| Title | Program Officer for Mindanao (Makati City-based) |
| Monthly Salary | PhP 60,000.00 to 65,000.00 (gross) |
| Allowances and Benefits | 1. Mandatory government contributions 2. Insurances (life, accident, and health) 3. Sick leave conversion 4. Monthly allowance 5. Annual clothing allowance |
| Duty Station | On-site reporting in Makati, with occasional field work in project sites |
| Deadline for Applications | June 7, 2024 |
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION:
Forest Foundation Philippines (doing business as Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTFCF), Inc.) is a non-stock, non-profit, nongovernmental organization that provides grants and technical assistance to organizations and individuals that empower the people to protect and conserve the forests. The Foundation was established in 2002 to manage conservation funds by virtue of two bilateral agreements between the governments of the Philippines and the United States of America.
BACKGROUND:
To effectively manage the Fund, the Foundation crafted its medium-term strategy, the Results Framework 2017-2021. Under this framework, the Foundation supported over 300 projects that focused on the protection and sustainable management of its four focal landscapes: the Sierra Madre, Palawan, Samar and Leyte, and Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental. These projects helped restore 1,243 ha of forests, improved the management of over 1 million ha of forestlands, empowered 211 community-based organizations, and supported 108 community-level livelihoods.
For 2022-2027, the Foundation continues its mission with a new direction for its strategy. Under the new medium-term Results Framework, the Foundation will continue employing a sustainable forest landscape approach. Through this, the Foundation will work with partners to protect and sustainably manage the forests for water, land, and biodiversity, while also fostering forest-related climate action. The Foundation and its partners will seek to achieve four immediate outcomes:
- Enhanced forested landscapes that provide multiple ecosystem goods and services;
- Improved multi-stakeholder engagement through sustainable livelihoods and incentives;
- Strengthened cross-sectoral partnerships for sustainable forest management; and
- Enhanced knowledge management and strategic communications.
The Foundation’s work in Mindanao will also continue in the forested landscape of Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental, given the remaining significant blocks of forest cover and its provisions for ecosystem services to forests dependent-communities, crossing political boundaries and economies. Moreover, the Foundation will extend support to develop thematic forest conservation programs in Lanao Del Sur and select landscapes within the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor (EMBC) that will result in mainstreaming climate change adaptation in watershed management and characterization of Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs). With this, the Foundation will need a Program Officer for Mindanao.
JOB SPECIFICATION:
Duties and Responsibilities
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Program Officer for Mindanao will lead the implementation of the Foundation’s forest conservation program in the aforementioned areas, coordinating with Foundation team, partners, and stakeholders. The Program Officer will:
- Act as the key focal point within the Foundation to ensure that all programming, financial, and administrative matters related to the projects in Mindanao are transparently, expediently, and effectively managed;
- Provide direction and leadership in advocating project objectives, and ensuring that relevant stakeholders are well-informed about the projects, activities, and plans at the landscape level;
- Provide overall coordination of project outcomes for Mindanao by ensuring the quality of outputs and results with optimal monitoring mechanisms;
- Ensure coordination with the Program team and Project Officers, and effective communication and coordination among the partners, grantees, and key stakeholders of the Foundation;
- Ensure the timely preparation and submission of landscape-level annual work plans in accordance to the Results Framework and realities in the ground, semi-annual progress and financial reports, and project-end reports;
- In coordination with the Project Officers, prepare proposals, reports, and other relevant project-related documents, including substantive correspondence, for resource mobilization and partnership-building;
- Assist in the development of the Foundation’s gender mainstreaming strategy and ensure the mainstreaming of gender in all projects;
- Represent the Foundation, as required, in meetings with relevant government agencies, development partners, private sector, and civil society organizations;
- Endeavor to build professional relationships with local, district, and regional authorities, and community leaders, development partners, and community-based organizations to ensure the full participation of a broad spectrum of stakeholders in the identification, planning, and execution of project activities; and
- Perform other duties that may be required by the Executive Director and the Program team of the Foundation.
Required Qualifications, Experiences, and Competencies:
The position requires work that is conceptual, analytical, and advisorial, in relation to community-based natural resource management. The position also requires substantive coordination and innovation. The applicant should possess the following:
- At least five years of progressive experience in project development, implementation and/or management, including monitoring and evaluation activities, and development of annual work plans and budgets;
- Relevant work experience/s in any of the following: natural resources management; forest protection and restoration; environmental policies; capacity and partnership-building; sustainable forest-based livelihoods and/or community enterprises; and community organizing, particularly with IPs in Mindanao;
- Master’s degree or equivalent in areas related to natural resources management, environmental conservation/management, agro/forestry, ecology, economic/rural/community development, social sciences and related fields;
- Problem-solving skills;
- Team player, but can work independently;
- Excellent communication skills;
- Fluency in local language(s);
- Genuine commitment to the environment and community; and
- Familiarity and/or previous work experience in any of the following areas: Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Sur, and/or the EMBC.
DURATION AND PLACES OF WORK:
The Program Officer for Mindanao post is a regular position. There will be a six-month probation period prior to regularization. The individual contract will be reconfirmed annually by the Executive Director.
The Program Officer will be based in Forest Foundation Philippines’ office in Makati City, with regular travel and work in the Mindanao project sites.
COMPENSATION:
The Program Officer will receive a compensation commensurate with qualifications and professional experience. Basic salary will range from PhP 60,000.00 to 65,000.00 (gross) monthly. Benefits will include mandatory government contributions, insurance (life, accident, and health), sick leave conversion, monthly allowance, and clothing allowance.
As an employer, the Foundation offers:
- Clear, engaging, and empowering work assignments
- Dynamic and enabling learning environment
- Transparent and agile performance management
- Collaborative, capable, and sustainable teams and leadership
- Holistic staff well-being initiatives
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Interested applicants are requested to send an application to Atty. Jose Andres Canivel, Executive Director through admin@forestfoundation.ph on or before June 7, 2024. Indicate “Program Officer for Mindanao” as the subject of the email.
Applicants shall submit the following through email:
- One-page letter of intent, addressed to Atty. Jose Andres Canivel, Executive Director;
- Curriculum vitae (at most 5 pages only); and
- List of at least three character references.
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted by the Foundation.