The Fred Hollows Foundation advertised a full-time, fixed-term Senior Program Quality Advisor position based in Sydney, Australia.
The 12-month role is part of the Foundation’s work to improve the quality and effectiveness of its international development programs, with a particular focus on the Australia and Pacific cluster.
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Flexible work-from-home arrangements are available.
This position may suit professionals with experience in international development, public health or humanitarian work who have a strong understanding of program design, monitoring, evaluation and learning.
It also offers an opportunity to work with country teams and partners across the region and contribute to programs focused on eye health, inclusion and locally led development.
Applicants considering similar international development careers may find this type of role particularly relevant if they have experience supporting programs, developing funding proposals and working with different stakeholders.
About the Fred Hollows Foundation
The Fred Hollows Foundation is an international development organisation focused on preventing blindness and restoring sight. It continues the work and vision of Professor Fred Hollows, who believed everyone should have access to quality eye care.
The Foundation operates in more than 25 countries across Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, the Pacific and Australia. It states that its programs have helped restore sight to more than 3 million people worldwide.
Position Overview
The Senior Program Quality Advisor is responsible for helping strengthen the quality, impact and effectiveness of the Foundation’s programs.
Based in Australia, the position supports country teams and partners across Australia and the Pacific. A major part of the work involves helping teams improve program design, monitoring and evaluation while encouraging learning and continuous improvement throughout the program cycle.
The role is also connected to broader organisational priorities. The successful candidate will contribute technical knowledge, support teams and partners, and help strengthen approaches and tools used to maintain program quality across the organisation.
Key Responsibilities
The Senior Program Quality Advisor will provide technical support throughout different stages of program development and delivery.
One important area is program design, monitoring and evaluation. The role involves advising country and global teams so that programs can be properly planned, assessed and improved over time.
The position also supports the preparation of evidence-based funding proposals and program designs. This means working with relevant teams to help develop strong proposals that support the Foundation’s program priorities and funding needs.
Another part of the job is helping teams manage program cycle processes. The advisor will facilitate these processes while keeping them aligned with recognised good practice and organisational priorities.
The role also has a strong focus on learning and collaboration. The successful candidate will encourage reflection, knowledge sharing and learning between teams, countries and partners.
Capacity building is another key responsibility. The advisor will help country teams and partners strengthen their ability to develop programs and make ongoing improvements themselves.
The position will also connect teams with relevant technical specialists and internal stakeholders. In addition, the advisor will contribute to organisational strategy, program quality tools and frameworks.
Eligibility & Qualifications
The Foundation is looking for a professional with experience in international development, public health or humanitarian sectors.
Strong knowledge of program cycle management, particularly program design, monitoring and evaluation, and learning, is an important requirement for the position.
Applicants should also have demonstrated experience supporting donor proposals and resource mobilisation. The role requires someone who can work collaboratively with different stakeholders, provide coaching and help build the capabilities of teams and partners.
Strong written communication is also important, including the ability to contribute to program design and reporting.
The Foundation specifically looks for a commitment to locally led, inclusive and equity-focused approaches.
A degree in Public Health, International Development or a related field is listed as desirable rather than as a mandatory requirement in the information provided. Experience working in the Pacific and/or in health systems strengthening is also desirable. Exposure to humanitarian contexts would be an additional advantage.
Skills Needed
This position requires more than technical program knowledge. The successful candidate needs to work effectively with country teams, partners and other stakeholders with different backgrounds and areas of expertise.
Program management skills are central to the role, particularly around design, monitoring, evaluation and learning.
Communication skills are also important because the position involves written program work, reporting, proposals, coaching and knowledge sharing.
The ability to influence and build capability will help the advisor work with teams without simply taking responsibility away from them. The Foundation’s emphasis on locally led approaches makes collaboration and capacity building particularly relevant.
Applicants should also be comfortable working with evidence, supporting program improvement and connecting people with appropriate technical expertise.
Salary & Benefits
The employer has not publicly disclosed the salary for this position.
The advertised benefits include salary packaging, which provides access to not-for-profit salary packaging options. The Foundation states that this can increase take-home pay.
The role also offers a flexible working environment, with the organisation focusing on outputs rather than hours and supporting employee health and wellbeing. Other listed benefits include generous leave allowances and ongoing opportunities for professional and leadership development.
How to Apply
Applicants were instructed to apply directly through the Foundation’s Apply button. The application should include a CV and, preferably, a cover letter explaining the applicant’s interest in the position and addressing the key criteria outlined in the vacancy.
The advertised closing date was 2 June 2026.
The Foundation also stated that it would not accept CVs submitted through agencies for this position. Applicants should therefore use the employer’s official application process rather than sending their CV through a recruitment agency.
The organisation encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply. Applicants should also be aware that the Foundation may conduct police checks and other screening procedures and may verify qualifications and credentials as part of its recruitment process.
Tips Before Applying
Before applying for a role such as this, take time to compare your experience with the specific criteria in the vacancy.
Start by reviewing your background in international development, public health or humanitarian work. Identify examples that demonstrate your experience with program design, monitoring, evaluation and learning.
Your CV should make relevant experience easy to find. Rather than simply listing responsibilities from previous positions, highlight work that shows how you supported programs, proposals, teams or partners.
If submitting a cover letter, use it to explain why the role interests you and directly address the requirements highlighted by the Foundation. Examples involving donor proposals, capacity building, program improvement or work with diverse stakeholders can be particularly useful where they genuinely match your experience.
Finally, check that all required application documents are included before submitting your application through the official recruitment process.
Conclusion
The Senior Program Quality Advisor position offers an opportunity for an experienced development, public health or humanitarian professional to contribute to program quality across the Australia and Pacific portfolio.
The role is particularly suited to candidates who understand program design, monitoring and evaluation and can work collaboratively with teams and partners. Experience with donor proposals, capacity building and locally led approaches is also important.
Anyone considering this type of international development career should carefully review the official vacancy, compare their experience with the listed criteria and submit an application through the employer’s official recruitment process when a suitable vacancy is available.