About Rare and the Fish Forever Program

Rare is an international non-profit focused on behavior-centered solutions to conservation. Its global coastal fisheries initiative, Fish Forever, is focused on advancing the adoption of community-led protection and co-management of coastal waters, anchored on networks of Managed Access + Reserves (MA+R), where no-take reserves where habitat and fish can recover are paired with areas where fishing is regulated to ensure sustainability. In the Philippines, Rare has partnered with over 60 local governments and the fishing communities within them to strengthen the management of municipal waters in harmony with national and subnational frameworks, policies, and regulations. 

Position Overview

Working in close coordination with the assigned Program Implementation Director and the Shared Services Group, the Senior Manager, Program Implementation will manage the implementation of current and upcoming projects and strategic partnerships under Rare’s Fish Forever Program in Southern Palawan.  This role will include providing coaching, mentoring, facilitation, and technical support to municipal local government unit (LGU) partners and inter-LGU alliances; developing implementation strategies for the cluster; annual planning, budgeting, budget utilization tracking; monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL), reporting; and overall program and support staff management and administration for the cluster.

The Senior PIM shall identify, scope collaborate, and engage with partners to support or complement implementation at sites. Specifically, s/he will help Rare manage a project covering Southern Palawan with a significant focus on working with indigenous communities as they interact within the municipal waters. The Senior PIM is expected to have deep experience in dealing with issues confronting indigenous peoples and communities, especially in asserting their ancestral rights. The Sr. PIM will establish meaningful partnerships with related stakeholders and is expected to represent the program and Rare with the highest degree of integrity and deep passion for the work.

Duties & Responsibilities

The Senior Manager, Program Implementation will exercise independent judgment in the following areas:

Program Management

The Senior Manager will provide remote and on-site support and coaching to Municipal Coastal and Fisheries Resources Management Teams in the implementation of programs in the field. Main outputs will include:

• Establishment of Managed Access and Reserve (MA+R) areas through appropriate legal instruments respecting appropriate laws and customs;
• Creation and capacity building of municipal management bodies to oversee the implementation of the municipal fisheries ordinances and using data for decision-making
• Formulation of Coastal and Fisheries Resources Management (CFRM) Plans incorporating cultural customs and traditions, gender and climate resilience strategies with provisions for sustainable financing;
• Facilitate the establishment of alliance-wide enforcement and fisheries management coordination systems;
• Formation and capacity building of Fish Forever Savings Clubs towards financial resiliency;
• Establishment and/or strengthening of a streamlined Municipal Fisheries Registration and Licensing (MFRL) system;
• Enlistment, training and technical support to fish buyers/LGU enumerators in reporting catch data through the OurFish mobile app;
• Establishment and maintenance of a fisheries management database including fisheries registration and catch data; and,
• Development/adaptation and rollout of cluster and LGU specific communications and behavior change strategies.
• Capture experiences, insights, best practices and success stories from the field for sharing with other Fish Forever implementers and a wider circle of sustainable fisheries advocates, practitioners, and decision-makers.
• Participate in the possible design, development, and conduct of behavior adoption campaigns that promote sustainable fishing and resilience-building behaviors based on local needs and conditions; and,
• Co-develop and co-facilitate capacity-building modules anchored on adult learning principles for LGU, co-delivery partners as well as management bodies, fisher leaders, and people’s organizations.
• Develop an implementation strategy for a cluster of sites and work in close collaboration with co-delivery partners at the provincial and sub-national/regional level;
• Supervise a team of two or more staff (PIM/Site Implementation Officers) implementing Fish Forever at the provincial/ regional/sub-national level.

Partnership Management

• Actively engage municipal mayors in understanding, championing and supporting sustainable fisheries in their municipalities and alliances through the Coastal 500 network, Memorandums of Agreement (MOAs), executive orders (EOs), Municipal Fisheries Ordinances (MFOs), allocation of budget and personnel, and personal support to Fish Forever events and activities;
• Actively engage the provincial governor, regional and provincial directors and key personnel of partner agencies, as well as academe and CSO partners, in appreciating and championing Fish Forever implementation in their respective areas of jurisdiction through funding, logistical and personnel support, and conduct of joint activities where feasible and practical;
• Establish strong partnership with local and sub-national indigenous peoples’ groups and related stakeholders towards achievement of mutually reinforcing goals;
• Regularly update partners on the progress of program implementation on the ground and developments in national partnerships and initiatives through various platforms;
• Identify and seek out other potential partners in the field that have similar programs to align on targets and coordinate implementation;
• Mobilize Rare teams to support or strengthen overall partner engagement strategy.
• Develop and manage partnerships at a municipality and sub-national level.

 Financial Management, Administration, and Reporting

• In coordination with the Program Implementation Director and Shared Services Group, and with guidance from the Finance Team, formulate annual work plans and budgets;
• Regularly input implementation progress data and other relevant information on the designated program tracker;
• Draft progress reports to donors and attend coordination meetings to monitor the progress of program implementation;
• Organize and document regular team meetings to share updates on program implementation progress, challenges, actions taken, ideas, innovations and solutions;
• Coordinate administrative matters with other teams in the implementation of Fish Forever deliverables;
• Write event plans and estimate costs for activities following the annual work plan and budget for approval by the country VP, and coordinate with the Site Implementation Officers (SIOs) on logistical arrangements for the events onsite;
• Closely monitor budget utilization and ensure judicious use of resources following Rare’s financial policies;
• Promptly submit correct and fully supported expense reports adhering to Rare’s deadlines and allowable expenses;
• Review and approve expense reports submitted by direct reports;
• Guide and hold periodic one-on-one conversations with the SIOs on annual goals, performance, and professional development;
• Guide and mentor SIOs on procurement procedures, activity designing and delivery, documentation, and subsequent expense reporting;
• Submit monthly administrative requirements like timesheets;
• Ensure that SIOs comply with health, safety and other organizational protocols;
• Lead in effective demonstration of essential Rare values including Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) commitment at all levels of program implementation.

Expected Skills & Experience

• A bachelor’s degree in the field of fisheries, marine biology, environmental science, development or environmental management, community development, or other related discipline; a master’s degree is a plus;
• At least six (6) years of progressive working experience in a multicultural office and team-based environment with a track record in assisting local governments and building organizational capacities of environmental/fisheries management organizations, community-based people’s organizations especially indigenous communities, and/or NGOs;
• Demonstrated program management skills in a development setting;
• Experience working with indigenous peoples and communities;
• Comfortable working with cross-functional and inter-disciplinary teams;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; can translate complex ideas into simple forms for various audiences, especially for fisherfolk communities and leaders;
• Excellent process facilitation and training management/delivery skills for various stakeholders including LGU partners and community-based organizations;
• Experience and capacity to provide intensive coaching and mentoring tasks;
• Experience with strengthening marine protected areas, fisheries governance and/or coastal resource management in partnership with local government units or with related experience in other conservation initiatives or community development programs;
• Fluent in English and Filipino. Knowledge and ability to speak diverse Philippine languages in the area of assignment is preferred;
• Adept in software programs such as MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, with strong knowledge or experience in using mobile apps for productivity or business application;
• Able to work with minimal supervision and driven by results and process;
• Willing and able to travel within the country and occasionally abroad.

Rare is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic.