Scholarships and Higher Education Adviser (39)

Scholarships and Higher Education Adviser

We are seeking a Scholarships and Higher Education Adviser for a 25-day remote consultancy over a three month period. Help design a 10-year strategy driving equity, inclusion, and climate action in Vietnam.

Contribute to a world where people, communities and the planet thrive.

Tetra Tech International Development is a leading development consulting firm working with Government, businesses, and NGOs to solve complex development challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.

The opportunity

Aus4Skills Phase 3 is a ten-year DFAT-funded program partnering with the Government of Vietnam to strengthen bilateral ties by supporting Vietnam's human resource development priorities.Focused on higher education, the Vietnam Australia Centre, and vocational education and training (VET), the program builds workforce-ready, inclusive, climate-adaptive skills, public sector leadership, and alumni networks.It targets gender equality, disability and social inclusion, and support for disadvantaged Australia Awards students.

Outcomes include stronger Australia–Vietnam strategic partnerships, enhanced public sector leadership and women's advancement, and industry-aligned VET that meets labour market needs while promoting social equity and sustainable growth.

The role

The Scholarship and Higher Education Adviser will assist Aus4Skills by developing a concise, evidence-based 10-year Scholarship and Higher Education Strategy for Phase 3, a foundational document needed to guide strategic investment decisions and to produce a practical roadmap that aligns scholarship and higher education investments with national workforce and equity and inclusion goals and to improve the program's effectiveness over the next decade.

The strategy will cover Australia Awards Scholarships (AAS), new modality of Vocational Education and Training (VET) scholarships and pathways for equity and inclusion (through, AAS and other mechanisms), VET; and related higher education support such as fellowships for higher education research and/or short courses.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the design and finalisation of the Aus4Skills Phase 3 Scholarship and Higher Education Strategy.
• Partner with DFAT, Vietnamese government ministries, and educational institutions to align priorities.
• Review past program performance, workforce demands, and strategic partnership plans to guide design.
• Structure diverse scholarship pathways across postgraduate, vocational, short-course, and flexible delivery modes.
• Embed gender equality, disability inclusion, social equity, and climate action principles across programs.
• Create the operational, monitoring, and evaluation frameworks for the three-year action plan.

About you

• Over 5 years managing or advising on international scholarship programs, specifically Australia Awards Policies.
• Proven experience collaborating with DFAT and senior government officials on aid program strategies.
• Track record of developing multi-year scholarship and higher education strategies in development contexts.
• Deep understanding of the Australian VET system, equity pathways, and higher education links.
• Demonstrated ability to embed gender equality, disability equity, and social inclusion principles into programs.
• Strong report-writing and analytical skills, with experience designing monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) frameworks.