Title: Knowledge Management and Communications Advisor, SPRING – Philippines

KEY INFORMATION

Job Title: Knowledge Management and Communications Advisor
Reports to: MEL Lead / DTL
Direct Reports: None
Location: Manila, Philippines
Duration: October 2026 – June 2027

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 is 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 Philippine 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 service.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The SPRING Program seeks to strengthen its knowledge management (KM) and communications function to improve knowledge capture, learning, collaboration, visibility, and engagement with partners and stakeholders.

Building on its existing Strategic Communications and Public Diplomacy Strategy, SPRING continues to strengthen its program implementation through Reform Pathways, expanded subnational engagement and grants, and the development of a Management Information System (MIS). These developments provide an opportunity to further strengthen strategic messaging and effectively communicate how SPRING’s work contributes to government-led policy and systems reforms.

SPRING is also further strengthening its KM systems and practices to support the systematic capture, synthesis, sharing, and use of evidence and learning across the Program. The MIS under development will help support these efforts by enabling effective internal knowledge sharing and the dissemination of relevant knowledge products to government and other partners.

To support these initiatives, SPRING will engage a Knowledge Management and Communications (KMC) Advisor to assess existing KM and communications practices and recommend practical improvements.

The KMC Advisor will work closely with the KMC Officer and MEL Team in, among others, reviewing the Program's Strategic Communications and Public Diplomacy Strategy, communication products and processes; evaluating current knowledge management practices, systems and workflows; and building the capacity of the Program team in knowledge management. The Advisor will also support in developing key messages and identifying appropriate communication approaches for the Program’s reform pathways.

The Advisor will also provide the SPRING team with coaching and knowledge transfer to support sustained implementation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Advisor will undertake, but not be limited to, the following activities:

1. Situational Assessment

• Review SPRING’s Strategic Communications and Public Diplomacy Strategy, branding guidelines, templates, and communication products against the Program's current strategic direction and approaches, particularly the Reform Pathways, subnational implementation, grants, and emerging knowledge management requirements.
• Review current knowledge management practices, including documentation, reporting, repositories, learning events, and knowledge-sharing mechanisms.
• Conduct consultations with program staff, DFAT and key stakeholders to identify strengths, gaps, opportunities, and priorities in communications and KM.
• Map existing and anticipated knowledge products and knowledge flows across reform pathways/themes and identify opportunities for improved capture, synthesis, dissemination and use.
• Benchmark current practices against good KM and communications practices for development programs.

2. Strategy Development

• Develop an integrated Knowledge Management and Communications Strategy that includes:

  • Strategic objectives

  • Target audiences

  • Key messages

  • Communications approach and channels

  • Knowledge management framework

  • Knowledge capture and documentation processes

  • Learning agenda and knowledge-sharing mechanisms

  • Roles and responsibilities

  • Governance arrangements

  • Annual implementation roadmap

  • Monitoring and evaluation framework, including KPIs

  • Risk management considerations

The Strategy should build on and update, rather than unnecessarily replace, SPRING's existing Strategic Communications and Public Diplomacy Strategy and clearly articulate how communications and KM support SPRING's Reform Pathways and policy and systems reform objectives.

The Strategy should include a refreshed messaging framework that translates SPRING's Theory of Change, EOPOs and Reform Pathways into clear and consistent messages for different audiences, including DFAT, government partners, subnational stakeholders and other external audiences.

The Strategy should also define how evidence and learning generated through Reform Pathways, subnational implementation, grants, research and MEL will be systematically captured, synthesized, and translated into appropriate knowledge and communications products. The Advisor will support the design and development of a practical KM platform, including its structure, content requirements and workflows, and work with the MEL and MIS teams to explore and support its integration into the SPRING MIS.

3. Systems and Process Improvement

Recommend practical improvements, including:

• Standard operating procedures for KM and communications

• Templates and standards for knowledge products

• Content development and approval workflows

• Knowledge repository structure

• Learning and knowledge-sharing processes (including capturing and reporting Most Significant Change)

• Editorial and content calendar

• Internal collaboration mechanisms

4. Capacity Building

• Facilitate consultation sessions on KM with the Program team and incorporate feedback into the final strategy. 

• Present findings and draft strategies of the assessments conducted for validation.

• Provide implementation recommendations and next steps.

• Facilitate brown bag sessions on KM 101 and other priority KMC topics identified through the assessment.

• Use a learning-by-doing approach, with the Advisor and KMC Officer jointly developing and initially implementing priority KMC systems, tools and products.

• Support the KMC Officer to progressively assume responsibility for implementation and management of the KMC Strategy and KM platform.

• Provide targeted KMC capacity-building support to other SPRING staff, particularly on their roles in knowledge capture and communications.

DELIVERABLES AND TIMELINES

QUALIFICATIONS AND Requirements

Education

• Master's degree or equivalent in Communications, Knowledge Management, Development Studies, Public Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field.

Minimum Experience

The Advisor should possess:

• At least 8–10 years of relevant experience in knowledge management, strategic communications, organizational learning, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience developing KM and communications strategies for donor-funded, government, or international development programs.
• Strong understanding of knowledge management frameworks, learning systems, and organizational change.
• Experience facilitating stakeholder consultations and strategy development workshops.
• Excellent analytical, writing, editing, and presentation skills.
• Experience working with government agencies and development partners is highly desirable.

Key Abilities

• Strategic thinking
• Knowledge management expertise
• Communications planning
• Stakeholder engagement
• Facilitation and workshop management
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Strong project management and organizational skills

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 – Knowledge Management and Communications Advisor” 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 that 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.