Assistant programme administrator jobs in Birmingham

Forest Peoples Programme is seeking two Programme Assistants to provide vital administrative, logistical, and project support, helping Indigenous Peoples and forest communities secure their rights and protect their forests. 

About Forest Peoples Programme

Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) is an international NGO that has been working with Indigenous Peoples and forest peoples for 35 years since it was established in 1990. As of 2026, we work in 18 countries across South and Central America, Africa and Southeast Asia, with over 50 partners based in the tropical forest belt. We work directly and in solidarity with communities and peoples, supporting them to secure their rights to their traditional lands, territories, and resources, protect their forests and ways of life, and choose their own futures.

Working at local, national and global levels FPP supports Indigenous Peoples and forest peoples to effect change from the bottom up – grounded in struggles to advance the enjoyment of their rights and seek remedy for violations. At the same time, we work to ensure the voices and priorities of Indigenous Peoples and forest peoples shape national and international law and policy – e.g. relating to business and human rights, climate, and biodiversity – so that resulting regulatory and market reform better serves and respects their rights.

Role summary

The work of Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) is organised via three core programmes, each of which is led by a Programme Coordinator. The Programme Assistant position provides a broad support function for the Programme Coordinator, principally in relation to administrative and logistical support, as well as supporting programme and project monitoring and management (including some financial management). Programme Assistants need to be able to work at pace on multiple different tasks concurrently; to be proactive and take initiative under broad direction; to be able to work directly and respectfully with Indigenous Peoples and forest peoples and their organisations; and to be able to write well, taking notes and distilling information in English (and ideally also in a second relevant language).

Responsibilities

• Contribute to development and tracking of the Programme’s work, including key dates, deliverables and actions, and help maintain internal knowledge management systems and channels.
• Support Programme and sub-programme team meetings, including organising meetings, drafting agendas, taking minutes, and monitoring and following up on action points.
• Support the Programme Coordinator and other programme colleagues in communications with grant partners, donors and other parties, including liaising with partners and programme colleagues to prepare Partnership Agreements, Letters of Agreement, and consultancy contracts (from templates).
• Work with the Programme Coordinator and the finance team to track expenditure across relevant programme budgets, monitor progress (including spend) on key projects within the programmes, track key donor reporting deadlines and help compile and submit narrative and financial reports to donors.
• Support fundraising, including compiling and checking grant applications.
• Support finalisation of publications and communications.
• Assist in planning, preparation and organising of events, workshops or meetings, working closely with FPP’s admin/logistics and finance teams, and supporting the attendance and participation of partners and staff at other national and international events. Accompanying programme colleagues on international trips and meetings to lend a hand where needed.
• Provide (where able) or facilitate access to, remote (and potentially also in-country, as needed) capacity building support to local partners in relation to project management, finance, planning, reporting, computer/IT skills, communication and procedures, monitoring and evaluation etc.
• Act as a port of call for programme staff seeking programme or project information or information about wider organisational policies and processes.
• Support the tracking of impacts against an established Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) framework, working with programme colleagues to assemble and systematise information.
• Participate in FPP meetings and staff sharings (online or in person) and attend FPP’s Annual General Meeting.
• Other tasks incidental to these or otherwise as agreed with the line-manager.

Person specification

Essential experience

• Experience of working in the not-for-profit sector, ideally with an international focus
• Experience with project administration and logistics work, supporting fundraising and donor reporting, and supporting meetings and events.
• Experience of supporting financial management of grants and projects, including drafting and monitoring large and complex budgets.

Desirable experience 

• Experience of working in FPP’s niche (or related), including with Indigenous Peoples, forest peoples, and global south organisations and/or networks
• Experience of working in the geographical regions were FPP works
• Experience of remote working, particularly with people from different cultures
• University degree in a subject relevant to the work of FPP

Essential skills and qualities

• Highly proficient in written and spoken English
• Ability to work effectively, sensitively and proactively as part of a multi-cultural, dispersed team of FPP staff and partners to achieve shared objectives.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to build healthy working relationships both internally with colleagues and externally (including with partners from global south, remotely and in person)
• Proven organisational and time management skills with the ability to work under pressure and to multiple deadlines, and the flexibility and agility to respond to multiple and evolving priorities and timelines
• Alignment with the vision, mission and core principles of FPP’s work
• Excellent writing skills, including the ability to synthesise information from various sources and express it concisely
• Availability to travel overseas for 1-2 weeks at a time (likely no more than 2-3 times per year, if at all)
• Strong skills in Microsoft applications, including in particular Word and Excel

Desirable skills and qualities

• Fluent or highly proficient (professional working level) in one or more of the following languages: French, Spanish and/or Bahasa Indonesia
• Understanding of human rights and Indigenous Peoples
• Working knowledge of the themes relevant to FPP work, e.g. environment governance, responsible finance, and gender justice.

We encourage candidates to apply who do not strictly meet all the criteria listed above and yet are confident in their transferable skills. We value individuals who demonstrate commitment to FPP’s vision, mission and core principles, motivation to learn, and the potential to thrive in the role. When reviewing the specified essential and desirable qualities, remember that relevant experience can be demonstrated through academic studies, work experience (paid or voluntary), lived experience, skills, and achievements from any area of your life that relates to this role.

FPP is unable to sponsor visa applications for this role.