Disaster Preparedness Specialist (ECHO HIP 2025 Project)

The Organisation

Plan International Pilipinas Foundation Inc. is a local non-government, non-religious, and non-political development and humanitarian organization committed to enabling children to live free of poverty, violence, inequality, and injustice.

We are committed to gender equality and actively work with and engage children, communities, other people, and institutions in addressing the root causes of poverty and gender inequality. We support children and young people, especially the most vulnerable, to build the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to claim their rights to a fulfilling life, today and in the future. We focus on girls, young women, and other marginalized groups so that they can improve their well-being and achieve their full potential.

Disaster Preparedness Specialist – Empowering Communities to Build Resilience

Plan International Pilipinas Foundation Inc., a leading child rights development and humanitarian NGO, seeks a passionate and experienced Disaster Preparedness Specialist to join our team. We're dedicated to creating a world where all children, especially girls, live free from poverty, violence, inequality, and injustice. We work towards a future where girls, young women, vulnerable children, and young people can drive systemic change for gender equality and human rights. Collaborating with partners like CARE Philippines, we address complex issues arising from natural and humanitarian hazards.

About the Project:

This project focuses on building resilience in high-risk communities by improving disaster preparedness and humanitarian response. As the Disaster Preparedness Specialist, you will play a crucial role in ensuring its success.

About the Role:

The Disaster Preparedness Specialist will provide technical support to the project team and consortium members in delivering disaster preparedness and humanitarian interventions. You will provide strategic guidance in project management to ensure the achievement of project objectives, working closely with the Consortium Lead, the Program Quality and Effectiveness Team (PQET), and the Business Development Team.

What You'll Do:

• Needs Assessment: Lead organizational diagnoses in target municipalities to identify training needs for partners and locally mandated bodies involved in DRRM.
• Technical Support: Provide expertise in designing participatory, inclusive, age- and gender-appropriate, and innovative DRR techniques.
• Digitalization Support: Support the project team and Maguindanao Del Sur Province in pilot testing the digitalization of Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA).
• Stakeholder Engagement: Lead consultative sessions and partnership meetings to secure support for project implementation.
• Monitoring: Support technical monitoring of project progress and initiate corrective actions as needed.
• Emergency Response: Contribute to emergency response activities in assigned areas as required.

What You'll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Community Development, Behavioral Sciences, or a related field.
• Training in Community Organizing/Community Development; Program/Project Management; Participatory Rapid/Rural Appraisal; Cultural Sensitivity; Gender Sensitivity; and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management.
• Five years of experience in community organizing and development, with hands-on experience in DRRM.
• Demonstrated knowledge of DRRM and experience managing/implementing preparedness, mitigation, response, recovery/rehabilitation, and risk reduction programs/CCA/AA advocacies.
• Ability to prioritize and manage a complex workload, often with tight deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Previous development sector experience in a similar role is highly desirable.
• Willingness and ability to conduct fieldwork in project areas.
• Must be a Filipino national based in the Philippines.

Ready to Make a Difference? If you're a passionate and experienced professional dedicated to disaster preparedness and community resilience, we encourage you to apply!

Important Note: This is an anticipatory hire, subject to donor funding. All qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Location: Cotabato City, Maguindanao del Sur (with frequent travel to project areas)

Type of Role: Project-based (18 months)

Reports to: Project Coordinator

This role requires field work.

Competitive compensation package (local T&C)

Equality, diversity, and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organizational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights, and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organization, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme, we will request information from applicants' previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.