SUMMARY
As the Asia Pacific region continues to gain attention for possessing some of the most biodiverse, culturally rich, carbon-dense, and strategic areas related to combatting climate change, the pressure to develop and execute projects and programs that deliver comprehensive and impactful outputs continues to grow. Implementing country and field programs, recognize the need to strengthen our approach and processes related to program and project design, management, and implementation. Providing strategic design, strategy, and support for various programs and/or projects not only strengthens CI’s ability to deliver results, but also increases capacity across the Asia Pacific Field Division (APFD) while ensuring increased competitive advantage for large funding opportunities.
To address these demands, the Chief Field Officer for the Asia Pacific Field Division has established a core team to focus on three areas – design, strategy, and development – in support of the APFD’s strategic outcomes for the next five years:
- Accountability: Increased accountability through measurable and repeatable programs/projects and systems
- Funding: Programs are driven by strategic priorities and impact (not by donors)
- Teams: Teams have capabilities and expertise to learn, adapt, and deliver impact
Team responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the development of a regional strategy; the design of a framework for developing country level strategies that can also be adapted for specific program and/or project development; the design of a regional monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive learning (MEAL) approach; a regional development and fundraising strategy; and other priorities as identified by the Chief Field Officer. To deliver on the above, this team will work closely with each APFD country program and with CI global program teams as needed.
At this time, the team is comprised of the following four roles, with additional roles/staff added if/as needed.
- Senior Manager, Executive Assistant, Chief Field Officer Team, APFD
- Senior Director, Design, APFD
- Director, Development, APFD
- Senior Manager, Strategy, APD
The Senior Director, Design will lead design for APFD regional initiatives and provide direct design and development support to each APFD program. They will also provide project management and/or technical assistance for priority/high-profile programs and/or projects as identified by the Chief Field Officer. He/she will also work closely with the Senior Manager, Strategy on the development and implementation of regional and country strategies as well as with the Director, Development on the design of a fundraising and partnership engagement strategy. This position reports to the Chief Field Officer, APFD.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Chief Field Office Team
- Lead strategic design for APFD programs utilizing different design thinking and systems change approaches to focus on the development of comprehensive programs and/or projects that aim to deliver quality and measurable impact.
- Provide direct support to programs and teams by guiding project and/or program design for specific opportunities and/or interventions. Utilize learnings from across the region to promote adaptive design, management, and delivery to ensure effective and efficient success and impact.
- Work closely with the Senior Manager, Strategy on the design and development of regional and country level strategies as well as programmatic strategy development to ensure alignment across the regional as well as CI’s institutional mission and Southern Cross.
- Work closely with the Director, Development on the design and development of a fundraising and partnership engagement strategy at a regional level. Specifically providing support to this individual, and country programs as needed, on Private Sector engagement and management.
- Ensure the integration of priorities and alignment across the Chief Field Office team.
- Aim to ensure the work of the Chief Field Office helps improve capacity within APFD programs and effectively strengthens teams capabilities and delivery.
- 2. Conservation Program Directors Group (CPDG)
- Lead a small regional team to support the integration and alignment of programs across APFD as well as to drive more efficient progress towards delivery and achieving impact.
- Lead team coordination and delivery in relation to a primary focus of this group – the review and feedback process to regional leadership on applications submitted to internal funding programs (the Natural Climate Solutions Technical Assistance Facility, the Blue Economy Accelerator, etc.).
3. Program/Project Management and Implementation
- Provide direct project management for priority/high-profile projects – including the development and implementation of workplans, budgets, staffing plans, M&E systems, etc.
- Participate in project implementation support work including planning workshops, kick-off events, quarterly/annual partner meetings, and spot checks to identify potential risks and opportunities for support to field teams.
- Provide leadership or guidance on the development and management of strategies and workstreams related to sustainable agriculture, commodities, and livelihoods within projects, programs, and/or country strategies.
- Provide strategic intervention and support to field teams on adaptive management and learning throughout project lifecycle as needed.
- Provide programmatic backstopping for field programs to advance important relationships and opportunities.
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assumes responsibility for ad-hoc topics as assigned by Chief Field Officer, APFD from time to time.
PEOPLE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
- This position can represent CI externally, lead projects, and manage partnerships with leading stakeholders; convene and lead meetings with partner organizations, CI staff from other divisions, and to engage directly with CI field programs; and to manage and commit budget resources as well as supervise employees and/or interns if required.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required Education and Experience
- Postgraduate degree (Masters and/or PhD) in a field related to conservation and international development required.
- 10+ years of working experience within environmental conservation sector and/or international development sector is required. Additional experience with private sector as related to sustainability, finance, or other conservation-related aspects (social/human rights, etc.) is preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to manage projects or initiatives that involve multiple internal and external stakeholders across private and public sectors and civil society organizations.
- Proven ability to work effectively across cultures and regions.
- Proven ability in establishing and managing successful collaborations.
- Proven ability to develop proposals, budgets and workplans.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, writing, and management skills, with a high level attention to detail and an ability to identify strategic priorities, issues, and solutions.
- Demonstrated ability to embrace the mission and strategies of Conservation International.
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Position requires travel to field locations, CI offices (country offices and HQ), partner facilities, and partner workshops and/or conferences.
- Position is located where necessary to provide intensive project and/or program design and start-up support to drive achievement of outcomes and impact. Singapore will serve as the base for this role at least for the first year given it is the current base for the Chief Field Officer, APFD.
