Team Leader, Disability Rights (TLAus4DisabilityRights)

Dili, Timor-Leste | Full-time | 1-year Fixed Term assignment

Position Summary

The Asia Foundation seeks a dynamic and values-driven team leader for the Timor-Leste Australia Partnership for Disability Rights (TLAus4DisabilityRights), funded by the Australian government. Reporting to The Asia Foundation’s country representative in Timor-Leste, the team leader is accountable for overall program management, performance, resources, and risk. The role facilitates Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and government of Timor-Leste leadership in the program’s governance, priority setting and accountability. The team leader represents the program, mobilises specialist expertise, and supports an inclusive and values-driven team. The team leader’s primary role is to support and influence rights-based, locally led and system-level change through partnership, policy dialogue, facilitation, coordination, and institutional strengthening. 

Key Responsibilities

The role includes the following high-level key responsibilities: 

• Strategic and Technical Leadership 
• Rights-based Leadership and Ways of Working 
• Governance, Risk, and Safeguarding 
• Team Leadership and People Management 
• Partnerships, Representation, and Communications 
• Program Quality Assurance and Delivery 

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualifications: Relevant postgraduate degree in disability, international development, human rights, public policy, social sciences, organisational development, management or related field. 

• Leadership/Management: Demonstrated senior leadership and program management experience in complex disability rights, inclusive development, civil society strengthening, governance or human development programs. Proven ability to lead and mentor multidisciplinary teams, manage competing priorities, and deliver results in complex operating environments. 

• Disability rights expertise: Technical depth to lead strategically across OPD movement strengthening, disability-specific services, rehabilitation, assistive technology, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities/ Disability National Action Plan implementation and disability-responsive government systems; including ability to mobilise and quality assure specialists, without expertise in every area. 

• Locally led partnerships: Proven ability to build, broker and sustain equitable, locally led partnerships, with strong facilitation, negotiation and relationship management skills and an approach that strengthens rather than substitutes for local leadership and systems. 

• Working with government and civil society: Demonstrated experience achieving organisational, policy or system-level change through complex multi-stakeholder partnerships with government institutions, civil society and other stakeholders. 

• Relationships and judgement: Exceptional interpersonal skills and proven experience developing and maintaining trusted relationships with senior government officials, civil society leaders, development partners and donors. 

• Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion:  Demonstrated experience working with diverse communities and stakeholders to strengthen equitable access, participation, and opportunities, including for women, persons with disabilities, and underserved populations, in ways that are responsive to local contexts.

• Safeguarding: Demonstrated commitment to safeguarding, prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, and creating a safe, inclusive and accountable organisational culture. 

• Evidence and reporting: Strong strategic and analytical skills, with experience in adaptive management and leading outcome-focused Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning, including using evidence and partner feedback to adjust program strategy and delivery. Strong communication, negotiation and representation skills, including high-quality, impactful reporting. 

• Timor-Leste: Strong understanding of Timor-Leste’s disability rights, government and civil society context. 

• Languages: Professional proficiency in English and Tetun, written and spoken. 

Desirable

• Lived experience of disability (highly desirable). 
• Working knowledge of and experience with Australian-funded or other donor-funded programs. 

A detailed position description is available in the following link: Position Description: Team Leader, Disability Rights

How to Apply: Visit us at Careers | The Asia Foundation or email [email protected] using the subject line: “Team Leader – Disability Rights”.  Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis.  Your application must include a CV, cover letter, and three (3) professional references, which may be contacted at the appropriate stage of the process with candidate notice and/or consent as required by applicable law. Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Application Deadline: November 11, 2026 at 5pm (Timor-Leste time)

Appointment, Work Authorization, and Employment Terms

This is an internationally recruited role based in Dili, Timor Leste. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply, and Timor Leste nationals and others with deep knowledge of the country are strongly encouraged to apply. The assignment is expected to last 12 months with the possibility of extension. The successful candidate must be able to obtain and maintain all required work authorization, visa, residency, and other approvals necessary to work in Timor Leste.

Compensation and benefits may differ based on the applicable appointment or assignment structure, work authorization, location, internal equity, applicable law, and organizational policy. Candidates may be eligible for relocation or international assignment benefits depending on appointment structure and individual eligibility.

All employees are expected to uphold the Foundation’s safeguarding, child protection, anti-harassment, anti-discrimination, and code of conduct policies. Any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory, role-appropriate reference checks and, where permitted by law, background checks conducted in accordance with applicable law, organizational policy, and any applicable funder requirements. Checks will be proportionate to the role and handled confidentially.

The Asia Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of any status protected by applicable law.

Applicants who require a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process may contact us by email at [email protected] or by phone at (+670) 331 3457.