Team Leader - Cambodia Climate Resilience Program

Vacancy type: Contingent on funding and DFAT approval, four years, with possibility of extension.

Location: Cambodia, Mekong/Delta region

Service areas: International Development, Climate Change, Water Resource Management.

About the role

ASI (Adam Smith International) is preparing for an upcoming opportunity: the Cambodia Climate Resilience Program (CCRP). CCRP is a flagship bilateral investment from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), valued at up to AUD 75 million over nine years, comprising of an initial 4-year phase (AUD 30 million), with the potential for an option period of a further 5-years. The Request for Tender (RFT) is anticipated in May or June 2025, with mobilisation expected in Q2/Q3 2025.

CCRP will assist Cambodia to strengthen climate resilience and integrate climate change adaptation into national policy implementation. It will work alongside existing Australian-supported regional and global water and climate initiatives, contributing to broader Mekong subregion resilience efforts. Cambodia faces acute vulnerabilities to climate change, ranking 144 out of 189 countries in the ND-GAIN Country Index. The country is highly exposed to frequent floods, droughts, and heatwaves, with projections indicating more extreme weather trends and rising sea levels. These impacts disproportionately affect the poorest and most marginalised populations, including women, children, people with disabilities, Indigenous groups, and other vulnerable communities. A 2023 World Bank report estimates that climate change could reduce Cambodia’s GDP by up to nine percent by 2050, with higher losses in extreme flood years. Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) challenges are significant, with climate change compounding issues of water quality, availability, and associated health and education outcomes.

The Team Leader (TL) will form part of CCRP’s Executive Team, playing a pivotal leadership role in the strategic delivery, oversight, and governance of program activities. The TL will lead the identification and development of CCRP’s engagement priorities, fostering strong, collaborative relationships with DFAT representatives, Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) counterparts, and key stakeholders and development partners across Cambodia and the Mekong subregion. The role is responsible for ensuring the integration of cross-cutting priorities – including Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) – across all aspects of program delivery, and for driving progress towards CCRP’s End-of-Program Outcomes (EOPOs). The TL will be based full-time in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with regular domestic travel and occasional international travel within Southeast Asia and/or to Australia, as operationally required.

This is a critical leadership position within CCRP, requiring direct and situational leadership to ensure effective program implementation and contribute to building a stronger, safer, and more climate-resilient Cambodia. Appointment to the TL position is contingent upon DFAT’s selection of ASI as the preferred tenderer and subsequent DFAT approval of the nominated candidate at mobilisation.

About you

You will bring:

• A Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field, ideally with postgraduate qualifications in Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), water governance, climate change, environmental management, international development, or a related discipline.

• Demonstrated experience as a Team Leader, Chief of Party, Deputy Team Leader or similar senior leadership position, with a proven track record of developing and leading high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams in cross-cultural contexts.

• Strong understanding and working experience of water governance, watershed management, and conservation strategies, with practical knowledge of hydrology, water quality monitoring, and climate resilience in water management in developing country contexts, preferably in Cambodia or wider Mekong delta subregion.

• At least 15 years of professional experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, including extensive leadership of large, complex international development programs – preferably in Cambodia or the Southeast Asia region.

• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in implementing programs focused on IWRM, institutional capacity building, public-private partnerships, WASH services, climate change adaptation, or related fields in Cambodia or Southeast Asia.

• Demonstrated ability to engage and collaborate effectively with government counterparts at national and subnational levels, private sector actors, civil society organisations, and other key stakeholders to strengthen systems, build capacity, and foster inclusive participation.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to produce high-quality technical outputs, reports and strategic documents.

• Strong organisational and program management skills, with the capacity to manage multiple tasks and competing priorities in low-capacity, complex environments.

• Experience working on donor-funded programs, preferably with DFAT, or other major bilateral or multilateral development agencies.

• Demonstrated experience in the application and management of safeguards, including prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (PSEAH), child protection, climate and disaster risk reduction and environmental and social safeguards.

• Applied knowledge of key cross-cutting development priorities, particularly GEDSI and their integration into program design, delivery, and monitoring.

• Proven ability to provide strategic leadership and operational management to multi-sectoral teams, fostering a cultural of collaboration, learning, and adaptive management.

• Exceptional interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, as well as highly developed emotional intelligence, with the ability to build strong, trusted relationships with diverse teams, counterparts, and other key stakeholders.

• Demonstrated success in change management, conflict resolution and adaptive problem-solving within complex development contexts.

• Additional qualifications, professional accreditation or equivalent experience in relevant fields, such as monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning (MERL), political economy and conflict analysis (PECA), or public administration are desirable.

Key responsibilities

Strategic leadership

• Lead the inception and implementation of CCRP activities, underpinned by strong understanding of IWRM, climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies and disaster risk reduction (DRR) principles, policies, and international and locally led best practices.

• Provide strategic direction, coordination, and oversight for CCRP’s delivery, ensuring alignment with DFAT's overall vision and the achievement of CCRP's EOPOs.

• With ASI's support, build, lead, and mentor a high-performing CCRP team, fostering a culture of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous capacity development.

• Work closely with, and provide support to, existing Policy Advisers, Technical Advisers and other personnel already engaged in IWRM activities in Cambodia.

• Develop and strengthen strategic partnerships with DFAT, Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) agencies, the private sector, regional organisations, and other key stakeholders to advance program objectives.

• Continually monitor, assess and interpret changes in the wider policy, social, political and economic environment, applying adaptive management approaches to ensure CCRP’s responsiveness and relevance.

• Represent CCRP, as directed, in meetings, workshops, and public diplomacy events, supporting the program’s visibility and stakeholder engagement.

• Lead the documentation and consolidation of CCRP achievements and lessons learned, particularly in relation to IWRM, to support communication, advocacy, and policy influence efforts with the Government of Cambodia, DFAT, and other partners.

Technical support & oversight

• Provide technical leadership to support the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based interventions in IWRM, climate change adaptation, and climate resilience, in collaboration with relevant CCRP technical staff.

• Oversee the design and implementation of a high-quality integrated MERL framework aligned with DFAT's MEL Standards, ensuring coherence with CCRP's operational and financial systems.

• Ensure all data collection, analysis, and technical systems are robust, methodologically sound, and compliant with Australian standards.

• Champion GEDSI across all technical areas, ensuring meaningful integration within program activities, systems, and MERL frameworks, and compliance with DFAT’s GEDSI policies.

• Where agreed and appropriate, provide technical support to RGC agencies and other stakeholders to embed climate change adaptation and resilience principles across their strategies, systems, and operations.

• Respond to DFAT and stakeholder requests for additional technical inputs, drawing on the broader CCRP team and network of expertise as needed.

• Where agreed, support academic research that informs climate and water-related policy, and promote the uptake and application of research findings among RGC institutions and relevant stakeholders to drive learning and evidence-informed decision-making.

Program and operational management

• Provide technical input to strengthen program delivery functions, including operations, asset management, logistics, and procurement, ensuring full compliance with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs) and DFAT's wider policies, procedures and standards.

• Monitor shifts in the policy and operational context and provide timely, strategic advice to DFAT and other key stakeholders to inform adaptive program management responses.

• Lead the identification and management of key programmatic, fiduciary, security, and safeguarding risks – including child protection, PSEAH, environmental risks, and workplace health and safety – ensuring the program’s risk management framework is regularly updated and effectively implemented.

• Oversee budget execution to ensure efficient use of resources and strong value-for-money outcomes, consistent with DFAT’s expectations and the program’s financial strategy.

• Ensure CCRP’s financial, operational, and administrative systems—including expenditure approvals, human resource management, procurement, logistics, and service delivery—are managed effectively and in accordance with DFAT requirements, Australian Government legislation, local Cambodian regulations, and approved program procedures.

About ASI

ASI is a development consultancy and technical advisory firm, that works locally to transform lives by making economies stronger, societies safer, and governments more effective. For over three decades, ASI have partnered with governments, foundations, and companies that share our ambition to address some of the world’s most exigent challenges. We design, deliver, and evaluate strategies and programs that stimulate economic growth, promote climate resilience, and advance good governance. Operating in over 100 countries, ASI brings together a global network of technical experts and specialist advisers, supported by a core team based across multiple country offices worldwide. Our model ensures the highest standards of delivery, professional integrity, and ethical practice that our clients and partners expect.

ASI is growing, with an increasingly diverse portfolio of programs across sectors and regions and a significant pipeline of emerging opportunities. We are seeking high-calibre candidates to join our team, supporting the delivery of transformative solutions in line with our commitment to quality, impact, and ethical standards. This is an exciting time to join ASI and work alongside a team of dynamic, talented, and purpose-driven professionals determined to make a meaningful difference.

ASI is proudly employee-owned. We are deeply committed to corporate integrity and to delivering a triple bottom line of social, environmental, and financial performance. ASI is a certified B Corporation (B Corp), and is consistently ranked among the highest-performing B Corps in the United Kingdom for our positive social and environmental impact.

Ready to Apply?

We welcome expressions of interest from suitably qualified candidates. To apply, please submit:

• A CV (maximum three pages); and

• An accompanying Cover Letter addressing the "About You" selection criteria outlined above.

Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis, and early submissions are strongly encouraged. A full Position Description will be shared with shortlisted candidates.