Manager, Program Implementation

About Rare

Rare inspires change so people and nature thrive. For over 50 years, across 60 countries, we have inspired and empowered millions of people and communities to shift their behaviors to protect our planet. Rare's organizational culture is results-oriented, entrepreneurial, and defined by our five core values: Courage to Take Risks, Commitment to Accountability, Mindset of Solutionology, Investments in People, and Spirit of Celebration.

Position Overview

The Manager, Program Implementation, leads and manages the implementation of Rare's Fish Forever Program and other projects at designated sites in the Philippines. This role coordinates with the Shared Services Group (SSG) and provides technical support on matters such as Managed Access Area and Reserve (MA +R) management, Fisheries Policy Development and Law Enforcement, and program monitoring and evaluations. The manager will travel to project sites, build partnerships with government agencies and development organizations, and ensure all program activities align with Rare's standards.

Primary Areas of Responsibility

Program Implementation

• Lead program management, including planning, budgeting, monitoring, and reporting.
• Ensure the Fish Forever program achieves its goals of rights-based and community-based fisheries management.
• Approve site-level roadmaps that integrate behavior change and economic strategies.
• Provide staff supervision as needed.

Technical Support

• Act as a subject matter expert and provide training on fisheries management and marine protected areas (MPAs) for local partners.
• Coach and mentor co-delivery partners to improve their capacity.
• Work with partners on program strategies, including enforcement, monitoring, and governance.
• Support the implementation of various tools and systems for catch monitoring, data collection, and financial management.
• Lead the development and rollout of behavior change strategies and capacity-building modules.

Partnership Management

• Engage with local mayors and stakeholders to champion sustainable fisheries.
• Identify and manage partnerships with other organizations to support program implementation.
• Coordinate with partners such as BFAR, DENR, provincial governments, and NGOs.

Reporting

• Document program progress, accomplishments, and lessons learned.
• Represent Rare in meetings with communities, partners, and government bodies.
• Contribute to periodic reports for donors.
• Capture success stories for knowledge sharing.

Project Finance and Administration

• Formulate annual work plans and budgets in coordination with the Program Implementation Director and Shared Services Group.
• Manage project expenses, ensure compliance with Rare's financial guidelines, and monitor budget utilization.
• Assist implementing partners with financial planning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in fisheries, biology, environmental science, social science, or a related field. A master's degree is a plus.
• 5+ years of experience in a multi-cultural office, with a focus on assisting local governments and building organizational capacity, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated program management skills and experience with project management.
• Experience in marine protected areas, fisheries governance, or coastal resource management.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English; proficiency in Filipino or local languages (Cebuano preferred) is a plus.
• Knowledge of integrating gender and climate change into development plans.
• Proficiency in MS Office and mobile applications.
• Excellent event organization, facilitation, and training skills.
• Strong independent judgment and interpersonal skills.
• Willingness to travel.
• Experience in social marketing or behavior change interventions.
• Experience in writing management plans (e.g., MPA, coastal, or fisheries).
• Skills in GIS mapping, graphic design, and audio-visual production are a plus.

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.