Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) is currently seeking a talented professional for the role of a Manager,Urban Programs. Located in the Housing and Human Settlement Department of HFHI’s Area Office for Asia-Pacific (APO) based in Manila, Philippines, this position is responsible for supporting the growth and development of Habitat for Humanity’s urban programs in Asia-Pacific. The Manager, Urban Programs will provide leadership and support to HFH Asia-Pacific National Offices (NOs) in building capacity to implement shelter/housing and settlement programs in urban environments, facilitate knowledge exchange between practitioners, build and strengthen urban networks with external agencies and organizations, and support the development of national urban housing strategies (where applicable).
This role will work collaborative with other functional areas in the AP Housing and Human Settlement team to achieve a coordinated approach for addressing the challenges of urban shelter and settlements programming, as well as engaging with partner organizations, government agencies and donors for a holistic community-based outcome. The position will also contribute to the shaping of HFHI’s global urban strategy.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategy
Lead the implementation of the HFH Asia Pacific Urban Strategy's key components, including:
- National Organizations (NO) capacity building and program development support.
- Asia Pacific AO Consulting services to Local Governments in urban development policy and practice.
- Knowledge Management.
- Technical positioningof HFH in Urban programming.
- Resource development for urban programming and M&E.
- Identify strategic partnership and implementation models (such as Public, Private, People's Partnerships) that enable the achievement of holistic urban housing solutions that include community engagement, social transformation, governance, health, education, livelihoods, etc.
- Provide technical advice and guidance to National Offices in development of national urban plans and/or strategies.
- Ensure systems thining is applied in urban response after disasters and preparedness/urban resilience programming in coordination with the DR3 team.
- Contribute to communication and change management processes to support implementation of HFHI Asia Pacific Regional urban strategy and its integration with HFHI Global Urban approach.
Program Implementation and Support
- Develop business plan for consultancy services function in urban development and urban policy under HFHI AP AO, to increase impact on the urban housing sector, through mainstreaming of pro-poor urban policies and technical assistance.
- Coordinate a scoping exercise across the region to identify appropriate opportunities for consultancy services in urban development and urban policy to local governments of secondary cities, as well as identify key subject matter experts, universities, research institutes, etc. that could be engaged for these services under HFHI brand.
- Lead and coordinate consulting services engagements to Local governments, from HFHI AP Area Office in the design and implementation of local housing policies, planning, programs and projects, by managing external consultants to deliver the services.
- Collaborate with other APO staff/teams to ensure that urban shelter programming issues are integrated through every functional area (such as disaster response and risk reduction, advocacy, market development, water sanitation and hygiene, etc.)
- Provide technical input to proposal development processes and resource acquisition for projects with an urban component at country level or for multi-country/regional projects.
Capacity Building
- Support and advise NOs in the recruitment, orientation and training of suitably qualified and experienced staff to implement urban shelter programs; provide ongoing support to those staff.
- Assist in the coordination and facilitation of learning events or workshops linked to urban programming issues. Lead individual learning sessions on urban shelter programming within regional forum(s).
- Support and advise individual NOs and the community of practice members as they pilot and implement new urban programming approaches, models, and tools.
Knowledge Management
- Document and disseminate learnings, research material, and programming resources throughout Asia-Pacific, in coordination with the HFHI global urban team.
- Coordinate an urban programs community of practice amongst committed NOs to review, adapt, and pilot new urban shelter/housing programming tools and models.
- Contribute research material, project documentation, synthesis reports, and other resources to the global urban team; encourage and support practitioners and organizational leaders to contribute to the global urban programs community of practice.
- Lead and coordinate research activities within the region related to the development of appropriate urban programming models.
Internal and External Liaison and Coordination
- Act as a strategic link and focal point for regional Urban Programming connecting NOs, Global Funding Network offices and the Urban Community of Practice for mutual support.
- Participate and actively contribute in appropriate HFHI forums, working groups and networks related to urban programs.
- Build, nurture and maintain strategic relationships with external actors at regional level (e.g. UN-Habitat, World Vision, prominent academic/research institutions) to contribute to organizational learning and build Habitat for Humanity’s credibility and influence in the area of urban programs.
Other Responsibilities
- Work closely with the members of the Area Office team promoting mutual learning, support and accountability.
Key Requirements:
- Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience in developing low cost housing solutions in urban environments.
- International work experience, with priority on Asian contexts.
- Knowledge of urban development and poverty dynamics, issues, and contributing factors.
- Knowledge of cost effective low income housing programming, financial models for urban development, cross subsidy schemes, public, private, people's partnerships with strong background in social/affordable housing policies for urban areas.
- Experience with applied research relevant to urban development issues.
- Demonstrated experience in project management, program or project design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of pro-poor urban programming (slum upgrading, greenfield and infill developments, etc.)
- Demonstrated experience with providing training and development of training materials.
- Consultancy/advisory skills.
- Strong computer skills – Excel, Word, PowerPoint, CAD, GIS, STDM.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, oral and written communication.
- Cross-cultural communication skills. Ability to work with other cultures and nationalities.
- Ability to work independently; and interdependently within a team, and with other HFH entities or partners.
- Fluent in written and spoken English.
Preferred:
- Thorough understanding of HFHI programs and mission preferred.
Travel:
- 30%
Beneficial But Not Required:
- Language of any Asia Pacific countries beyond English.