KEY INFORMATION
 
Job Title: Subnational Program Manager
Sector: Program Management
Position Type: Full-time
Duration/Level of Effort: Long-Term
Position Location: SPRING Subnational Office (Indicative Provincial sites may include Occidental Mindoro, Leyte, Davao Oriental, Albay, Northern Samar, Agusan Del Norte)
 
 SUMMARY OF PROJECT
 
The DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) Social Protection, Inclusion and Gender equality (SPRING) program is Australia's flagship investment of support to the Philippine Government on Social Protection, Gender Equality, Disability, Social Inclusion and Indigenous Inclusion. It is an AUD 40 million investment over 5 years that will support the joint Development Partnership Plan (DPP 2024-2029) between the Government of Australia and the Philippine Government. The investment will be the DFAT's primary avenue in the Philippines for supporting poverty reduction and bilateral funding on gender equality and social inclusion at the national level and with some select Local Government Units (LGUs). SPRING supports efforts under Australia's new International Development Policy and DFAT's forthcoming new strategies on gender equality, disability equity and rights, and translate these into implementation in the Philippines.
 
SPRING contributes to the goal that the social and economic transformation in the Philippines reduces poverty and provides equal opportunities to all Filipinos in line with the Philippines Development Plan.
 
The objective of SPRING is that Australia works in partnership with the Philippine Government to improve systems and structures that reduce poverty and inequality and advance gender equality and the rights of people with disabilities.
SPRING has four mutually reinforcing End of Program Outcomes (EOPOs):
 

1. Philippine Government social protection plans, policies and programs increasingly close gaps in the social protection floor.
2. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and select LGU systems increasingly deliver quality social protection that is inclusive, gender and shock responsive, and climate sensitive.
3. The Philippine Government increasingly invests in gender responsive policies, plans, programs and systems.
4. The Philippine Government improves data, systems and targeting to enable people with disability and Indigenous Peoples improved access to targeted services.

 
SUMMARY OF POSITION
 
Reporting to the SPRING Subnational Activity Lead and working in close collaboration other members of the SPRING Program team, the Subnational Program Manager will lead and manage the work of the SPRING Subnational Office in selected locations to support select subnational governments in designing and implementing activities to: 1) strengthen the chain of service delivery from provincial to the municipal and barangay LGUs, and the information and feedback mechanisms between these levels of service delivery; 2) strengthen the gender-responsiveness and inclusiveness of local development policies, plans, budgets and services of LGUs in his/her assigned subnational area; 3) support greater climate sensitivity and shock- responsiveness of local governments' social protection, gender, disability, social inclusion, and service delivery mechanisms through enhanced systems, linkages with national programs, and anticipatory action, and 4) support leadership and agency of Indigenous Peoples (IP), and particularly of IP Women, in local planning and decision-making in LGUs with IP areas.
 
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
 
Technical Responsibilities:
 

1. Work closely with the Subnational Activity Lead, National SP Lead, National GEDSI Lead, and MEL Lead in designing and implementation SPRING subnational activities in their assigned areas.
2. Lead in and contribute to conduct of local Political Economy Analysis (PEA) of their assigned subnational LGUs and areas, and the follow up action on the same.
3. Provide strategic feedback to Subnational Activity Lead on program's focus in assigned subnational area and provide technical advice on social protection and local governance support approaches to the Subnational GEDSI Officer and the Subnational Office Team.
4. Maintain productive and responsive relationships with the subnational LGU, subnational-level government partner agencies, CSOs, implementing partners, development partners, other relevant organizations, and technical experts at subnational level.
5. Lead engagement with local governments (and civil society organisations (CSOs) where required) in their assigned areas to conduct opportunity-driven research and pilot projects that inform national policies, plans and programs, in line with the SPRING strategy and work plan and in coordination with the Subnational Activity Lead and members of the SPRING Program Team.
6. Provide support to the program performance measurement of governance outcomes and learning with a particular focus on subnational government systems strengthening, improvements in service delivery and promoting inclusion and equity, in assigned subnational areas.
7. Participate in and lead (at subnational level) aspects of SPRING's learning dialogues/program reviews and reflections.
8. Work closely with SPRING advisers and specialists to ensure all activities and engagements include consideration of GEDSI, MERL and Communications.
9. Support relationship management with subnational LGUs and subnational offices of SPRING national government agency partners.
10. Support preparation of technical materials as inputs to SPRING Technical Working Group (TWG) and Steering Committee Meetings, when needed.

 
Operational Responsibilities:
 

1. Oversee the planning and delivery of SPRING Program activities in selected LGUs in his/her assigned subnational area.
2. Work closely with the Deputy Team Leader (DTL) and SPRING Operations Team to establish and maintain the SPRING subnational office in his/her assigned area.
3. Oversee management of subnational team members, consultants, and activities at the subnational level as needed, including work scoping, contract management, quality assurance of deliverables, and MERL, GEDSI and communication requirements.
4. Lead and/or quality assure all technical outputs and deliverables relating to SPRING subnational activities in his/her assigned area.
5. Contribute to sections of overarching SPRING deliverables (e.g. annual work plans and annual / six monthly reports) as they relate to the subnational work.
6. Ensure a coordinated to planning and delivery of subnational activities so that these complement other relevant LGU activities as well as of DFAT, other donor-funded programs (e.g. the DFAT SHIELD program implemented by UNDP; European Union and USAID programs in participatory and inclusive planning at the LGU level), and Philippine government programs
7. Other duties as requested by the Supervisor.

 
REQUIREMENTS
 
Education
 

• A Bachelor's Social Work, Social Development, Community Development, Public Administration, Gender Studies, or other relevant fields in social sciences. Completion of post-graduate studies or units on the above is preferred.

 
Minimum Experience
 

• With at least 7-10 years of relevant professional experience in program design and implementation management, project management, local governance, policy development, and program monitoring and evaluation.
• Technical specialization and experience in the following governance areas: social protection, public service delivery/governance in social sectors; public financial management; public administration; decentralization and subnational government; monitoring and evaluation and political economy analysis.
• Demonstrated experience in working with the Philippine government agencies such as the DSWD, DILG, PCW, NCDA, and NCIP, and with provincial and municipal LGUs on social protection, gender, disability, social inclusion, and social welfare and development and basic service delivery policies, programs and activities. Experience working with donor-funded programs, and particularly DFAT, would be an advantage.
• Proven experience in implementing programs on social protection, gender equality, disability and social inclusion particularly promoting inclusion of women, PWDs and IPs in local government programs, would be an advantage.
• Experience in supporting and delivering social protection and GEDSI capacity building trainings for government partners and stakeholders to ensure GEDSI is integrated and promoted in activities.

 
Key Abilities
 

• Demonstrated ability to apply understanding of social protection, gender equality, disability and social inclusion programs, policies and systems in local governance.
• Understanding of local government system and GEDSI related PPAs at LGUs level.
• Proficiency in GEDSI-responsive governance strategies across social protection sector, gender and development, disability and indigenous peoples' groups in the Philippine context.
• Demonstrated effective collaboration work and influence partners most especially local government officials and technical staff in various capacity under GEDSI engagements.
• Strong computer skills including MS Office (Word, Excel, PPT, Outlook, and SharePoint).
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and lead teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines while being able to adapt to evolving needs of the programs as projects, and in responding to government partners with ease.
• With highly developed problem-solving skills, and ability to identify and manage risks, and analyze, plan and develop appropriate responses to complex situations, and highly developed problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication skills, including proficiency in written and oral English and Filipino.
• Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of GEDSI principles, with knowledge or experience in promoting gender equality, disability, and social inclusion especially within adaptive programs like SPRING. This includes a clear understanding of and practical experience in safeguarding, particularly in the context of child protection (CP) and Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH), with the ability to integrate safeguarding measures into program implementation.
• Compliance to DFAT policies on fraud control, financing terrorism, child protection and other social safeguards

 
APPLICATION PROCESS
 
This is a rolling recruitment. Applications will be reviewed and vetted sequentially as they are received. We encourage interested individuals to apply as early as possible.
 
For your application to be considered, please upload your documents as follows: Candidate Last Name, First Name, date, Title of the Position.
Please send your cover letter addressing the position selection criteria and CV with name and contact details (phone and email) of three professional referees to hr@springphilippines.org mentioning the position you are applying for in the subject line "SPRING Subnational Program Manager" or apply online.
 
Women, persons with a disability and Indigenous Peoples are highly encouraged to apply.
 
Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law. Persons with disabilities may send a request for reasonable accommodation to participate in the recruitment process to hr@springphilippines.org.
 
Cowater International adheres to the highest standards of protection of children and vulnerable adults in the delivery of programs and services. Cowater is committed to the prevention of sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination.
Cowater International upholds standards of ethical conduct and has zero tolerance against fraud and bribery.
Prior to any offer of employment, applicants will be subject to appropriate background checks.
 
We thank all applicants, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.
 
ABOUT US
 
Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila, Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International has successfully delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95 countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, environmental improvements and advance equal opportunities for all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies since 2017.
 
We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow with Cowater International.