Mekong Regional GEDSI Programme Manager

Job Posting Organization:
WWF (World Wildlife Fund) is an independent conservation organization that has been working for over 60 years to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and the ecosystem. With an active presence in more than 100 countries, WWF focuses on both on-the-ground conservation efforts and global policy action. The organization aims to protect and restore species and their habitats while transforming markets and policies toward sustainability. WWF's diverse team includes experts from various fields, including conservation science, advocacy, human resources, and finance, all united by a common goal of tackling global environmental challenges and driving urgent conservation impacts to restore the planet.

Job Overview:
The Mekong Regional GEDSI Programme Manager will oversee the implementation of the Mekong Regional Gender Equity, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Programme, which is funded by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP). This role is crucial for ensuring that the programme achieves its goal of inclusive conservation outcomes in the Mekong region by integrating GEDSI approaches across WWF's institutional systems, programmatic strategies, and community-level actions. The Programme Manager will be responsible for operational leadership, ensuring high-quality programme implementation, effective coordination among WWF country offices, and compliance with donor requirements. The position requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including technical leads and partners, to support the integration of GEDSI into conservation programming and foster collaboration for sustainable outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Mekong Regional GEDSI Programme Manager include:

• Regional Programme Management: Ensure effective planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of all regional and country office activities. Ensure activities are delivered on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with approved work plans. Monitor progress against agreed targets, outputs, and performance indicators. Identify implementation risks and develop appropriate mitigation measures.
• Budget Management and Coordination: Collaborate with Regional and Country Office Finance teams for annual and quarterly planning processes. Develop and monitor regional and Country Office work plans and budgets in partnership with MRGP teams. Ensure timely and efficient utilization of project resources and monitor expenditure for compliance with organizational financial policies and donor requirements.
• Country Office Coordination and Support: Maintain regular communication with country focal points to ensure consistent implementation of work plans, budgets, monitoring activities, and reporting. Facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing across participating countries. Support countries in identifying implementation challenges and developing practical solutions.
• Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (PMEL): Work closely with PMEL teams to implement the programme’s monitoring and evaluation framework, ensuring effective data collection, analysis, and reporting. Monitor project performance against agreed indicators and recommend corrective actions as necessary.
• Communications and Knowledge Management: Coordinate with the Communications Focal Point to ensure appropriate project visibility and branding. Support the documentation and dissemination of lessons learned, best practices, and success stories. Ensure programme outputs are uploaded to the SharePoint site.
• Donor Compliance and Reporting: Coordinate with the Programme Manager (Australia) and Technical Lead (Mekong) to ensure compliance with donor agreements and reporting requirements. Prepare and submit timely, accurate, and high-quality technical and narrative reports.
• Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain effective working relationships with regional partners, government agencies, and other stakeholders. Represent the programme at regional meetings and workshops. Seek opportunities for collaboration within WWF programmes and other DFAT and ANCP funded programmes.
• Internal Collaboration: Work collaboratively with regional and Country Office teams to ensure coordinated project delivery. Promote effective communication and teamwork across various functions.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for the Mekong Regional GEDSI Programme Manager position include:

• A postgraduate qualification in International Development, Project Management, Social Sciences, Environmental Management, Gender Studies, or a related discipline.
• A minimum of 7–10 years of progressively responsible experience managing complex, multi-country programmes.
• Demonstrated experience managing donor-funded projects, including planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and compliance.
• Experience supervising and mentoring geographically dispersed teams.
• Proven experience working with government agencies, civil society organizations, development partners, and regional stakeholders.
• Strong experience in financial management, budget monitoring, and grant management.
• Experience preparing high-quality donor reports and ensuring compliance with donor regulations.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a postgraduate qualification in fields such as International Development, Project Management, Social Sciences, Environmental Management, Gender Studies, or a related discipline. This educational background is essential to understand the complexities of managing programmes that focus on gender equity, disability, and social inclusion within conservation efforts.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 7–10 years of progressively responsible experience in managing complex, multi-country programmes. Candidates should have a strong track record in managing donor-funded projects, which includes planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and compliance. Experience in supervising and mentoring teams that are geographically dispersed is also essential, as is proven experience working with various stakeholders, including government agencies and civil society organizations.

Languages:
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are mandatory for this position. Knowledge of Mekong languages is preferred, as it may enhance communication and collaboration with local communities and stakeholders in the region. Familiarity with additional languages relevant to the participating countries could be beneficial but is not required.

Additional Notes:
The position is a full-time role based in an implementing country office or another agreed location within the Asia Pacific region. Flexible or hybrid working arrangements may be considered, subject to organizational policy and operational requirements. The programme is operational from June 2025 to June 2028, and the deadline for applications is 07 September 202

• Work permit restrictions may apply, and early applications are encouraged as the organization reserves the right to close the advert early. WWF is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace, encouraging applicants from all backgrounds to apply.