Director, Programs, AVPN
Location: Southeast Asia (singapore, indonesia, Malaysia and philippines)
Reports to: Executive Director, AVPN
About AVPN
AVPN is a unique funders network committed to building a vibrant and high-impact social investment community across Asia. AVPN's mission is to catalyse the movement toward a more strategic, collaborative, and outcome-focused approach to social investing, ensuring that resources are deployed as effectively as possible to address key social challenges facing Asia today and in the future.
About the Role
AVPN's diverse social investor community has extensive interest across a range of topics including climate issues for which the Climate Action program is the go to hub for advice and partnership. This role will focus on leading and enabling the development of AVPN's Climate portfolio, with the aim of channeling resources to address climate related issues in Asia.
Reporting to the Executive Director - Climate Action, the programs director will work collaboratively with other teams in AVPN and translate the AVPN 2030 Climate strategy into action. The role will involve extensive travel across Asia and engagement with AVPN members, identifying strategic engagement opportunities with partners; designing innovative programmes to address their unique needs and lead communication about Asia's leadership in climate in relevant regional and global events and forums.
The ideal candidate will possess a blend of strategic thinking, relationship management, team building, business development and program management skills.
Note : AVPN has a culture of rewarding holistic growth and provides talent mobility. This role will be under the broader programmatic umbrella and therefore offers opportunity and growth pathways to encompass diverse thematic issues (beyond climate; such as health, gender, livelihoods etc) as relevant to the AVPN community.
Responsibilities:
- Co-lead and develop the Climate Action program strategy and annual business plans aligned with the broader organisation goals.
- Developing programmes that support collaboration between AVPN's communities and advance the mobilisation of capital, integrating into current AVPN assets and surface new ideas.
- Lead fundraising and business development for specific issue areas within the broader climate action program. This will involve working closely with the partnerships team to engage and develop key donor relationships to strengthen the pipeline for future funders.
- Oversee execution of a portfolio of projects under the program which will include project management, resource allocation and monitoring, impact evaluation and member engagement.
- Develop, nurture and manage a lean and highly efficient team of Managers and Associates. Furthermore, building AVPN's competency and knowledge in specific themes to engage interested stakeholders.
- Working in a matrix structure with regional market teams and other program teams and support functions.
Required Experience
- Minimum 12 years experience in working with lean teams to create and execute projects with philanthropic (or impact capital) organisations that will advance strategic impact initiatives in Climate.
- Extreme comfort and agility in engaging on the front line with topics and stakeholders that straddle the continuum of capital at different seniority levels, ranging from UHNW and private wealth, philanthropy, impact investing, family business, sustainability and ESG investing.
- 5+ years of experience with funder circles, investor/donor-raising, funder education, capital matching, movement-building activities.
- Strong knowledge of climate topics and trends across Asia and keen ability to connect the dots and translate insights into program ideas.
Required Skills & Attributes
- Masters degree in Climate sciences, environment and conservation, public policy, developmental economics and related fields.
- High degree of commitment and passion for the power of networks to mobilise more capital for better development outcomes.
- Works well within team structures and independently, flexible, resourceful, takes initiative.
- Innovative thinker with the ability to conceptualise, develop and deliver programmes that mobilise cross-sector resources.
- Management ability to nurture lean team to achieve outsized results
- Business development experience in raising 6 figure funding. Existing relationships with local and global climate funders will be an advantage.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills that are effective with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders of varying seniority.
- A technologically savvy personality comfortable with digital tools, cloud apps, and CRM for member and prospect engagement needs.
