Program Manager

Free To Shine exists to prevent school-aged girls being trafficked into the commercial sex industry in Cambodia. We achieve this by focusing on strengthening family and community systems to prioritise the safety and education of their children.

Announcement Positions

Program Manager Apply Now Workplace Circumstances

• Environment: Office
• Languages: English, Khmer
• Location: Siemreap Province

Position Circumstances

• Career Category: Social Work, Exec. / Management, Community Development, Child Protection
• Schedule:Full-time
• Salary: $1150

Position Summary

REPORTS TO: The Program Manager Reports to the Country Director

HOURS: 8:00 am–5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, including a one-hour lunch break

The Program Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for Free To Shine’s program team in Cambodia. The role leads the delivery of high-quality, child-centred, gender-responsive and evidence-informed services that protect girls and support families at risk of trafficking.

Working closely with the Country Director and Leadership Team, the Program Manager oversees program quality, case-management practice, safeguarding, staff supervision, partnerships, planning, budgeting, monitoring and reporting. The role also contributes to organisational strategy, program development, donor engagement and continuous improvement.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Program Leadership and Strategy
• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the program department and contribute actively to the Leadership Team.
• Lead implementation of approved program plans and ensure activities meet organisational, donor and legal requirements.
• Contribute to strategic planning, program design, funding priorities, grant applications, donor reports and organisational communications.
• Ensure program commitments and reporting obligations are met within agreed timeframes.
• Identify, assess and manage program risks, escalating significant issues as required.
• Lead continuous improvement of program systems, practice, tools, procedures and guidance materials.
• Ensure program staff understand and comply with organisational policies, safeguarding requirements and relevant Cambodian laws.
• Represent Free To Shine in relevant forums and maintain positive relationships with government, schools, communities, NGOs and other stakeholders.
• Maintain confidentiality, ethical conduct and professional standards across all program activities.
• Safeguarding, Child Protection and Case Management
• Uphold Free To Shine’s Child Protection Policy, Code of Conduct and safeguarding procedures, including prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.
• Ensure safeguarding concerns, child-protection concerns and serious incidents are identified, documented, managed and escalated appropriately.
• Promote safe, ethical, child-centred, strengths-based and rights-based practice across the team.
• Conduct field-visit observations and assessments to strengthen professional practice and service quality.
• Lead or support safety meetings and case conferences for complex or high-risk cases.
• Supervise effective case management for girls and families, including intake, assessment, risk assessment, safety planning, referrals, case planning, review, monitoring and closure.
• Provide professional guidance on complex cases and directly manage cases when required.
• Ensure case records, referrals and client information are accurate, confidential and completed in a timely manner.
• Conduct regular file and data-quality checks to strengthen compliance and practice.
• People Management and Team Development
• Lead, motivate and support a high-performing, respectful and collaborative program team.
• Conduct regular supervision, including quarterly satisfaction, progress and performance conversations with supervisees.
• Set clear work expectations, monitor performance, provide constructive feedback and address performance concerns promptly and fairly.
• Identify individual and team learning needs and facilitate relevant training, mentoring, coaching and professional development.
• Promote staff wellbeing, resilience, accountability, inclusion and respectful teamwork.
• Community Engagement and Partnerships
• Build and maintain effective relationships with schools, local authorities, Commune Committees for Women and Children, community leaders, service providers, NGOs and networks.
• Strengthen coordination and safe referral pathways with government and community-based service providers.
• Support the delivery of community engagement, child-protection awareness, women’s leadership and trafficking-prevention activities.
• Ensure required engagement and coordination visits with authorities, schools and community structures are completed.
• Prepare the annual Authority Report and other required program information on time.
• Promote community ownership of child safety, girls’ education, gender equity and trafficking prevention.
• Planning, Budgeting, Monitoring and Reporting
• Lead annual and quarterly program planning with the Country Director and program team.
• Manage program budgets, monitor expenditure and ensure resources are used efficiently, ethically and in accordance with financial procedures and delegated authority.
• Work with finance and operations staff to plan procurement and ensure resources are available for program delivery.
• Ensure assistance provided to girls and families is distributed fairly, safely, transparently and in accordance with program criteria.
• Lead implementation and improvement of monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) systems.
• Ensure program data is accurate, secure, analysed and reported on time.
• Monitor progress against objectives, indicators, targets and performance measures.
• Facilitate reflection and learning to identify challenges, adapt approaches and improve delivery.
• Ensure timely, accurate and evidence-based reports for management, donors, authorities and other stakeholders.
• Maintain program documentation, including work plans, budgets, risk registers, reports, training records, partnership records and case-management oversight records.
• Support evaluations, audits, reviews and other quality-assurance processes
• Undertake other reasonable duties as directed by the Country Director or Leadership Team.

Benefits:

• Unspecified-duration employment contract.
• 18 days paid Annual Leave
• 7 days Special Leave (which includes sick leave)
• All public holidays as specified by the government
• Local health and accident insurance

Expected Profile of Candidates Languages:

• Khmer - Fluent
• English - Fluent

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Child Protection, International Development, Community Development or a related field

Work History:

• Social work, child protection, community development or a related area for 5 years as a minimum

Skills & Knowledge: General & Technical Skills

• Demonstrated experience managing, supervising and developing staff in an NGO or community-development setting.
• Experience providing or overseeing case management for children, adolescents and/or families experiencing vulnerability or protection risks.
• Strong knowledge of child protection, safeguarding, gender equity, child rights and rights-based approaches to development.
• Understanding of factors contributing to trafficking vulnerability and their impact on children and families.
• Experience in program planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
• Experience working with government authorities, schools, community structures, civil-society organisations and service providers.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in Khmer and English.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and internet-based systems.
• Experience in trafficking prevention, gender-based violence prevention, girls’ education or women’s leadership programming.
• Experience contributing to grant applications, donor reporting and program budgets.
• Experience working with Cambodian government institutions, Commune Councils or Commune Committees for Women and Children.
• Experience supporting evaluations, audits or quality-assurance processes.

Soft Skills

• Values-based leadership and the ability to lead, motivate and develop a diverse team.
• Strong commitment to safeguarding, child protection, child rights, gender equity, inclusion and ethical practice.
• Sound judgement and the ability to manage sensitive, complex and high-risk situations calmly and professionally.
• Strong social-work and case-management knowledge, including supervision and professional decision-making.
• Effective planning, analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build trusted relationships with staff, children, families, communities, authorities and partners.
• Strong written communication, reporting and presentation skills in Khmer and English.
• High organisation, attention to detail and ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Integrity, resilience, self-awareness, emotional intelligence and commitment to confidentiality.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly to rural communities, including by motorbike on difficult roads.

 

How to Apply

Please email a cover letter and CV to email provided in the contact details using Program Manager Application as the subject line.

Applications must address the selection criteria and provide examples of relevant achievements and challenges overcome. Shortlisted candidates may be contacted for interview on a rolling basis.

Three references will be requested from shortlisted candidates being considered for appointment, including a reference from their current supervisor.

Safeguarding and Recruitment Checks

Free To Shine is committed to protecting children and adults from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. We apply robust safeguarding measures throughout recruitment and employment.

Appointment to this role is subject to satisfactory reference checks and criminal-history checks. Applicants currently residing in Cambodia will be required to provide a police check and commune-level behaviour certificate where applicable.

Equal Opportunity

Free To Shine is committed to an inclusive, diverse and respectful workplace in which all employees are valued. Women are strongly encouraged to apply. We also welcome applications from people with disabilities and people from diverse backgrounds.

 Position Summary

REPORTS TO: The Program Manager Reports to the Country Director

HOURS: 8:00 am–5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, including a one-hour lunch break

The Program Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for Free To Shine’s program team in Cambodia. The role leads the delivery of high-quality, child-centred, gender-responsive and evidence-informed services that protect girls and support families at risk of trafficking.

Working closely with the Country Director and Leadership Team, the Program Manager oversees program quality, case-management practice, safeguarding, staff supervision, partnerships, planning, budgeting, monitoring and reporting. The role also contributes to organisational strategy, program development, donor engagement and continuous improvement.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Program Leadership and Strategy
• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the program department and contribute actively to the Leadership Team.
• Lead implementation of approved program plans and ensure activities meet organisational, donor and legal requirements.
• Contribute to strategic planning, program design, funding priorities, grant applications, donor reports and organisational communications.
• Ensure program commitments and reporting obligations are met within agreed timeframes.
• Identify, assess and manage program risks, escalating significant issues as required.
• Lead continuous improvement of program systems, practice, tools, procedures and guidance materials.
• Ensure program staff understand and comply with organisational policies, safeguarding requirements and relevant Cambodian laws.
• Represent Free To Shine in relevant forums and maintain positive relationships with government, schools, communities, NGOs and other stakeholders.
• Maintain confidentiality, ethical conduct and professional standards across all program activities.
• Safeguarding, Child Protection and Case Management
• Uphold Free To Shine’s Child Protection Policy, Code of Conduct and safeguarding procedures, including prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.
• Ensure safeguarding concerns, child-protection concerns and serious incidents are identified, documented, managed and escalated appropriately.
• Promote safe, ethical, child-centred, strengths-based and rights-based practice across the team.
• Conduct field-visit observations and assessments to strengthen professional practice and service quality.
• Lead or support safety meetings and case conferences for complex or high-risk cases.
• Supervise effective case management for girls and families, including intake, assessment, risk assessment, safety planning, referrals, case planning, review, monitoring and closure.
• Provide professional guidance on complex cases and directly manage cases when required.
• Ensure case records, referrals and client information are accurate, confidential and completed in a timely manner.
• Conduct regular file and data-quality checks to strengthen compliance and practice.
• People Management and Team Development
• Lead, motivate and support a high-performing, respectful and collaborative program team.
• Conduct regular supervision, including quarterly satisfaction, progress and performance conversations with supervisees.
• Set clear work expectations, monitor performance, provide constructive feedback and address performance concerns promptly and fairly.
• Identify individual and team learning needs and facilitate relevant training, mentoring, coaching and professional development.
• Promote staff wellbeing, resilience, accountability, inclusion and respectful teamwork.
• Community Engagement and Partnerships
• Build and maintain effective relationships with schools, local authorities, Commune Committees for Women and Children, community leaders, service providers, NGOs and networks.
• Strengthen coordination and safe referral pathways with government and community-based service providers.
• Support the delivery of community engagement, child-protection awareness, women’s leadership and trafficking-prevention activities.
• Ensure required engagement and coordination visits with authorities, schools and community structures are completed.
• Prepare the annual Authority Report and other required program information on time.
• Promote community ownership of child safety, girls’ education, gender equity and trafficking prevention.
• Planning, Budgeting, Monitoring and Reporting
• Lead annual and quarterly program planning with the Country Director and program team.
• Manage program budgets, monitor expenditure and ensure resources are used efficiently, ethically and in accordance with financial procedures and delegated authority.
• Work with finance and operations staff to plan procurement and ensure resources are available for program delivery.
• Ensure assistance provided to girls and families is distributed fairly, safely, transparently and in accordance with program criteria.
• Lead implementation and improvement of monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) systems.
• Ensure program data is accurate, secure, analysed and reported on time.
• Monitor progress against objectives, indicators, targets and performance measures.
• Facilitate reflection and learning to identify challenges, adapt approaches and improve delivery.
• Ensure timely, accurate and evidence-based reports for management, donors, authorities and other stakeholders.
• Maintain program documentation, including work plans, budgets, risk registers, reports, training records, partnership records and case-management oversight records.
• Support evaluations, audits, reviews and other quality-assurance processes
• Undertake other reasonable duties as directed by the Country Director or Leadership Team.

Benefits:

• Unspecified-duration employment contract.
• 18 days paid Annual Leave
• 7 days Special Leave (which includes sick leave)
• All public holidays as specified by the government
• Local health and accident insurance

Expected Profile of Candidates Languages:

• Khmer - Fluent
• English - Fluent

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Child Protection, International Development, Community Development or a related field

Work History:

• Social work, child protection, community development or a related area for 5 years as a minimum

Skills & Knowledge: General & Technical Skills

• Demonstrated experience managing, supervising and developing staff in an NGO or community-development setting.
• Experience providing or overseeing case management for children, adolescents and/or families experiencing vulnerability or protection risks.
• Strong knowledge of child protection, safeguarding, gender equity, child rights and rights-based approaches to development.
• Understanding of factors contributing to trafficking vulnerability and their impact on children and families.
• Experience in program planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
• Experience working with government authorities, schools, community structures, civil-society organisations and service providers.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in Khmer and English.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and internet-based systems.
• Experience in trafficking prevention, gender-based violence prevention, girls’ education or women’s leadership programming.
• Experience contributing to grant applications, donor reporting and program budgets.
• Experience working with Cambodian government institutions, Commune Councils or Commune Committees for Women and Children.
• Experience supporting evaluations, audits or quality-assurance processes.

Soft Skills

• Values-based leadership and the ability to lead, motivate and develop a diverse team.
• Strong commitment to safeguarding, child protection, child rights, gender equity, inclusion and ethical practice.
• Sound judgement and the ability to manage sensitive, complex and high-risk situations calmly and professionally.
• Strong social-work and case-management knowledge, including supervision and professional decision-making.
• Effective planning, analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build trusted relationships with staff, children, families, communities, authorities and partners.
• Strong written communication, reporting and presentation skills in Khmer and English.
• High organisation, attention to detail and ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Integrity, resilience, self-awareness, emotional intelligence and commitment to confidentiality.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly to rural communities, including by motorbike on difficult roads.

 

How to Apply

Please email a cover letter and CV to email provided in the contact details using Program Manager Application as the subject line.

Applications must address the selection criteria and provide examples of relevant achievements and challenges overcome. Shortlisted candidates may be contacted for interview on a rolling basis.

Three references will be requested from shortlisted candidates being considered for appointment, including a reference from their current supervisor.

Safeguarding and Recruitment Checks

Free To Shine is committed to protecting children and adults from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. We apply robust safeguarding measures throughout recruitment and employment.

Appointment to this role is subject to satisfactory reference checks and criminal-history checks. Applicants currently residing in Cambodia will be required to provide a police check and commune-level behaviour certificate where applicable.

Equal Opportunity

Free To Shine is committed to an inclusive, diverse and respectful workplace in which all employees are valued. Women are strongly encouraged to apply. We also welcome applications from people with disabilities and people from diverse backgrounds.

  Contact Details Office Address

• Group 4, Treang, Sla Kram Sangkat, Siem Reap Municipality, Siemreap Province, Cambodia

  Contact Name

• Free To Shine

  Email

• TO: [email protected]

  Website

• https://freetoshine.org/reports

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