Building & Maintenance Project Management Specialist

We’re looking for a Building & Maintenance Project Management Specialist who can live and volunteer for 12 months in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea.

• This assignment seeks to strengthen the knowledge and confidence of PNGIMR counterparts to manage building and maintenance projects through mentoring, coaching and practical knowledge transfer.
• To be considered for this role, you’ll need a degree, diploma or recognised qualification in Building, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Quantity Surveying, or a related field and relevant professional qualification or certification in construction or project management.
• As a volunteer, you will provide one-on-one mentoring and on-the-job coaching to the Building and Maintenance Supervisor in project planning, site supervision, contractor coordination and maintenance management.

About the partner organisation 

The Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research (PNGIMR) is the country’s national public health and medical research institute, established as a statutory body in 1968. Headquartered in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, PNGIMR has more than 400 staff working across multiple locations, including Madang, Port Moresby, Maprik (East Sepik), and Kokopo (East New Britain). Executive leadership, administrative teams, and three of the four core research units are based in Goroka.

PNGIMR’s mission is to conduct high-quality, evidence-based research into the causes, consequences, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of major health issues affecting Papua New Guinea. Its research informs government health policies and programs, supports healthcare providers, and contributes to global health knowledge. PNGIMR works closely with the Government of PNG, international research partners, the World Health Organization, and local communities to improve health outcomes nationally and globally.

The volunteer will work alongside the newly appointed Building and Maintenance Supervisor to provide mentoring, coaching and practical knowledge transfer in construction project management, project scoping, contractor coordination and preventative maintenance planning. The volunteer will also provide technical advice to the Manager of Infrastructure and Laboratories. The assignment responds to challenges in attracting and retaining experienced building professionals in Goroka and will focus on strengthening the skills and systems of existing PNGIMR staff rather than replacing local roles.



About the Australian Volunteers Program  

The Australian Volunteers Program is an Australian government-funded initiative. We support partner organisations across the Pacific, Asia, and Africa to achieve locally led change.  

Volunteers are supported throughout their volunteer journey. We actively support and encourage people of all backgrounds and abilities to volunteer and aim to make the program as accessible and inclusive as possible. If you have accessibility requirements, please contact us to discuss how we can support you to volunteer with us - [email protected]. Learn more about our commitment to inclusion.