Project Manager (ECCD Acceleration Program - BARMM)

The Organisation

Plan International Pilipinas is a girl-centered community-focused non-government organization, serving the Philippines for the last 64 years.

We are a newly locally registered Foundation, connected to 80+ Plan International offices worldwide.

We work with around 7,000 partner communities, or barangays across the country, delivering programs on (PIER) Protection from Violence, Inclusive Health, Education to Economic Empowerment, and Resilience and Humanitarian.

We have 30,000 sponsored children and 2.5 million program participants, co-creating lasting impact, especially for girls.

About the Project

With funding support from UNICEF, Plan International Pilipinas will implement the Accelerating an Improved Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Program Delivery in BARMM project. This project aims to contribute to providing quality early childhood education to children aged 3–4 years across BARMM provinces and cities, including Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Cotabato City, Lanao del Sur, Marawi City, Basilan, Lamitan City, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, and the Special Geographic Area (SGA).

About the Role

The Project Manager (PM) will provide overall leadership, project management, and technical direction, ensuring adherence to standards of quality, efficiency, and effectiveness as well as compliance with donor requirements and Plan International Pilipinas’ organizational mandates.

The PM has ultimate responsibility for the project’s financial and programmatic integrity, ensuring key milestones are delivered within agreed timelines and implementation standards. The role requires close coordination with internal teams and external stakeholders, including local government units and government agencies, to ensure effective collaboration, complementation, and proactive risk management.

The Project Manager will also oversee the performance of project staff, ensuring individual and team deliverables are met in accordance with project standards.

Typical Responsibilities

• Develop the Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) in collaboration with project staff and key stakeholders
• Manage the project budget, including budget phasing aligned with the workplan, ensuring cost efficiency and compliance with donor and organizational policies
• Conduct regular field visits and provide technical and operational recommendations, ensuring shared learning for continuous improvement
• Lead the implementation of actions arising from audit findings, internal project reviews, and external evaluations
• Provide oversight in the development and management of strategic partnerships at all levels
• Represent the project with external stakeholders to advance its advocacy and ECCD agenda
• Manage and monitor project staff performance, ensuring clear accountability plans and periodic performance reviews

Requirements and Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Development, Social Sciences, Education, or a related field
• Master’s degree or advanced studies is an advantage

Training and Technical Knowledge

• Knowledge and training in:
• Children’s Rights and Child Protection
• Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD)
• Inclusive Education and Child Pedagogy
• Human Rights and Prevention of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
• Project Management and Implementation
• Gender and Development (GAD), Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
• Community Organizing and Participatory Approaches

Experience

• At least five (5) years of solid experience in development program implementation
• At least two (2) years of experience in ECCD or education-related projects preferred
• Strong grounding in community development, partnership building, stakeholder engagement, advocacy, networking, and coordination
• Experience in planning, monitoring and evaluation, documentation, and reporting
• Strong negotiation skills and excellent oral and written communication
• Proficient in the use of organizational systems and standard project management tools
• Demonstrates integrity, accountability, transparency, gender sensitivity, and strong respect for child and human rights

Core Competencies

• Digital Literacy: Comfortable using computers, productivity software, multimedia, and internet-based tools
• Communication: Clear, persuasive, and effective oral and written communication; strong interpersonal skills and ability to build collaborative relationships
• Results-Oriented: Proactive in delivering results, managing risks, supporting innovation, and making sound decisions aligned with project goals

Why Join Us?

This is a meaningful opportunity to lead a high-impact ECCD initiative that supports children’s learning and development in BARMM. You will work alongside committed teams, partners, and communities to advance children’s rights and inclusive development in the region.

*This position is an anticipatory hire and is subject to the approval and finalization of grant funding.

Location: Cotabato City (with frequent travel to project areas)

Type of Role: Project-based (until March 2027)

Reports to: Program Operations Manager

Flexible working arrangements

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 organisational 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 organisation, 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.