Assistant Program Officer – Initiatives for Advancing Community Transformation (I-ACT) Project

THE ASIA FOUNDATION PHILIPPINES

Position Description

TITLE: Assistant Program Officer – I-ACT Project

UNIT: Philippine Office

REPORTS TO: Chief of Party

SUPERVISES: N/A

SUMMARY OF JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The Initiatives for Advancing Community Transformation (“I-ACT”) project is a 5-year project implemented by The Asia Foundation (“the Foundation”) with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). I-ACT aims to promote positive changes in public attitudes towards human rights and the rule of law using behavior change and evidence-based initiatives. To achieve scale and sustain impact, the Project will roll out a Small Grants Program to provide small grants to organizations implementing campaigns and initiatives in the Project’s geographic priority areas.

I-ACT is seeking applications for the position of Assistant Program Officer (“APO”) who will support the Law and Human Rights Unit, specifically the I-ACT Project in grants management and monitoring, as well as various tasks related to project budget, administration, logistics, and monitoring. The successful recruit is also expected to closely coordinate and liaise with I-ACT’s partner organizations, consultants, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment with program objectives, timely delivery of outputs, and compliance with the Foundation’s rules on expenditures and overall program management. S/he is also expected to coordinate with the Foundation’s Finance, Sub-awards and Audit, and Administration unit on all logistical, administrative, and financial aspects of program and grants management related to I-ACT.

Internal

• Extensive interaction with members and consultants of the I-ACT Project, the Law and Human Rights Unit, as well as with the Foundation’s operational units in Finance, Sub-Awards and Audit, and other Support Services

External

• Extensive interaction with the Foundation’s implementing partner organizations, consultants, subgrantees, target beneficiaries, and other stakeholders

REQUIREMENTS

Education

Graduate of a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in social sciences, development studies, communication, and social psychology.

Experience

• Must have at least (1) one year relevant experience in program management and monitoring and evaluation in an International Non-Government Organization (INGO) or NGO setting

• Must have excellent oral and written skills

• Must be proficient in in MS Office, spreadsheets, and database management

• Must have strong time management skills and professional organizational abilities

• Must have initiative, strong attention to detail, and ability to multi-task within tight timelines

• Must be able to take direction and work independently under general supervision

• The following qualifications are preferred:

  • Experience in grants and/or grants financial management
  • Involvement and/or knowledge of the Philippine human rights community and/or non-profit organizations
• • Knowledge of international donor agency requirements and regulations
    – Experience working with the Foundation

JOB FUNCTIONS

Grants Management and Monitoring

• Draft, review, and monitor Letters of Grant, Letters of Amendment, Letters of Contract, and correspondence related to I-ACT;
• Review implementing partners’, sub-grantees’, and consultants’ budget proposals and financial reports;
• Monitor milestone delivery, reporting schedules, and due dates of consultants’ and sub-grantees’ outputs under Contracts and Sub-Awards Agreement;
• Provide support to implementing partners and sub-grantees to discuss and resolve finance, procurement, contracting, risk, compliance, and other budget related issues;

Project Budget and Administration

• Coordinate and liaise with the Project’s partner organizations, consultants, sub-grantees, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment with program objectives, timely delivery of outputs, and compliance with the Foundation’s rules on expenditures and overall program management;
• Provide administrative and logistical assistance to project activities (e.g., travel arrangements, events/training/workshop organizing and management);
• Collect the Quarterly Activity Logs and compile for quarterly reporting;
• Undertake monitoring visits to project partners to assess and ensure that activities are conducted as planned (subject to COVID-19 protocols);
• Attend activities of subgrantees and draft reports thereon;
• Track project expenditures and targets;
• Mentor partner organizations in financial and narrative reporting and in other related areas;
• Contribute to the Project’s quarterly and annual reporting;
• Manage the filing systems of the Law and Human Rights Unit (i.e., Consultant’s contracts, Sub-Awards Agreements) in both electronic and physical forms;

Other Responsibilities

• Provide support to other on-going programs and activities of the Foundation as may be necessary and as requested by programs concerned
• Perform such other functions as may be directed by the Chief of Party, Social Behavior Change Advisor, or Program Officer

Other details:

• Work to commence by 1 March 2022
• Applicant should have no other work engagement (i.e., full time) and is willing to be based in Mandaluyong City

The Asia Foundation is an equal employment opportunity employer, and encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, national origin, color or to other non-work related factors. Support will be provided to persons with disabilities in the recruitment process.

Only shortlisted applicants will be called for an interview.