| Title | Project Officer for Mindanao |
| Monthly Salary | PhP 40,000 – 45,000 (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 | Mindanao (site-based), with occasional office work in Makati City |
| Deadline for Applications | January 24, 2025 |
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 Mt. Hilong-Hilong Range in 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 two (2) Project Officers for Mindanao.
JOB SPECIFICATION:
Duties and Responsibilities:
Reporting to the Coordinator for Southern Philippines, the Project Officers will provide technical support in ensuring timely and effective delivery and implementation of projects and activities in the forested landscape in Mindanao. The Project Officers will:
- Identify potential partners and stakeholders in Mindanao’s focal landscapes;
- Provide technical guidance to project proponents in the various stages of the project development process;
- Review and evaluate project proposals submitted to the Foundation, and as applicable, recommend actions for adjustments in the design and budget to align with the Forest Foundations’ goals and objectives;
- Provide support in the development and implementation of the Foundation’s program strategies for Mindanao;
- Provide inputs in identifying potential risks and help establish a plan that will mitigate them;
- Ensure optimal monitoring mechanisms for the timely implementation and delivery of quality outputs/results of the projects funded by Forest Foundation;
- As applicable, provide timely, clear, and actionable feedback to the Grantees for the improvements of their projects;
- Maintain and strengthen partnerships and networks with the relevant stakeholders in the landscape;
- As Mindanao-based staff, establish effective coordination, monitoring, information sharing, and reporting systems, consistent with the Foundation’s policies and guidelines;
- Submit periodical reports to the Foundation on the status of programs/projects and strategy implementation in the landscape;
- Represent the Foundation in relevant meetings and multi-stakeholder project updating; and
- Perform other duties that may be required by the Executive Director, supervisor, and the Program team of the Foundation.
Required Qualifications, Experiences, and Competencies:
The position requires work that is conceptual and advisorial, in relation to community-based natural resource management. The position also requires substantive coordination and relationship-building with key stakeholders. The applicant should possess the following:
- At least three (3) years of proven practical experiences supporting field-based projects/programs related to any of the following: natural resources management; forest protection and restoration; local policy development; capacity development and strengthening of CSOs; partnership-building; sustainable livelihoods or community enterprises; or community organizing particularly with IPs in Mindanao;
- An undergraduate degree in a course related to Forestry, Environmental Science, Biodiversity, Natural Resource Management, and/or Community/Rural Development. A relevant postgraduate degree will be an advantage;
- Currently residing in Mindanao, with a network of local CSOs that work on forest conservation and natural resource management. Previous work experience in Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Sur, and/or the EMBC will be an advantage;
- Strong networking and problem-solving skills;
- Can work independently, but also a team player;
- Able to do work in project sites, interacting with regional, provincial, municipal, and community stakeholders with minimum supervision;
- Excellent communication skills;
- Fluency in Bisaya and other local language(s) used in Mindanao; and
- Genuine commitment to the environment and community.
DURATION AND PLACES OF WORK:
The Project Officer for Mindanao post is a two-year, fixed-term position. The engagement may be extended depending on the needs of the Foundation and the partners in the landscape. There will be a six-month probation period prior to regularization. The individual contract will be reconfirmed annually by the Executive Director.
The Project Officer will be home-based, preferably in the Foundation’s focal landscapes in Mindanao, with regular travel to the project sites. Physical reporting to the Forest Foundation Philippines’ office in Makati City may be scheduled from time to time.
COMPENSATION:
The Project Officers will receive a compensation commensurate with qualifications and professional experience. Basic salary will range from PhP 40,000.00 to 45,000.00 (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 and capable teams and leadership
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Interested applicants are requested to send an application to Atty. Jose Andres Canivel, Executive Director through admin@forestfoundation.ph on or before January 24, 2025. Indicate “Project Officer for Mindanao” as the subject of the email.
Applicants shall submit the following through email:
- One-page letter of intent showcasing the fitness for the post, addressed to Atty. Jose Andres Canivel, Executive Director;
- Curriculum vitae (at most 3 pages only); and
- List of at least three character references.
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted by the Foundation.