Executive Director

Position title: Executive Director

Location: Manila, Philippines

ChildFund office: Philippines

Manager/Supervisor title: Board of Trustees and Regional Director, Asia

About ChildFund

ChildFund is a child-focused international development organization that works in 23 countries to connect children with the people, resources and institutions they need to grow up healthy, educated, skilled and safe, no matter where they are.

ChildFund Philippines Foundation Inc. is a locally-registered country partner of ChildFund International.

ChildFund's Values

We aspire for every person in our organization—program participants, supporters, staff, and volunteers alike—to feel free, safe, and confident to be themselves. In our culture of connection, you will have ample opportunity to grow, learn, and lead while contributing your talents and innovations to our inspiring mission.

ChildFund's Commitment

ChildFund International has a zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH) and all other forms of harm by its staff, partners, and other representatives in the delivery of its mission and services for children. ChildFund is committed to creating a safe environment in the workplace as well as in the communities where it delivers programs and services. ChildFund expects every staff member, partner, and representative to adhere to this commitment and to ensure all organizational policies and standards are followed. This position is subject to a range of vetting checks, including a criminal records check and/or disclosure to ensure program participants are safeguarded.

About This Role

The Executive Director provides visionary and strategic leadership for ChildFund Philippines, ensuring the organization's mission, values, and strategic objectives are effectively implemented. This role oversees all aspects of the organization's operations, including strategy development and execution, fundraising and business development, external engagement, program delivery, financial stewardship, governance, and organizational sustainability. The Executive Director ensures compliance with national laws and global standards, fosters a culture of accountability and innovation, and represents ChildFund as a leading voice for children's rights and well-being in the Philippines.

The Executive Director will be hired by ChildFund Philippines Foundation Inc. and will lead ChildFund's operations in the country.

This is a full-time, fixed-term position open to candidates with current residence in Manila, Philippines and the ability to work in the Philippines without visa sponsorship.

Required Experience and Education

• Bachelor's degree in community development, social science, or other relevant discipline. Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 9 years of senior leadership experience in the non-profit or development sector, preferably in the Philippines.
• Proven track record in fundraising, donor relations, and business development.
• Strong experience in strategic planning, program management, and organizational development.
• Experience working with boards, government agencies, and international donors.
• Leadership in designing and evaluating high-impact programs is a plus.

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Governance

• Lead the development, implementation, and periodic review of the country strategy aligned with ChildFund's global vision and mission.
• Provide strategic direction to ensure organizational sustainability, relevance, and impact.
• Work closely with the Board of Trustees and Regional Leadership to ensure good governance, compliance, and accountability.

Fundraising and Business Development

• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy to diversify and grow revenue streams, including institutional grants, corporate partnerships, individual giving, and local philanthropy.
• Build and maintain relationships with donors, foundations, government agencies, and the private sector to secure funding and strategic partnerships.
• Lead proposal development and donor engagement efforts, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and donor expectations.

Program Oversight and Impact

• Ensure high-quality, evidence-based program design, implementation, and evaluation that align with national development priorities and ChildFund's program frameworks.
• Promote innovation, learning, and adaptive management to enhance program effectiveness and sustainability.
• Oversee monitoring, evaluation, research, and knowledge management systems to track impact and inform decision-making.

External Engagement and Advocacy

• Serve as the primary spokesperson and representative of ChildFund Philippines to government, donors, media, civil society, and other stakeholders.
• Advocate for child rights and influence public policy in collaboration with partners and networks.
• Strengthen the organization's visibility, credibility, and thought leadership on issues affecting children and youth.

Organizational Management and Culture

• Lead and manage a high-performing, diverse, and motivated team, fostering a culture of excellence, inclusion, and accountability.
• Oversee human resource management, including recruitment, performance management, staff development, and succession planning.
• Promote a safe, respectful, and inclusive work environment aligned with ChildFund's values and safeguarding standards.

Financial and Risk Management

• Ensure sound financial planning, budgeting, and reporting in compliance with donor and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee enterprise risk management, including financial, operational, reputational, and programmatic risks.
• Ensure internal controls, audits, and compliance mechanisms are robust and effective.

Emergency Response

• Ensure the development, maintenance, and regular updating of a comprehensive disaster preparedness and emergency response plan. Lead efforts to strengthen organizational readiness and resilience, enabling timely, coordinated, and effective responses to emergencies that impact children and communities.

Safety and Security

• Implement and uphold organizational standards, policies, and procedures to protect personnel, programs, and assets. Lead a proactive culture of safety and security risk management within the Country Office, ensuring continuous monitoring of security trends and timely action. Allocate adequate resources to support safe program implementation and cost recovery. Uphold ChildFund's duty of care by promoting measures that support both physical and mental well-being of staff. Work closely with the global security team to ensure alignment with organizational standards and a coordinated response to incidents.

Safeguarding

• Remain alert and responsive to any safeguarding risks; acquire and apply relevant knowledge and skills to uphold ChildFund's safeguarding policy and procedures. Promote strong safeguarding practices across all operations ensuring appropriate behavior, timely reporting of violations, and a culture of accountability. Lead the implementation of corrective actions—including disciplinary, legal, or other measures—in response to any breaches. Collaborate with relevant teams to follow up on findings, and regularly review policies, procedures, and protocols to identify and address gaps or weaknesses. Uphold the organization's duty of care by fostering a safe and respectful environment for all staff, partners, and program participants.

Required Competencies

• The ability to read, write, and speak fluently in English. Fluency in a local Filipino language (i.e., Tagalog) is strongly preferred.
• Deep understanding of child rights, community development, and the socio-political context of the Philippines.
• Demonstrated high level of proficiency in ChildFund's Core competency areas including Teamwork, Communication, Results orientation, Decision making, resilience, and digital literacy.
• Demonstrated high level of proficiency in ChildFund's Leadership Competency areas including strategic leadership, people leadership, partnership, change management, and design thinking.
• Proven ability to cultivate and sustain high-level relationships with diverse donors, including government agencies, UN bodies (e.g., UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP), and other key stakeholders.
• Deep understanding of and sensitivity to cultural dynamics within the country context with the ability to leverage historical context for strategic planning and external engagement.
• Skilled in articulating ChildFund's value-add and evidence of impact, while promoting a collaborative, credit-sharing approach to partnership development.
• Strong record of team-building and mentoring capabilities, with a focus on knowing and developing staff, upholding accountability, cultivating a high-performance culture, and fostering inclusive and respectful workplace practices.
• Business-oriented approach to leadership, with the ability to identify opportunities, drive innovation, and scale impact sustainably.
• Exceptional presentation and storytelling skills to effectively communicate program outcomes, organizational impact, and strategic vision to varied audiences.
• Demonstrates assertiveness, confidence, and responsiveness, with the ability to set boundaries, and uphold core values.
• Skilled in opening doors, connecting influencers, and mobilizing advocates to advance ChildFund's mission and visibility.