• Lead an Asia portfolio of frontline-led programs to end modern slavery
• Shape regional strategy and grantmaking to dismantle systems of exploitation
• Ideally located in Asia portfolio countries, local work rights essential

The Organisation

The Freedom Fund (FF) is an international collaborative fund that believes in the power of frontline leadership to end modern slavery. FF provides resources to those working directly to dismantle systems of exploitation. Since its founding in 2014, the Freedom Fund has invested over $100 million into community-based organisations across Asia, Africa and South America, supporting survivors, building movements and creating lasting change.

The 2030 strategy focuses on investing in frontline partners, amplifying survivor leadership, influencing global systems, and shifting power and funding to communities. By the end of the strategic period, FF aims to directly improve the lives of 2.5 million people in or at risk of slavery, strengthen anti-slavery movements across 11 countries, and have mobilised $350 million to support its mission.

The Asia portfolio currently comprises the Bangladesh hotspot, working to end the commercial sexual exploitation of children; a regional program tackling forced labour in seafood supply chains across Asia Pacific, including a hotspot in Indonesia; and the Nepal hotspot, which supports survivor movements to eliminate agricultural bonded labour. A new hotspot in the region is likely to launch in the next year.


Benefits & Culture

• A warm, collaborative, values-driven culture committed to continuous learning, where people feel safe, valued, and able to do their best work.
• Permanent, 40 hours per week, based close to communities and partners in Bangladesh, Indonesia or Nepal, or elsewhere in Asia. Hybrid for Bangladesh-based candidates (2 days per week in office).
• Indicative annual salaries: Bangladesh BDT 8,515,600 to 8,739,694; Nepal NPR 7,687,182 to 7,889,476; Indonesia IDR 1,514,331,008 to 1,554,181,824.
• Comprehensive healthcare benefits in the country of employment.
• Generous annual and sick leave, plus public holidays in line with local requirements.
• Annual learning and development budget.
• Access to a mental health and wellbeing platform for employees and their families.

The Role

Reporting to the Managing Director, Programs, this role will lead a lean but impactful team delivering financial and non-financial support that empowers partners, strengthens civil society, and shifts power to the communities most affected by exploitation. Each hotspot is managed by a Program Manager, supported by a Program Advisor who works closely with partners on the ground.

You will hold organisational responsibility for a USD 3M portfolio, balancing strategic oversight, team management, stakeholder management, public representation, safeguarding, and risk management. Key responsibilities include:

• Leading regional strategy and grantmaking, ensuring investments align with values, strategic priorities, grant management frameworks and donor requirements.
• Developing and refining hotspot strategies with regional teams and partners, including through inclusive co-creation with people with lived experience.
• Scoping and developing new programs in the region in line with the senior leadership team's mandate.
• Working with the Partnerships team to secure diverse funding and maintain strategic donor relationships.
• Monitoring programmatic impact and working with the Research team to commission and oversee evaluations and learning that inform grantmaking decisions.

Skills Required

You are a values-driven and experienced Asia regional program leader with a strong track record in frontline partnership and civil society strengthening in additional to program management. You understand the anti-slavery ecosystem regionally and globally and have a nuanced grasp of inter-connected issues such as climate change, economic justice, education, humanitarian crises and operating in restricted environments. You are calm under pressure, collaborative, and you make principled decisions with compassion, embodying the values of Collaboration, Courage, Respect and Excellence. You also bring:

• Expertise in grantmaking systems and processes.
• Relevant strategic program development and oversight experience.
• Strong project and portfolio management capabilities.
• Highly developed cultural awareness and sensitivity and excellent communication and influencing skills.
• A commitment to equity, shifting power, and values-led leadership.

If you want to use your regional program leadership and frontline partnership expertise to help end modern slavery across Asia, please submit your CV, a one-page cover letter, addressing the skills required above quoting #1493167. To request a full information package please email officeadministrator@ngorecruitment.com (no applications here please).

Please note there is no formal closing date for this role, if you are interested, we would encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

NGO Recruitment values equitable recruitment practices and is committed to representing candidates reflective of the diverse organisations and communities we work with. We welcome and encourage applications from all backgrounds, ages, and identities, and are happy to adjust our recruitment process to support accessibility needs. If you are interested in this position and have most of the skills or experience we are looking for, please go ahead and apply.

The Freedom Fund is an equal opportunities employer and strongly encourages applications from people with disabilities, Black, Asian, Indigenous or minority ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ people, and people from different socio-economic backgrounds. Applicants must be eligible to work in Bangladesh, Indonesia or Nepal, exceptional applicants based elsewhere in Asia may be considered. Particular consideration will be given to applicants with lived experience of trafficking and/or forced labour, who may request an informal, confidential pre-application conversation.

NGO Recruitment is the executive search and recruitment specialist for Australia's social impact sector and for international NGOs operating within Asia Pacific. Since 2004, we have connected more than 600 NFP organisations with over 5,000 talented professionals, strengthening the leadership capabilities within the sector, supporting program delivery and creating more diverse, dynamic and inclusive workplaces.

Our services in Asia Pacific include highly effective exclusive executive search and permanent and contract recruitment solutions. Our board advisory practice is also skilled at sourcing remunerated and volunteer board members for NFPs across the region. We also deliver tailored HR and unique career transition services designed specifically for international NGOs.

With offices in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane and a dedicated Asia Pacific and International desk, NGOR searches across Australia and into the Asia Pacific. Our proven international recruitment capabilities allow us to source exceptional talent for specialist leadership roles.