Senior Stakeholder Engagement Officer

Zoological Society of London; Philippines; On-site; PHP 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 15 days

Medical insurance

13th month pay

Travel opportunities

Monthly communications allowance

Emergency loan fund

Job summary

The Senior Stakeholder Engagement Officer for ZSL Philippines based in Ortigas, Manila, will provide high-level support to strengthen multi-stakeholder engagement for the GEF PRICELESS Project, focusing on policy dialogue and enforcement. You will lead stakeholder mapping, conduct KAP assessments, integrate gender analysis, and coordinate with government and civil society to align priorities and reporting.

This role offers exposure to international donors, travel across the Philippines, and a

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree in a relevant field (e.g. social sciences, environmental policy, natural resource management, communications, or gender studies).
• At least 8 years of experience in stakeholder engagement, policy dialogue, governance support, or strategic communications within environment or development programmes.
• Proven experience working with national and local government agencies and multi‑stakeholder platforms.
• Practical experience using KAP studies or similar social research to inform awareness, outreach, or policy engagement.
• Demonstrated experience leading or supporting awareness‑raising, behavior‑change, or compliance‑focused initiatives.
• Strong understanding of gender mainstreaming and application of gender analysis in stakeholder engagement and communications.
• Strong analytical, facilitation, and advisory skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with senior decision‑makers.
• Experience facilitating complex consultations, negotiations, or consensus‑building processes involving government, communities, civil society, and technical partners.
• Excellent writing skills, including preparation of briefing notes, strategies, and donor‑focused reports.

Responsibilities

• Stakeholder mapping and engagement strategy for awareness campaigns.
• KAP assessments to inform campaign design and messaging.
• Gender analysis and gender-responsive engagement.
• High-level stakeholder engagement, policy dialogue, and coordination.
• Stakeholder ownership, risk management, adaptive engagement.
• Documentation, reporting, and knowledge support for donors.

Education

Advanced university degree in a relevant field (e.g. social sciences, environmental policy, natural resource management, communications, or gender studies)

Job description

Purpose of the role

Project Description

The GEF PRICELESS Project seeks to increase legal protection for the Philippines Rise Marine Resource Reserve (PRMRR), formally listing this marine protected area under the Expanded National Integrated Protected Area System (ENIPAS). The PRMRR will be overseen by a permanent Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), which will be in a position to harmonize conflicting mandates and agendas between the various institutions currently tasked with govenance. The GEF PRICELESS project will also address key data and information gaps to enable appropriate management, including gaps relating to key biodiversity, fisheries/resource uses, and associated threats. This will enable the PAMB to execute the necessary protected area enforcement and awareness-raising efforts, and thus foster enhanced appreciation for the value of PRMRR biodiversity and marine resources and compliance with laws and regulations. Management grounded in robust data and information will also facilitate fishing communities’ access to benefits from sustainable fishing and alternative livelihoods. Finally, the GEF PRICELESS project will provide a model for the Philippines and elsewhere for achieving offshore marine resource and ecosystem protection targets, including those related to biodiversity within the CBD, and add a large, highly biodiverse and unique ecosystem to the world’s Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) and Ecologically or Biologically Significant Area (EBSA) systems.

Purpose of the Role

The Senior Stakeholder Engagement Officer will provide high‑level technical and strategic support to strengthen multi‑stakeholder engagement, coordination, and ownership for the implementation of the GEF PRICELESS Project. The successful candidate will support inclusive, gender‑responsive, and effective engagement of key national and local stakeholders to facilitate policy support, institutional coordination, and sustained compliance related to the protection and management of the Philippine Rise Marine Resource Reserve.

Key Responsibilities

• Stakeholder Mapping and Engagement Strategy for Awareness Campaigns
  • Lead the development and periodic updating of stakeholder mapping and engagement analysis to inform project strategy, policy dialogue, awareness campaigns, and institutional coordination.
  • Assess and analyse stakeholder interests, influence, relationships, risks, communication reach, and gender dynamics to inform targeted engagement approaches.
• Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) Assessment to Inform Campaign Design
  • Provide technical support in the design, analysis, and interpretation of KAP assessments to inform awareness and behavior‑change strategies.
  • Identify priority knowledge gaps, attitudes, behavioral drivers, and barriers, with findings disaggregated by gender and stakeholder group where feasible.
• Gender Analysis and Gender‑Responsive Engagement
  • Integrate gender analysis into stakeholder engagement and awareness initiatives, including consideration of roles, decision‑making power, access to information, and compliance motivations.
  • Ensure campaigns and outreach approaches apply gender‑responsive messaging and engagement methods.
• High‑Level Stakeholder Engagement, Policy Dialogue, and Institutional Coordination
  • Provide strategic advice on engaging government officials and key institutions as champions for awareness and behavior‑change efforts.
  • Facilitate high‑level stakeholder meetings, consultations, and fora to strengthen shared messaging, institutional alignment, and ownership of PRMRR protection and management priorities.
• Stakeholder Ownership, Risk Management, and Adaptive Engagement
  • Identify stakeholder‑related risks and propose practical mitigation and adaptive engagement measures.
  • Advise on approaches to strengthen stakeholder ownership of awareness and behavior‑change initiatives.
• Documentation, Reporting, and Knowledge Support
  • Document stakeholder engagement processes, KAP and gender assessment findings, key agreements, and lessons learned that contribute to awareness and compliance outcomes.
  • Provide inputs to awareness‑related sections of project progress and donor reports.
  • Develop briefing notes, key insights, and recommendations for project leadership to strengthen alignment between stakeholder engagement, assessment findings, and campaign implementation.

About You

The successful candidate should have the following qualifications:

• Advanced university degree in a relevant field (e.g. social sciences, environmental policy, natural resource management, communications, or gender studies).
• At least 8 years of experience in stakeholder engagement, policy dialogue, governance support, or strategic communications within environment or development programmes.
• Proven experience working with national and local government agencies and multi‑stakeholder platforms.
• Practical experience using KAP studies or similar social research to inform awareness, outreach, or policy engagement.
• Demonstrated experience leading or supporting awareness‑raising, behavior‑change, or compliance‑focused initiatives.
• Strong understanding of gender mainstreaming and application of gender analysis in stakeholder engagement and communications.
• Strong analytical, facilitation, and advisory skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with senior decision‑makers.
• Experience facilitating complex consultations, negotiations, or consensus‑building processes involving government, communities, civil society, and technical partners.
• Excellent writing skills, including preparation of briefing notes, strategies, and donor‑focused reports.

Desirable

• Experience in donor‑funded projects (e.g., GEF, UNDP, bilateral or multilateral donors);
• Familiarity with sustainable fisheries, marine conservation, or protected area management;
• Familiarity with Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) concepts;
• Experience facilitating or supporting training and community outreach activities.

ZSL is committed to conservation led by those who know their environments best. We work hand in hand with local communities and conservationists around the world, united in our mission to protect wildlife and power sustainable solutions globally.

We encourage applications from members of the communities we work with, and from those who share our passion for conservation and collaboration. At ZSL, we value respect, local knowledge, and shared purpose, together, we can make a real difference for wildlife, people and planet.

About Us

We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.

In 2010, the ZSL-Philippines Country Office was established as a duly accredited non‑government organization registered under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a local branch of a foreign charitable institution registered in UK and holds its primary office in Iloilo City.

Project Staff Base

The successful candidate shall be based at ZSL Philippines field office in Ortigas, Manila with corresponding fieldwork and travel to target project sites and the opportunity to visit other ZSL Philippines project sites.

Vacant Position

1 Vacancy

What do we offer?

At ZSL, we are proud of our approach to employee benefits which include the following:

• Our vision and purpose -you’ll work alongside colleagues who are passionate about science‑led conservation, knowing that you will help us to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wildlife going extinct.
• Holidays – 15 days paid annual leave during each 12‑month period worked, plus national and public holidays as per the Labor Laws of the Philippines
• Sick Leave- ZSL Philippines showcases a 6 week generous leave compensation for each staff that ensures enough recovery for those who are with illness.
• 13th Month Pay
• Wellbeing – ZSL provides medical health insurance (HMO) for the staff and 3 of his/her dependents (spouse & children).
• International accident insurance coverage.
• Paid Maternity leave and paternity leave aside.
• Monthly communications allowance
• Chances for travel to ZSL project sites across the country as well as to our international offices.
• Staff Emergency Loan Fund benefit after 6 months.

NB: We reserve the right to close our advertisement early or extend the advertising date until a suitable candidate has been found.