invites you to apply for the Assistant Manager – International Development position in our Sydney office!

JOB CONTEXT & PURPOSE

ASI (Australia) Pty Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Adam Smith International. It was established in February 2012 as the company’s Asia Pacific regional office, responsible for leading business development and project delivery across the region. Current locations of operations outside Australia include Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Vietnam and Fiji.

Headquartered in Sydney, the company’s Asia Pacific office is responsible for the management of our portfolio of projects funded by the Australian Aid Programe (managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) and other donors. Our team is engaged in business development, project management and consulting activities across a range of sectors including private sector development, governance, agriculture and agribusiness, human development, and infrastructure development.

Managers perform a key role in Adam Smith International’s consulting model and play a central part in managing the technical, financial and operational performance of projects. The Assistant Manager will perform project administration activities, supporting and learning from experienced Managers in the team. The individual will also support technical and financial proposals for new projects and expressions of interest while developing their skills through ASI’s Professional Development Scheme.

KEY TASKS

PROJECT MANAGEMENT:

Support Program Managers in the Asia Pacific team in the successful management of projects including: 

• Tracking and providing expenditure documentation to support client billing

• Establishing and ensuring completion of relevant trackers to support record keeping and retrieval

• Support program budget development and ongoing forecasting, including sourcing costs

• Work planning and task scheduling

• Preparing Terms of Reference/job descriptions and contracts for new consultants

• Undertaking due diligence for new consultants, subcontractors and other partners

• Logistics management e.g. booking hotels, flights for consultants; organising visas

FIRM AND TEAM BUILDING:

• Support the recruitment of associates and the preparation of associate and supplier contracts.

• Collaborate with global colleagues to strengthen Asia Pacific presence in internal messaging, websites, policies, working groups and more

• Work with the team to produce communications materials that detail the company’s experience and capability in the Asia Pacific region

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Efficient and effective project management support