Program Manager Wetlands International Philippines (Philippines national, only)

IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

Among its global strategy objectives Wetlands International is working on integrated disaster risk reduction through climate change adaptation and environment management and restoration. In the Philippines this is done in partnership with Netherlands and Philippines Red Cross, CARE, Cordaid and Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre (Partners for Resilience), e.g in the Agusan River Basin. The organization is also assisting the local government in Tacloban together with Philippines Red Cross and Dutch engineering companies in increasing costal community resilience associated with flooding. In addition, it has a long-standing collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on the conduct and coordination of annual global water bird monitoring. Wetlands International is implementing this program through a Philippines-based technical expert who is managing these projects and represents the organization.         

Starting 2016 Wetlands International, with the Partners for Resilience, will engage in a new five year Strategic Partnership with the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, implementing a program on Integrated Risk Management in eight countries including the Philippines. Focus of this program will be on capacity building of civil society to influence policy development, investments and ‘DRR practices’ and advocate for ‘Integrated Risk Management’ (IRM). Wetlands International will mainly focus on landscape level approaches to IRM, potential risk-impacts of investments and sectoral policies, and promote ecosystem-based solutions.   

As the Wetlands International project portfolio in the Philippines is growing, the organization needs a larger in-country presence and aims now to recruit a Program Manager and two-three technical officers who will implement the Wetlands International Philippines program  part of Strategic Partnership on ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction.

Overall Purpose of the Job

The Program Manager will be responsible to implement the new Strategic Partnership program in the Philippines, consolidate hosting and other institutional arrangements and recruit and lead the new Wetlands International Philippines team.   

Responsibilities and tasks

With support and guidance of the Wetlands International Head Office and the WI-Philippines technical expert and country representative, this person will:

• Manage and implement the ‘Partners for Resilience’ Strategic Partnership and program including  lobby & advocacy and civil society capacity building   

• Develop and maintain strategic partnership with Netherlands Embassy

• Supervise the implementation of the full project portfolio of Wetlands International in the Philippines in collaboration with the current Wetlands International technical expert

• Develop and consolidate hosting and other institutional arrangements needed to establish Wetlands International in the Philippines

• Recruit technical and support staff and manage the new Wetlands International Philippines team

• Develop and maintain a stakeholder network of relevant NGOs, governments and corporates and advocate for and influence policies on  ecosystem/landscape level where relevant;

Identify and develop new project opportunities for Wetlands International in the Philippines aligned with the Strategic Intent of the global organization.

Profile

The successful candidate is an experienced policy and advocacy specialist with proven program management skills able to bring people and interests together to develop new opportunities. S/he has a proven track record of policy and advocacy works, preferably with a strong environmental focus and a good understanding of the NGO, government and corporate world which is complemented with a relevant network. S/he has a good understanding of wetlands issues at all relevant scales. S/he is well able to profile Wetlands International as an authority in wetlands issues. 

Essential Requirements

The successful candidate needs to meet the following requirements:

• Advanced university degree and working experience of minimum 8 years in environmental policy or management, with a strong and proven interest  on integrated water resource management, disaster risk reduction, biodiversity and/or related fields (land-use)

• Strong social, networking and diplomatic skills and experience in policy dialogues at different government levels and corporates (to be proven by track record)

• Knowledgeable of current policies and practices related to wetlands and disaster management in the Philippines

• Good speaker: able to convince a variety of audiences of the benefits of ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction

• Substantial track record in timely and successful program and project management

• Human resource management skill withtrack record in team building

• Philippines national

• Full proficiency in English

• To be based in the Metro Manila area

• Willingness to travel regularly in-country and irregularly internationally.

Preferred Skills

• Facilitation and training skills

• An extensive network among civil society and science-based organizations working on environmentaldevelopment issues in the Philippines

• Prior experience in working for or managing a national branch of an international organization.

We Offer

• A competitive salary with benefits

• An opportunity to be involved in innovative partnerships between global and Philippine-based humanitarian, climate and environmental organizations

• Opportunity to expand experience regarding ecosystem management and rehabilitation in an interdisciplinary manner

• Opportunity to become engaged with and represent the global organization Wetlands International at the Philippines level.

To apply

Send your motivation letter & CV detailing your experience in the above areas to Silva Paronakian

e-mail: silva.paronakian@wetlands.org Please mark in the subject: “Application Program Manager WI-Philippines” The closing date is 6 January 2016.

For more information please contact Marie-Jose Vervest Program Manager Community Resilience

e-mail: marie-jose.vervest@wetlands.org