Senior Manager - ASEAN-UK Sage Phase 2

Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

Vacancy type: Full-time two years fixed-term contract

Service areas: Governance & Stability team

About ASI 

ASI (Adam Smith International) is a global advisory company that works locally to transform lives by making economies stronger, societies safer, and governments more effective. We work on behalf of governments, foundations and companies that share our ambition to take on the big challenges facing the world. We develop strategies and design, deliver and evaluate programmes that stimulate economic growth, stability and good governance. 

For nearly three decades in almost 100 countries, we have been working in partnership with governments, the private sector and civil society in countries at all stages of development. Our core team of staff and technical experts, in multiple offices around the world, ensures the quality of delivery and high ethical standards that we and our clients require. We bring together a global network of specialist experts, who contribute their experience and know-how, where and when it is needed. 

This is an exciting time to join Adam Smith International and become part of a team of bright, dynamic and committed people, determined to transform lives for the better. 

 
About the team

ASI’s Governance and Stability Practice supports the design and delivery of work focused on strengthening governance and enhancing stability around the world. The practice covers education, centre of government reform, local government reform, public financial management, anti-corruption, civil society development, alongside stabilisation, security sector reform, conflict reduction and humanitarian work. 

The team manages a growing portfolio of programmes for the UK and other donors. We are recruiting a Senior Manager to support the delivery of the ASEAN-UK Sage Phase 2 programme and to contribute to ASI’s wider growth in Southeast Asia. 

The ASEAN-UK Sage Phase 2 Programme

ASEAN-UK Sage Phase 2 (Sage-2) is a UK FCDO-funded programme delivered through the UK Mission to ASEAN. The programme runs from 2026-2029, with a focus on primary education - improving foundational learning across the region. 

The programme will provide technical assistance to countries to improve foundational learning. It aims to support ASEAN Member States to adopt, adapt and begin to institutionalise evidence-based approaches to improve foundational learning, informed by data, diagnostics and global and regional evidence. 

• Priority countries: Cambodia, Lao PDR and Timor-Leste, with additional selective engagement in the Philippines. 

• Core delivery areas: country level foundational learning reform support, evidence translation, learning and implementation insights, and strategic partnerships and regional engagement. 

About the role

We are looking to recruit a Senior Manager, based in Jakarta, to play a central role in the effective delivery of Sage-2. The role will primarily focus on programme management, client and partner engagement, delivery coordination, financial oversight, risk management and quality assurance. 

The role will also include a secondary focus on supporting ASI’s business growth in Southeast Asia, particularly by identifying and developing opportunities linked to education, governance, public sector reform and human development. 

The Senior Manager will work closely with the Project Director, Team Lead, technical leads, consortium partners, project manager, operations and finance resources, and the wider ASI team to ensure the programme is delivered to a high standard, meets FCDO requirements, contributes to sustainable reform in priority countries, and strengthens ASI’s profile in the region. 

Key Responsibilities

1. Programme Delivery and Management

   • As part of Sage-2’s leadership team, support the Project Director and Team Lead to effectively manage the delivery of the programme, ensuring plans are delivered on time, and outputs are high quality. 

   • Coordinate workplans, budgets, forecasts, delivery trackers, risk registers and reporting products. 

   • Lead the Sage-2 Project Management Unit, including line managing the Sage-2 Project Manager and Operations Manager. 

   • Support mobilisation and management of technical experts, consortium partners and downstream delivery arrangements. 

   • Track progress against agreed outputs, milestones, KPIs and deliverables. 

   • Help maintain a lean and efficient delivery model that ensures Value for Money (VfM) while enabling high-quality technical assistance. 
     

2. Client, partner and stakeholder engagement

   • Support regular operational engagement with FCDO and the UK Mission to ASEAN. 

   • Prepare for and follow up on programme governance meetings, including action tracking and partner coordination. 

   • Lead communication and coordination with consortium partners and country teams on programme management matters. 

   • Support engagement with ASEAN institutions and regional education platforms where this contributes to programme objectives. 

   • Identify, escalate and help resolve delivery issues in a timely and transparent way. 
     

3. Technical assistance coordination and quality assurance

   • Work with technical leads and country teams to ensure technical assistance is well planned, properly resourced and delivered to agreed standards. 

   • Support the development of annual country level workplans, reform design processes and delivery plans.

   • Quality assure technical outputs before submission to FCDO or external stakeholders. 

   • Help ensure country-level support remains focused on institutionalisation, scale, government ownership and improved foundational learning outcomes. 
     

4. Learning, reporting and adaptive management

   • Support the Learning & Adaptation Lead to capture delivery learning and apply it to programme management and adaptation. 

   • Contribute to monthly, quarterly and annual reporting, ensuring reports are accurate, concise, evidence-based and action-oriented. 

   • Ensure evidence and learning products are linked to practical decisions, programme improvement and stakeholder engagement. 
     

5. Financial management, risk and compliance

   • Overall responsibility for accurate budget forecasting, expenditure tracking and invoice preparation. 

   • Monitor spend against forecast and work with finance colleagues to explain variances. 

   • Oversight of quarterly financial reporting and alignment between costed workplans, outputs and deliverables. 

   • Maintain and update programme risk registers, delivery chain information and escalation logs. 

   • Support compliance with safeguarding, duty of care, fraud, data protection, confidentiality, equality and inclusion, transparency, branding and communications requirements, in line with ASI and FCDO policies. 

   • Ensure delivery decisions are informed by VfM, including economy, efficiency, effectiveness and equity. 
     

6. Business Growth

   • Identify and track relevant business development opportunities, including in Southeast Asia, particularly in education, governance, public sector reform and human development. 

   • Support ASI’s market positioning in Indonesia, ASEAN and priority countries linked to Sage Phase 2. 

   • Build and maintain networks with donors, development partners and potential consortium partners. 

   • Contribute to planning, partner identification, bid strategy and proposal development. 

   • Write or review bid sections where ASI’s programme delivery, regional engagement or education systems reform experience is relevant. 
     

What we’re looking for

This role requires a high level of responsibility and would suit someone in their mid-career with strong programme delivery experience, sound judgement, excellent organisational skills and the ability to work confidently with senior stakeholders.

Essential experience and skills

• At least seven years of relevant experience in international development, public sector reform, education systems, governance, programme management or a related field. 

• Strong experience managing complex donor-funded programmes, ideally including FCDO-funded commercial contracts. 

• Excellent project management skills, including workplanning, delivery tracking, budget management, forecasting, reporting, risk management and quality assurance. 

• Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience working with donors, government counterparts, consortium partners or multilateral institutions. 

• Experience managing or coordinating technical assistance programmes in politically or institutionally complex environments. 

• Excellent written English, including the ability to produce clear reports, briefing notes, donor correspondence and proposal material. 

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across cultures, organisations and time zones. 

• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail and ability to manage competing priorities. 

• Willingness to be based in Jakarta and travel regionally as required. 

Desirable experience and skills

• Experience working in Southeast Asia, particularly Sage-2 target countries. 

• Experience working with ASEAN institutions, regional education platforms or regional cooperation mechanisms. 

• Knowledge of foundational learning, basic education reform, evidence-based education programming, structured pedagogy, targeted instruction or Teaching at the Right Level. 

• Experience supporting business development, proposal writing, market positioning or donor engagement. 

• Experience managing consortium or downstream partner arrangements. 

• Familiarity with MEL, adaptive management, political economy analysis, VfM and safeguarding requirements. 

What we offer You 

Our people are at the heart of our strategy and our decisions. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, a dynamic and friendly team environment, the opportunity to support a high-profile regional programme, and support to develop your skills and progress in your career. 

This is an exciting role for someone who wants to combine hands-on programme delivery with business growth. The successful candidate will help deliver a flagship ASEAN-UK education programme, support government-led reform in priority countries, and contribute to ASI’s wider growth in Southeast Asia. 

What makes ASI a great place to work at: 

Impactful work: Lead and innovate in high impact portfolio of programmes that drive reach change. 

Grow with ASI: We offer dedicated support to develop your skills and progress in your career. 

Team That Inspires: Collaborate with brilliant, passionate colleagues in a dynamic environment. 

Diverse Workforce: Through our Equality Action Plan, our Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and through leadership from our Executive Team and oversight by our Board, we ensure ASI is a place where you can be yourself and succeed. 

Flexibility That Works for You: We recognise the importance of your life outside of work and support flexible working. 

ASI is committed to ensuring that everyone in the organisation is treated with dignity, respect, and fairness. The Company values diversity and inclusion and strives to maintain a workplace where all individuals are treated equally. ASI is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved in its work. All ASI People are responsible for understanding and following the Safeguarding Policy, which is designed to protect individuals — especially vulnerable groups — from exploitation, abuse, harassment, or violence of any kind, including sexual misconduct 

We'd love to hear from you    

Excited to join us? Submit your CV (no more than two pages) and a one-page cover letter setting out your motivations and suitability. The deadline for applications is 30/11/2026.  

Due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.  

ASI encourages applications from candidates of all social backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, abilities, and orientations.