Programs Officer - April/May 2025 - Manila

💡 SSE organization
Fixed-term insertion contract
Localisation Manila, Philippines
Partial remote possible
From 1 to 3 yrs of exp.
Posted on 04-04-2025
Start : April 2025
> End : April 2026

makesense Asia

Makesense enables and empowers any actor in society to take concrete action on the advocacies and causes that matter to them.

💡 SSE organization

This structure is based on a principle of solidarity and social utility: its management is democratic and participative, and its profit-making potential is limited. It may be an association, cooperative, foundation, mutual or ESUS company.

More information
  • Website
  • Nonprofit organization
  • Between 15 and 50 persons
  • Others
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Join us in our mission to support lasting systemic change through social innovation and social entrepreneurship!

Your Mission

You will be delivering the innovation-focused programs of Makesense. This will involve managing a very diverse set of actors (like social entrepreneurs, corporate employees, development sector professionals, community members, students, etc.) and facilitating meaningful collaborations among them that address complex challenges.

You will learn the innovation methodologies of Makesense and get the chance to design your own innovation processes and learning modules across several advocacies such as sustainability and youth empowerment. The work you do will be key in meeting the unique needs of stakeholders across Asia and the Philippines seeking Makesense’s support. You will be coordinating directly with the Head of Programs of Makesense.

Key Responsibilities

  • Plan and co-facilitate Makesense’s Social Innovation Programs
  • Drive day-to-day execution of social innovation programs, such as logistical preparations, coordination with stakeholders (entrepreneurs, innovators, partners, volunteers), and coordinating budgets, and supporting preparations for workshop/training facilitation.
  • Co-design and facilitate workshop and training sessions
  • Coordinate with stakeholders as part of the program operations.
  • Collaborate with team members across the organization to enable them to contribute to the overall social innovation & incubation goals.
  • Facilitate collaboration between stakeholders across different industries and sectors towards a shared goal
  • Identify and onboard strategic programmatic partners for program execution
  • Facilitate 1-on-1 as well as joint discussions with partner organizations to discover their insights and challenges
  • Facilitate workshops with partner organizations for them to co-design solutions and contribute to a common goal
  • Develop data-gathering methods and execute them with collaborators and beneficiaries in order to inform implementation and iteration
  • Construct relevant insights and information from data gathered and produce reports to keep stakeholders informed and aligned
  • Manage advocates/beneficiaries/community members through providing updates, setting discussion and action points, and maintaining the members list
  • Build tools & methodologies to adapt our support to the unique needs of each project and partner
  • Benchmark innovative tools and methodologies that could support our partners
  • Build, improve, and test new design thinking, lean startup, and community development tools and methodologies
  • Coordinate with the global makesense innovation team to enable everybody to benefit from your creations, and support the improvement of our methodologies internationally
Profile

Your profile

  • You have experience in project management from program design, implementation, monitoring, and post-program evaluation.
  • You love learning about and acting on emerging socio-environmental issues and are ready to put all your energy into the execution of multi-stakeholder systemic solutions.
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Entrepreneurship, Organizational Development, Education, Instructional Design, or other related fields is preferred, but not required.
  • You have strong organizational skills, a strong sense of autonomy, and attention to detail.
  • You have a confident presence and good written & verbal communication skills.
  • You have a learner’s and solutions-oriented mindset, and have the ability to make quick, well-informed decisions.
  • You have a strong sense of empathy and you are often praised for your interpersonal skills.
  • You are fluent in both English and Tagalog. Other languages are an asset (especially Philippine languages).

What would make you an outstanding candidate

  • You have relevant experience in social innovation and/or development work experience. Experience in coordinating with local government units and government agencies is a plus.
  • On top of your experience in project management, you are also able to mobilize communities.
  • You are comfortable with public speaking. Workshop facilitation and teaching is almost natural to you.
  • You are familiar with social innovation concepts such as human-centered design, social behavior change, and lean startup methodologies.
  • You have experience or interest in education and youth empowerment, social entrepreneurship, community health, or climate action
  • You are keen on exploring intersectional social issues and being involved in a variety of socio-environmental thematics.

Cool things we’ve done in the Innovations & Incubation Programs recently

Check these out to see what we do in the team. If you think you can also be part of these activities, then you might be a good fit!

  • Makesense Academy: we just wrapped up the 7th batch of our idea- to early-stage incubation program and you can check out some of our entrepreneurs here.
  • UNDP ACE Project: In partnership with the UNDP, we’ve supported 5 LGUs in accelerating circular economy by directly training 1,060 leaders in capacity building sessions, incubating 4 SMEs, and engaging 350+ citizens in grassroots activation events.

Logistical Information

  • Start date: April/May 2025
  • Contract type: Fixed Term Contract (1 year, subject for renewal)
  • Work hours: We have a flexible work arrangement but our core work schedule is Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm.
  • Location: Work From Home but we have an office in Ortigas Business District and we come to the office at least once a week.
  • Compensation: Php 26,000 to Php 30,000 (inclusive of non-taxable benefits and allowances)

We’re excited to read your application!

Please submit your CV and cover letter before April 18, 2025 and answer the following:

  • Why do you want to join the makesense team?
  • What interests you about the Programs Officer role?
  • What are your career goals?
  • What are you really good at professionally?
  • What are you not good at or not interested in doing professionally?
  • Who were the last three people you worked with (managers and/or teammates in previous work, projects, internship programs, etc.), and how will they each rate your performance on a 1–10 scale when we talk to them?