Manager, Development and Communications

About Rare

Rare inspires change so people and nature thrive. For 50 years, across 60 countries, we have inspired and empowered millions of people and their communities to shift their behaviors and practices to protect our shared planet. We are a global leader in driving social change for people and nature and believe that the cumulative power of individual and community action is a vital pathway to safeguarding and restoring our shared waters, lands, and climate. Rare’s organizational culture is results-oriented, and entrepreneurial, and our global programs cover the thematic areas of climate change, fisheries and marine conservation, sustainable agriculture food security, and Green Recovery.

Position Summary

Rare’s regional programs are supported by a diverse portfolio of institutional donors, foundations, bilateral and multilateral agencies, and individual philanthropists. Sustaining and growing this portfolio requires strong alignment between program priorities, donor interests, and compelling communications for multiple audiences.

The Manager, Development and Communications plays a critical dual role, dedicating approximately 60% of its time to proposal development and donor management and 40% to content development and communications. Based in the Philippines, this role works closely with the Director of Strategy, Development, and Communications, country program teams, and Rare’s global Development and Communications departments to advance Philippines-specific fundraising opportunities and amplify program impact through high-quality, audience-centered communications.

This position is ideal for a strong writer and strategic thinker with experience in nonprofit fundraising, institutional grants, and mission-driven communications.

Essential Functions

Proposal Development and Donor Management

• Assist and support in the concept and proposal development lifecycle for institutional, foundation, and public-sector donors, including concept notes, full proposals, logframes/results frameworks, budgets (in coordination with finance), and supporting annexes.
• Conduct desk research on donor priorities, funding windows, thematic areas, and geographic focus to inform competitive and strategic proposals
• Support donor engagement and stewardship by preparing briefing notes, presentations, and tailored materials for donor meetings, learning exchanges, and site visits, and by participating in donor calls as needed
• Write and edit critical communications to various stakeholders, including but not limited to donor reports, newsletters, and year-end program reviews
• Coordinate closely with program, technical, finance, and monitoring and evaluation teams to gather inputs, ensure accuracy, and meet donor requirements and deadlines
• Translate complex technical program information into clear, persuasive, and donor-aligned narratives that show impact, scalability, and value for money
• Maintain consistency in tone, messaging, branding, and formatting across all proposals and donor communications

Content Development and Strategic Communications for Thought Leadership

• Develop high-quality written and visual content, like program and policy briefers that communicate program impact, learning, and innovation to diverse audiences, including donors, partners, policymakers, and the general public
• Identify, analyze, and shape stories from the field, selecting those most relevant to target audiences based on motivations, priorities, and Rare’s strategic objectives
• Collaborate with program teams to proactively plan communications that support fundraising, policy influence, and program visibility

Digital and Social Media Communications

• Develop and implement a strategic social media plan to strengthen brand presence, increase audience engagement, and support fundraising and advocacy goals
• Create, curate, and manage social media content across platforms using text, audio, visual, and multimedia formats
• Monitor social media trends, including design, applications, strategy, and innovation developments
• Track key performance metrics of social media campaigns to maximize results and report progress to management

Knowledge Management and Performance Monitoring

• Maintain and organize a repository of proposals, donor reports, case studies, success stories, briefers, and communications assets
• Ensure fundraising and communications materials are up to date, accessible, and aligned with current program priorities and donor requirements
• Monitor and analyze the effectiveness of fundraising and communications efforts, including donor feedback, proposal outcomes, and content performance, and apply insights to improve future strategies and materials

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Development Studies, International Relations, Marketing, Business, or a related field; a master’s degree is an advantage
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in development, fundraising, grant writing, and/or strategic communications, preferably within a nonprofit or international development organization
• Demonstrated success in writing funded proposals for institutional donors, foundations, or public-sector agencies
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively
• Proven experience designing and executing communications strategies and campaigns across multiple platforms
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities
• Experience working in multicultural and cross-functional teams; international or regional experience is a plus

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Rare is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic.