Program Manager, Strategic Initiatives

SUMMARY Conservation International is seeking a Program Manager to lead the launch, implementation, and ongoing management of the Future of Work: Youth Employment in Sustainable Ocean Food Systems program. Future of Work Program The Future of Work program (“Program”) is a new multi-year initiative of the Standard Chartered Foundation, with Conservation International serving as its Strategic Partner, focused on empowering youth (ages 18-35) through employment and entrepreneurship in ocean food systems. Through a combination of strategic grantmaking, partnership development, and technical assistance, the Program seeks to develop and support a portfolio of partner-led initiatives that deliver meaningful youth employment and economic empowerment outcomes across priority Southeast Asian markets (Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore). Program Manager Role The Program Manager leads Strategic Partner functions, serving as the primary interface between Conservation International, Standard Chartered Foundation, and Standard Chartered Bank colleagues, and a network of delivery and funding partners across priority Southeast Asian markets. The role is responsible for programmatic, administrative, and fiscal oversight of activities across the full Program lifecycle including pipeline development, portfolio and grant management, ecosystem building, and oversight of the appointed Learning Partner’s impact measurement and learning function. The Program Manager ensures alignment with Conservation International and donor governance requirements while advancing the Program’s blue economy and inclusive livelihoods priorities across the region. The Program Lead reports to the Vice President, Nature Finance, oversees the Strategic Partner Implementation Team comprised of Program Officers based in select priority markets, and coordinates closely with other core implementation functions (e.g. finance operations, grants management, branding and communications, account management teams). KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Project Pipeline Development : • Together with Standard Chartered Foundation, co-designs program grantmaking strategies • In collaboration with the selected Learning Partner and Standard Chartered Bank market teams, source strategically aligned projects in priority markets • Leads due diligence, scoring, assessment, and socialisation of prospective delivery partners and prepares and presents project proposals to the Program Steering Committee in line with agreed templates and meeting cadence Portfolio Management : • Ensure compliance with CI and donor due diligence and governance requirements across delivery partner portfolio • Manage and mitigate risk, safeguarding, and environmental safeguards across the portfolio • Ensure portfolio compliance with CI and donor financial policies, processes, and reporting requirements • Manages the grant making process and provides financial oversight across the portfolio • Facilitates connections between delivery partners and Standard Chartered market colleagues Impact Measurement and Learning : • Identifies, onboards, and manages the procurement of the Program Learning Partner • Coordinates Learning Partner delivery of the Theory of Change, MEL framework, and cross-portfolio MEL reporting • Ensures learning is translated into programme adaptation and strategic decision-making Ecosystem Building : • Together with Standard Chartered Foundation, co-creates and supports thought leadership and amplification activities at the regional level • Supports market-level and regional media and communications in accordance with donor guidance and ensures delivery partners adhere to agreed communication guidelines • Collaborate with CI partnerships team and Standard Chartered Foundation to realize the Program’s co-funding and broader partnership ambitions Governance and Reporting : • Prepares materials for, and represents CI at, Steering Committee, Working Group, and other Program governance forums • Provides regular progress reports and updates to Standard Chartered Foundation and CI senior management PEOPLE AND RESOURCEMANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES The Program Manager provides oversight and direction to the CI Program Implementation Team including Program Officers, and coordinates closely with the assigned Account Manager, finance, grants management, communications, and other relevant CI staff and consultants to ensure deliverables meet CI and donor quality standards. The Program Manager manages the relationship with the appointed Learning Partner, including scope, deliverables, and performance and provides direction and coordination to delivery partners across anchor markets, working closely within-country CI and partner teams. The Program Manager will have primary responsibility for oversight and management of the Strategic Partner budget, including any sub-awards, sub-grants, and sub-contracts made thereunder. QUALIFICATIONS • Education/Experience : Equivalent combination of a bachelor’s degree and five (5) or more years of relevant experience in youth economic empowerment program design and management in an international development context. Advanced degree in a relevant field is preferred. • Program Design : Demonstrated experience in design, development, and fundraising for economic empowerment and inclusion programs of similar scale and complexity with a focus on young adults (ages 18-35), gender inclusion, and inclusion of persons with disabilities in a Southeast Asian market context. Familiarity with blue economy sector status and trends preferred. • Program Management : Demonstrated experience and skills in program fiscal, administrative, and governance management, including oversight of regional, multi-partner portfolios against donor compliance requirements. Proven ability to lead and coordinate distributed, multi-disciplinary teams working effectively across time zones, cultures, and reporting lines to keep dispersed staff aligned toward shared pro…