PROGRESS Team Leader

Who We Are

BCG is seeking a highly experienced Team Leader that will be responsible for providing on-the-ground leadership, strategic direction, technical expertise, and operational oversight for the PROGRESS program based in Manila, Philippines.

Promoting Growth, Resilience, Economic Stability and Sustainability in the Philippines (PROGRESS) is Australia’s new 5-year, AUD45M, flagship inclusive economic growth program, funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). PROGRESS will elevate Australia’s direct and visible engagement on economic cooperation in the Philippines, in support of the Philippine Development Plan (2023–2028). As a pragmatic and responsive partner, Australia intends to deliver catalytic investments across a range of economic sectors through PROGRESS. These investments will support the Philippines economy by addressing issues and sectors strategic to the Philippines and Australia, such as enhancements to the business environment, support for targeted economic reforms, and support for the growth of priority sectors such as clean energy and resources. PROGRESS will also seek to develop strong ties with Philippine business leaders and key national agencies, legislators, academia and think tanks, that will create opportunities to forge connections and achieve results in areas critical to the

Philippines’ economic development.

The objective of PROGRESS is to bolster inclusive, sustainable and resilient economic growth as a pragmatic and responsive partner of the Philippines. PROGRESS has two mutually reinforcing EOPOs to be achieved by 2031 each linked to two workstreams: (1) private sector growth and (2) economic management.

- Private Sector Growth (EOPO1): Targeted reforms introduced to improve the business enabling environment and drive private sector growth.
- Economic Management (EOPO2): Strengthened economic management that supports inclusive, sustainable and resilient economic growth, including in priority sectors.

What You'll Do

The Team Leader has primary responsibility for leading the successful delivery of PROGRESS, reporting to BCG’s Delivery Co-Leads and DFAT, managing the PROGRESS team of nine, and working closely with DFAT’s Senior Program Manager for PROGRESS, based in the Australian Embassy in Manila. The role covers program planning and execution, managing relationships with the Government of the Philippines (GPH), DFAT, The Asia Foundation (TAF), and other stakeholders as well as monitoring and reporting progress. The Team Leader also manages budgeting and service delivery under the DFAT contract, working to ensure the program achieves PROGRESS’ EOPOs.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

- Leading the PROGRESS team on a day-to-day basis as the key focal point for DFAT and GPH
- Leading and influencing program strategy and driving impact across EOPOs and the program’s intermediate outcomes, including maintaining strategic coherence and alignment across the program activity portfolio
- Developing and maintaining productive relationships with senior GPH stakeholders and navigating the Philippine political and institutional landscape, including sub-national dynamics
- Managing the positions of Deputy Team Leader and Program Technical Manager, and the broader PROGRESS team
- Top-level oversight of day-to-day program implementation and performance, including monitoring progress against EOPOs and cross-cutting themes, proactively managing risks and ensuring compliance with DFAT policies and contractual requirements
- Membership of the PROGRESS Management Committee, and providing support to the PROGRESS Steering Committee
- Engaging DFAT, GPH agencies, and a range of private sector and civil society actors
- Leading the PROGRESS team to ensure the timely delivery of annual and progress reporting, directing annual workplans, Program Activity ToRs, budgets and deliverables, and leading the development and timely delivery of Concept Notes, Tasking Notes and other key activity documentation
- Managing subcontractors (including TAF) and ensuring accountability for performance

What You'll Bring

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential

- Ability to lead a multi-disciplinary team in a complex program environment
- Senior leadership experience in a public sector context, in a country such as Australia or the Philippines
- Senior leadership experience in managing complex reform programs, including responsibility for program delivery, budgets, performance and compliance
- Demonstrated understanding of private sector development, business enabling environment reform and investment climate issues
- Expertise across at least one of PROGRESS’s key outcome areas: ease of doing business, economic and fiscal management, sustainable mining and/or clean energy
- Experience working in the Philippines or Southeast Asia, and or with a strong understanding of the Philippines’ economy, institutions and political economy
- Ability to monitor progress, identify risks and work effectively under pressure
- Executive-level experience working with senior government counterparts

Desirable

- A track record of sound judgement in ambiguous or politically sensitive situations, with the ability to make timely decisions without full information
- Comfort operating at both strategic and operational levels, moving fluidly between senior-level engagement (e.g., Undersecretary) and day-to-day problem-solving
- Strong relationship-building skills, with a demonstrated ability to earn trust quickly across government, business and civil society
- A collaborative leadership style that empowers a team while retaining clear accountability for outcome
- Resilience and adaptability, with a demonstrated ability to adjust direction as political or institutional priorities shift
- Cultural fluency and sensitivity to the Philippine context, or a demonstrated ability to build this quickly
- Experience working on DFAT-funded or comparable donor-funded programs, with familiarity with DFAT policies, governance and funding requirements
- Experience integrating gender equality, disability equity and rights, and social inclusion into program design and/or delivery

To apply, please email your CV with the subject “PROGRESS Team Leader application” to Luke Raffin at [email protected] .  The application period closes on 30 October 2026.

Boston Consulting Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity / expression, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under national, provincial, or local law, where applicable, and those with criminal histories will be considered in a manner consistent with applicable state and local laws.

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