Job Description
Program Background
PARTISIPA is Australia’s flagship sub-national governance and resilience program in Timor-Leste. It works primarily with the Ministry of State Administration, the Ministry of Public Works, municipalities, and communities to strengthen national systems, improve municipal governance, and deliver sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure. By combining support for policy reform, local government systems, and infrastructure services, PARTISIPA helps Government of Timor-Leste (GoTL) to deliver real benefits for citizens — more effective institutions, stronger community voice, and better access to quality services.
PARTISIPA support is delivered through three mutually reinforcing Pillars that together support a set of End-of-Investment Outcomes (EOIOs) that integrate infrastructure, governance, and resilience:
· EOIO 1: National government better addresses the infrastructure and service needs of villages.
· EOIO 2: Sub-national governments better deliver their mandated infrastructure and services.
· EOIO 3: National and subnational governments have better systems and tools to provide sustainable and resilient subnational infrastructure to communities.
The three Pillars are as follows:
1. National Systems to Support Municipalities: focuses on strengthening national policies, standards, and coordination among national level government stakeholders to ensure coherence, resilience, inclusion and clear mandates for municipalities.
2. Municipal Governance Systems and Processes: targets the functioning of municipal administrations through improved planning, budgeting, procurement, and participation, embedding citizen voice, GEDSI, and resilience into governance systems.
3. Sustainable and Resilient Sub-National Infrastructure: integrates PNDS, rural water, and roads into a single framework for quality and sustainability, enhancing infrastructure coordination, embedding resilience and accessibility in design and operations and maintenance, using infrastructure as a governance entry point to build trust in municipal service delivery.
PARTISIPA mainstreams GEDSI across all components to ensure that government policies, planning and implementation processes continue to increase the visibility, voice, participation and agency of women, people with disabilities and other marginalised groups.
About DT Global Asia Pacific
At DT Global Asia Pacific, we aim to positively impact people’s lives through delivery excellence. As a leading implementing partner across Asia and the Pacific, we co-create locally led solutions in partnership with governments, communities, and stakeholders. We bring together talented teams and deep regional expertise to deliver initiatives that promote inclusive economic growth, essential services, and resilient, secure communities. With over 1,500 staff, experts in 22+ countries and more than 60 years of development experience, we tackle complex community, national and transnational challenges — from governance and justice systems to climate resilience, infrastructure and social equity — with innovative thinking and a commitment to long-term impact.
For more information, please see www.dt-global.com
The Role
The Local Governance Advisor (LGA) is a key member of the Pillar 2 team. The LGA will provide technical support to the Authority of RAEOA to exercise its functions and decentralised competencies, including the elaboration of the annual action plan (AAP), support the regional coordination and consultative council meetings, regional strategic development plan, community development plan, plan for human resources capacity building program, and budget execution plan.
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About You
· Bachelor or post-graduate degree in international development, community development, public administration, public policy, finance management or other relevant focus areas.
· Minimum of 7 years’ experience working in the areas of decentralisation, planning, management, public administration, with a deep understanding of community development in the context of Timor-Leste.
· Demonstrable experience working with or providing support to Timor-Leste’s Government system at national and/or subnational levels.
· Demonstrable experience related to capacity building and knowledge transfer to government counterparts.
· Demonstrable experience in coordination, planning and budgeting in the context of municipal development.
· Excellent communication skills in Tétum and English.
· Health and Safety Requirement
For roles requiring travel, particularly to rural or remote areas, candidates must be willing to comply with program health and safety requirements, including participation in safety briefings, adherence to risk mitigation measures, and, where applicable, vaccination requirements (e.g. rabies).
Why join PARTISIPA?
PARTISIPA is a friendly, cohesive and supportive workplace with over 130 staff working as technical advisers, engineers, finance specialists, operations, administration and logistics personnel. The team works directly with national government counterparts and subnational government partners across all municipalities, with staff permanently based in 12 municipalities.
HOW TO APPLY
Click the 'Apply Now' button.
Please submit
1) Your CV
2) A cover letter
3) Response to the selection criteria
APPLICATIONS CLOSE [5 June 2026 / 5 PM / Timor-Leste Time]
Should this role be of interest, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Kindly note only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
People with lived experience of the regions in which DT Global operates are strongly encouraged to apply. DT Global welcomes applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds including First Nations peoples, diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC), and people with disabilities.
We take a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation, abuse and harm of adults and children; fraud, corruption and bribery; modern slavery; and any form of exploitation across our operations, partnerships, and supply chains. We uphold the highest standards of integrity and expect the same of those we work with.
Engagement with DT Global is subject to formal background screening, criminal record checks, employment verification, and periodic compliance checks. All DT Global staff receive safety, compliance, safeguarding and integrity training, and we expect our personnel and partners to always act in alignment with our company values.