Deadline of application: October 19, 2025

The Area Manager for Mindanao is responsible for Educo’s strategic leadership and programmatic delivery in BARMM, and other Mindanao expansion areas. The role ensures that programs—whether implemented directly, through mixed models, or via Local Partner Organizations (LPOs) are aligned with Educo’s Country Programmatic Framework (CPF), Global Impact Framework, and institutional values. Given the complexity of the Mindanao context, the Area Manager also leads in-depth conflict and risk analysis, oversees security management protocols, and forges strong networks with inter-agency bodies, government counterparts, civil society coalitions, and humanitarian actors. The position requires balancing programmatic leadership with heightened security oversight, contextual adaptation, and strategic engagement with peace and development platforms. The Area Manager holds full accountability for driving Educo’s partnership strategy with LPOs, ensuring Program Coordinators are effectively managed, guided, and deployed, and that program outcomes are conflict-sensitive, rights-based, and responsive to the realities of fragile and conflict-affected environments. As part of the Management Committee (Mancom), the Area Manager contributes to country-level planning, policy influence, and resource development, while maintaining strong operational integration with Sector Specialists, MEAL Coordinator, Logistics, Finance, Grants, Communications, and Sponsorship.

Key Responsibilities:
1. Strategic Area Development and Context Analysis
Leads program design and expansion strategies in Mindanao, integrating conflict, political economy, and risk analysis into all decisions. Ensures Program Coordinator sand Sponsorship Officers understand their mandates and adapt programs to fragile contexts. Positions Educo’s Mindanao programs with the Local Partner Organization (LPOs) as models of rights-based, inclusive, and conflict-sensitive programming.

2. Technical Support, Program Integration, and MEAL Coordination
Guides Program Coordinators in integrating sectoral and sponsorship programs, ensuring coherence and synergy. Works closely with Specialists and MEAL to produce evidence-based programming adapted to fragile contexts. Ensures that risk and conflict-sensitive, MEAL findings directly inform program design, advocacy, and adaptation.

3. Programming Execution in Fragile Contexts
Provides operational leadership across direct, mixed, and indirect modalities. Holds Program Coordinators accountable for managing results, compliance with institutional requirements, and adaptive management involatile contexts. Working possibly in a blended approach with a local partner, jointly ensures projects with LPO to meet technical standards, achieve MEAL outcomes, donor requirement, and remain flexible to changing risks, including security incidents.

4. Resource and Budget Management
Oversees budget execution and expenditure tracking in coordination with Program &sponsorship Coordinators and LPOs. Ensures financial accountability across Educo’s Mindanao portfolio, timely reporting, and alignment with donor and Educo policies. Leads area-level financial risk analysis to ensure resources are used effectively in conflict-affected settings.

5. LPO Partnership Strategy and Oversight
Leads engagement with Mindanao-based LPOs, ensuring technical support, compliance, and progressive capacity-building for independent program delivery. Promotes multi-year partnership strategies that strengthen localization in fragile contexts. Leads joint reviews, learning exchanges, and ensures LPO perspectives inform program design, advocacy, and accountability processes.

6. Team and Program Coordinator Management
Directly manages Program Coordinators and other area staff if any, ensuring they are immersed in program delivery with LPOs or direct projects. Provides coaching, supervision, and capacity development support, ensuring high-quality performance in challenging contexts. Holds Program Coordinators accountable for safeguarding, Code of Conduct, and risk management standards.

7. Security Management and Risk Oversight
Leads area-level security management in coordination with Educo’s Security Focal Point. Oversees context monitoring, risk assessments, contingency planning, and staff safety protocols. Ensures Program Coordinators and LPOs comply with Educo’s security standards and adapt programming accordingly. Represents Educo in regional security networks and humanitarian coordination mechanisms.

8. Regional Representation, Networks, and Advocacy
Represents Educo in BARMM and Mindanao inter-agency bodies, CSO networks, donor roundtables, and peace and development platforms. Builds and sustains strategic relationships with government offices, humanitarian actors, and community leaders to enhance Educo’s visibility, influence, and access. Translates local realities into advocacy strategies aligned with national and global priorities.

9. Emergency Preparedness and Humanitarian Action
Leads preparedness and rapid response capacity in Mindanao. Ensures Program Coordinators and LPOs are trained and equipped for emergency response. Coordinates with humanitarian clusters, peacebuilding coalitions, and government counterparts to ensure timely, accountable, and conflict-sensitive responses.

10. Other Duties
Supports strategic initiatives as delegated by the Country Director and Program Manager. Contributes to organization-wide learning, innovation, and cross-area collaboration.

Education:
Bachelor’s Degree in Development Studies, Social Work, Political Science, Peace Studies, or related field. Master’s degree preferred.

Experience:
1. Minimum of five (5) years in area or program management roles, with direct supervision of multi-disciplinary teams and oversight of LPOs in fragile contexts.
2. At least three (3) years of proven leadership managing projects in conflict-affected or high-riskareas.
3. Substantial experience designing and managing LPO strategies, including due diligence, partnership review, and capacity-building in complex environments.
4. Demonstrated ability to expand geographic coverage, adapt programs to fragile contexts, and manage operational security.
5. Track record of managing multi-sector programs (education, child protection, gender, participation, humanitarian action, peacebuilding).
6. Strong external representation skills with experience engaging BARMM institutions, humanitarian clusters, CSO networks, and peace/development platforms.
7. Knowledge of donor compliance, financial accountability, and risk management.
8. Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and facilitation skills; able to work across diverse stakeholders in politically sensitive contexts.
9. Fluent in English and Filipino; knowledge of regional languages (e.g., Maguindanaon, Tausug, Maranao, Cebuano) is an asset.
10. Willing and able to travel frequently and manage staff and programs in insecure environments.

Application Instructions:
Recent curriculum vitae (two non-relative references must be mentioned; one must be your latest supervisor)
Letter of Intent addressed to:

Marlon A. Villanueva
Country Director, Educo Philippines

Send your application to hr@educo.org.ph and cc: marlon.villanueva@educo.org

Application Deadline: October 19, 2025