Humanitarian Manager, Philippines

Title: Humanitarian Manager

Location: Makati City, Philippines

Travel: 60-70%

Job Family and Level: M7 - Program Management and Leadership

Pre-hire checks: This role is classified as requiring standard pre-employment checks / enhanced due diligence

Important Note:
This recruitment is part of a pre-positioning effort. Submission of an application and participation in the selection process do not guarantee engagement. Any engagement will be contingent upon project activation, funding availability, and final approval.

1. Scope

Responsibility: Country Level

Department: Programs

Reporting to: Country Director

Direct reports: Medical Coordinator, Project Officer, MEAL and Reporting Coordinator

Budget responsibility: To be determined

Relationship management: Internal stakeholders (Other programs and support colleagues at the Country Office and Desk levels); External stakeholders (local partners, government agencies, local government units, clusters, other NGOs)

2. Context

Relief International (RI) is an international non-profit organization that partners with communities impacted by conflict, climate change, and disaster to save lives, build greater resilience, and promote long-term health and wellbeing.

Our team of more than 7,000 staff and local volunteers work in 15 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, providing Health and Nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Education and Livelihoods programming that creates the foundation for community resilience.

We do this by working with local actors to develop safe and inclusive local programming that is evidence-based, conflict-sensitive, climate-smart, and reaches those in need.

Relief International is an alliance of four organizations with one shared mission, comprised of Relief International, Inc., Relief International-France, Relief International-UK, and Relief International-Europe, which operate under a one-team concept under a single senior leadership team.

3. Job Profile

The Humanitarian Manager is responsible for the leadership, management, and quality implementation of humanitarian health and multi-sectoral response programs in emergency and crisis-affected settings. The role oversees program delivery, grant management, donor compliance, partnership coordination, monitoring and evaluation, and representation with stakeholders to ensure safe, timely, effective, and accountable humanitarian assistance.

The position works closely with technical teams, operations staff, partners, donors, and government counterparts to design and implement integrated humanitarian interventions that address the needs of vulnerable populations while adhering to humanitarian principles and organizational standards.

4. Key Responsibilities

Program Management and Implementation

• Lead the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of humanitarian programs based on the strategy and approaches of Relief International.
• Ensure high-quality delivery of humanitarian health interventions and integrated multi-sectoral responses.
• Oversee work plans, budgets, procurement plans, and program performance against targets.
• Ensure programs are responsive to evolving humanitarian needs and contextual changes.
• Promote accountability to affected populations and community engagement throughout the project cycle.

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical guidance to project teams and partners on humanitarian health programming and integrated approaches.
• Ensure interventions align with international standards and best practices, including Sphere and relevant cluster guidance.
• Promote evidence-based programming through assessments, monitoring data, and lessons learned.
• Facilitate capacity building and mentoring of Relief International staff and partners.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)

• Ensure robust monitoring systems are in place to track outputs, outcomes, and program quality.
• Promote learning and adaptive management through regular reviews and analysis.
• Support evaluations, audits, and donor monitoring visits.
• Ensure documentation of best practices and lessons learned.

Grant and Donor Management

• Manage humanitarian grants in compliance with donor requirements and Relief International policies.
• Develop and oversee project implementation plans, budgets, and reporting schedules while closely working with Awards Management Unit.
• Coordinate the preparation and submission of high-quality narrative and financial reports.
• Monitor grant performance and identify corrective actions where necessary.
• Support proposal development, donor engagement, and resource mobilization efforts.

Coordination and Representation

• Represent the Relief International in humanitarian coordination forums, clusters, and working groups.
• Maintain effective relationships with donors, government authorities, UN agencies, NGOs, and community stakeholders.
• Contribute to inter-agency assessments, response planning, and coordination mechanisms.
• Strengthen partnerships to improve response effectiveness and coverage.

Risk Management and Compliance

• Identify programmatic, operational, and compliance risks and implement mitigation measures.
• Ensure adherence to donor regulations, safeguarding standards, and humanitarian principles.
• Support internal and external audits and ensure timely implementation of recommendations.

Behavior and Conduct

• Will ensure the highest standards of behavior inside and outside of work promotes the values in RI’s code of conduct and safeguarding policies
• Will be a model for ethical conduct standards for other team members
• Will ensure own actions and the actions of the teams members they manage do not impact the safety of the RI team and the vulnerable communities we serve
• Will ensure external stakeholders are aware of RI conduct and reporting mechanisms
• Report any concerns

5. Person Specification

Essential criteria

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Medicine, Nursing, International Development, Humanitarian Affairs, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• Postgraduate qualification in Public Health, Humanitarian Assistance, International Development, or a related discipline is an advantage.

Experience

• Minimum of at least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian programming in management capacity.
• Demonstrated background in humanitarian health programming, including emergency health response, public health, or health systems support in crisis settings.
• Proven experience designing, managing, and implementing multi-sectoral humanitarian programs involving health and other sectors such as WASH, nutrition, protection, food security, shelter, or livelihoods.
• Significant experience managing humanitarian grants funded by major institutional donors, including ECHO, and familiarity with donor compliance and reporting requirements.
• Experience leading project teams and managing complex humanitarian responses in emergency settings.
• Experience coordinating with government authorities, UN agencies, NGOs, and humanitarian clusters.
• Ability to represent Relief International in different coordination platforms, advocacy events, and media engagements

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong understanding of humanitarian principles, standards, and coordination mechanisms.
• Knowledge of project cycle management, grant management, budgeting, and donor compliance.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent report writing and communication skills in English.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and representation skills.

Personal Attributes

• Commitment to humanitarian values and accountability to affected populations.
• Strong leadership and team management capabilities.
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to work in diverse environments.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and adaptability.

Desirable criteria

Experience

• Experience working in complex emergencies, conflict-affected settings, or protracted humanitarian crises.
• Experience with additional major humanitarian donors such as ECHO, UN agencies, DFAT, Start Network, etc.
• Experience managing local partner organizations and capacity-strengthening initiatives.
• Experience in humanitarian preparedness, resilience, and nexus programming.

Knowledge and Skills

• Familiarity with Sphere Standards, Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), and humanitarian cluster systems.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, protection mainstreaming, and gender-responsive programming.
• Experience with MEAL systems and data-driven program management.
• Working knowledge of humanitarian information management and assessment methodologies.

RI Values

Guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, as well as “Do No Harm,” Relief International Values:

• Integrity
• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Inclusivity
• Sustainability