POSITION TITLE: SGP Project Manager
DURATION OF CONTRACT: 12 months (renewable upon positive evaluation)
DUTY STATION: Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
REPORTING TO: Director, Programmes Department
TERMS OF REFERENCE
A. BACKGROUND
The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), established in 2005, is ASEAN’s response to the challenge of biodiversity loss. It is an intergovernmental organisation that facilitates cooperation and coordination among the ASEAN Member States (AMS) and with regional and international organisations on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of such natural treasures.
The Small Grants Programmes (SGP) by the ACB is a Financial Cooperation with the Federal Republic of Germany through KfW (German Development Bank) that aims to protect biological diversity in and around the ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHPs) in line with the interests of the local population. After two successful phases, KfW, in collaboration with the European Union (EU), extended its support to a third SGP phase (SGP III).
The goal of the SGP III is to strengthen biodiversity conservation and management of natural resources in line with the basic needs of the local population in the ASEAN region, and improve the livelihoods of communities in and around prioritised AHPs in Cambodia, the Philippines, Viet Nam, and Lao PDR.
The ACB is seeking dynamic, innovative, and committed candidates for the position of SGP Project Manager, who will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the project. The SGP Project Manager will be accountable to the Director of the Programmes Department, under the supervision of the Director of Sustainable Use, and Access and Benefit-Sharing Division.
B. SCOPE OF DUTIES
Under the supervision of the Programmes Department Director and the Sustainable Use, and Access and Benefit-Sharing (SUABS) Division Director, the SGP Project Manager shall havethe following duties and responsibilities.
- Project Management
- Manage the overall implementation of the project
- Lead in coordinating with the SGP project management team, international consultants, and the implementing partners;
- Ensure that changes are controlled, and challenges are addressed and accepted within the ASEAN and the KfW if necessary
- Liaise with the KfW, ASEAN Working Groups, complementary projects implemented by the ACB, and other initiatives and projects in the region, promoting synergies and collaboration
- Project Planning and Implementation
- Ensure that project activities under each output are executed in a timely manner with high technical standards and implemented following the planned outcomes to achieve defined indicators
- Prepare revisions to the multi-year workplan, as needed, as well as annual and quarterly plans if required
- Co-lead, with the International Consultant, in the preparation of the inception report, no later than one month after the inception workshop;
- Deliver substantive contributions to the technical components of the project, including drafting terms of reference and work specifications, and providing high-quality technical inputs on the reports produced by consultants and implementing partners;
- Provide strategic input into project implementation, including adaptive management measures, overseeing and ensuring coherence and consistency of technical approaches across the project and its target geographies, while responding adaptively to local conditions;
- Provide technical assistance and strategic guidance on the implementation of the project.
- Project Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting
- Provide regular feedback on the progress of project implementation to the Programmes Director and the SUABS Division Director
- Co-lead and coordinate with the International Consultant the preparation and submission of financial and narrative reports to the KfW
- Monitor progress and troubleshoot any plan deviations to achieve results
- Provide technical assistance on project monitoring and evaluation, ensuring that the indicators included in the project results matrix are monitored annually in advance of the KfW Report submission deadline
- Provide technical inputs to the knowledge products developed from the project implementation, in coordination with the SGP Communications Officer and ACB Communications Department
- Coordinate monitoring of financial resources and accounting to ensure the accuracy and reliability of financial reports
- Lead regular progress reporting to the KfW as agreed, including measures to address challenges and opportunities
- Lead in the completion of assessments required by KfW, including technical review, and financial spot checks and audits
- Perform other related tasks assigned by the Supervisor(s) from time to time.
C. QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Work Experience
- Master’s degree in Biodiversity Conservation, Environmental Science, and/or Climate change, or other related fields, and five (5) years of related work experience in a regional setting, or its equivalent requirements
- Completed Academic Requirements in Master’s programme Biodiversity Conservation, Environmental Science, and/or Climate change, or other related fields, and seven (7) years of related work experience in a regional setting; or
- 18 units earned in a Master’s programme in Biodiversity Conservation, Environmental Science, and/or Climate change, or other related fields, and nine (9) years of related work experience in a regional setting; or
- Related Bachelor’s Degree in Biodiversity Conservation, Environmental Science, and/or Climate change, or other related fields, and twelve (12) years of related work experience in a regional setting; or
- Non-Related Bachelor’s Degree and at least fifteen (15) years of related work experience in a regional setting.
- At least two years of supervisory experience, with demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage performance, and oversee day-to-day operations of the SGP III project.
- At least 15 years of experience in project management on biodiversity conservation, environment management, ecosystem restoration, and climate change in the ASEAN region
- At least five (5) years of demonstrable experience as a grant manager and/or sub-grant manager is an advantage
- Preferably with 10 years of experience in project monitoring and evaluation
Skills
- Strong technical knowledge in biodiversity conservation, wetland and peatland management, climate mitigation and adaptation, ecosystem restoration, Other Effective Areas-based Conservation Measures, and/or protected area management
- Ability to lead on project management, including planning, change processes, results- based management, and reporting
- Good interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to work independently and in teams
- Ability to coordinate and supervise multiple parties in their implementation of technical activities in partnership with a variety of stakeholder groups, including government, civil society, private sector, academic and research institutes, the broader donor community, and local beneficiaries.
- Excellent command of English (writing, speaking, and reading).
Nationality
- Must be a national of any of the ASEAN Member States
D. COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS
a. Core Values
- Integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity
- Cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability
- Treats all people fairly
- Prudence, dependability, and accountability
b. Core Competences
- Strong managerial and supervisory capacity, communication, teamwork, analytical, planning and organising, innovative, and technological awareness
E. APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Applicants should prepare the following and send all to acb.hr@aseanbiodiversity.org:
- A letter of intent of no more than two pages, elaborating on how his/her qualifications and experiences make him/her suitable for the position. Address the letter to Executive Director Dr. Jerome L. Montemayor. JP 2026-16 SGP Project Manager is to be indicated in the aforesaid letter.
- Updated curriculum vitae and diploma, or transcript of records
- A completed Job Application Form (which can be downloaded here)
The deadline for submission of completed applications is 12 August 2026. Only applications with complete documentary requirements (Letter of Intent, completed Job Application Form, and curriculum vitae) will be processed. Applications received beyond this date will not be considered. All applicants will be given notice as to the status of their application. Previous applicants may apply again.
F. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The ACB does not ask for payment at any stage of its recruitment process (application, processing, training, interviewing, testing, or other fees) nor authorises anyone to officially receive applications from prospective candidates, except through the ACB Human Resources Division. The public is strongly advised to be vigilant when dealing with financial transactions online and to report any suspicious individuals or accounts representing the ACB.
