Title: Procurement Officer, SPRING – Philippines

KEY INFORMATION

Job Title: Procurement Officer

Reports to: Senior Manager Program Services, with a dotted reporting line to the Senior Finance Manager

Direct Reports: None

Location: Manila, Philippines

Duration: One year, renewable annually based on performance and program needs.

SUMMARY OF THE 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 THE POSITION

Reporting to the Senior Manager Program Services, with a dotted reporting line to the Senior Finance Manager, the Procurement Officer will provide additional procurement capacity for SPRING as the program expands its national and subnational implementation footprint. The role will work closely with the existing Procurement Officer to jointly plan the division of labour, prioritise procurement requests, support timely and compliant delivery, and ensure procurement functions as an enabling service for technical, grants, operations and finance teams. The position will support procurement planning, sourcing, contracting, asset and inventory processes, and procurement tracking in accordance with SPRING policies and procedures, DFAT requirements, and applicable Commonwealth Procurement Rules principles.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Overall responsibility for procurement of goods and services following SPRING procurement policies and procedures:

• Work closely with the existing Procurement Officer to agree and document a practical division of labour, coordinate workplans, monitor workload, and prioritise procurement actions based on program risk, urgency, value, and operational need.

• Provide procurement advice and practical support to technical, operations, finance and grants teams to translate activity requirements into realistic procurement plans, timelines and documentation.

• Ensure consistent value for money spent and consistent level of service by suppliers

• Prepare request for tenders / proposals, manage the process of tender, and negotiate with suppliers

• Prepare Purchase / Service Orders (PO) and process the administrative and financial evaluation of received offers. Finalize procurement processes with drafting of vendor purchase / service orders / contracts and submit them for approval to the supervisor.

• Follow up on orders with suppliers to expedite timely delivery of the goods/services ordered.

• Conduct and administer supplier evaluation reports.

• Participate in market research for new types of available services and goods. 

• Contribute to the maintenance of relevant product and supplier catalogues, monitor local advertisements.

• Maintain contracts and supplier database.

• Prepare plans for the purchase of general service and office supplies 

• Maintain and update SPRING procurement management files and system.

• Support the Senior Manager Program Services and Deputy Team Leader to prepare, update and monitor quarterly and annual procurement plans, including procurement pipelines, approval schedules, market engagement timelines, and related internal coordination processes.

• Support the launch and implementation of the subnational CSO grant fund by working with the Grants Manager and Grants Officers on grant-related procurement, due diligence inputs, procurement planning, supplier engagement, and documentation required for grantee-facing or program-managed procurement processes.

• Provide procurement support to newly established subnational offices in Occidental Mindoro (MIMAROPA), Leyte (Region 8), and Davao Oriental (Region 11), including office establishment and fit-out, supplier identification, local market assessments, activity delivery procurement, and tracking of subnational procurement needs.

• Perform any other task assigned by the Senior Manager Program Services to ensure efficient program implementation

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in any related field

Minimum Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years progressive experience in procurement, operations, grants support or professional services administration, preferably with a development partner such as DFAT, and an international development program. Experience should include procurement planning, preparation and administration of vendor contracts, monitoring of goods and services procurements, supplier management, and program asset management.

• Experience supporting geographically dispersed teams, field offices, grants programs or activity delivery outside Manila will be highly regarded.

Essential Skills:

• Strong time management and organizational skills with attention to detail

• Demonstrated initiative and ability to anticipate procurement needs, plan strategically, prioritise competing requests, and keep managers and requestors informed of risks, bottlenecks and required decisions.

• Ability to work collaboratively with another Procurement Officer, finance colleagues, technical teams and grants personnel to allocate responsibilities, manage peaks in workload, and maintain service standards.

• Understanding of DFAT requirements, value-for-money principles, probity, transparency and the Commonwealth Procurement Rules, or demonstrated willingness and ability to quickly learn and apply these requirements.

• Flexible, practical and solutions-oriented approach to procurement, with the judgement to support technical team requirements while maintaining compliance, appropriate documentation, value for money, and sound risk management.

• Willingness and ability to travel to subnational program locations, including Occidental Mindoro, Leyte and Davao Oriental, as required for office establishment, supplier engagement, procurement monitoring and activity delivery support.

• High level of integrity, confidentiality in handling public resources

• Computer literacy in standard software such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint, etc.) is mandatory

• Proficiency in 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

Candidates are encouraged to apply by 14 August 2026. This is an ongoing, rolling recruitment, and candidates may be reviewed before and leading up to the deadline.

For your application to be considered, please upload or submit your documents using the following file naming format: Candidate Last Name, First Name, date, Title of the Position.

Please send your cover letter addressing the position selection criteria and CV with the name and contact details of three professional referees to hr@springphilippines.org, mentioning the position you are applying for in the subject line: “SPRING Procurement Officer”.

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.