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Generic virtual assistant job descriptions usually explain the role but leave out the details an overseas candidate needs before applying. State the hours in both time zones, the English level, internet and equipment requirements, payment method, contractor status, and the screening steps. Hiring an executive assistant instead? Use our executive assistant job description template.
Use the copy-ready template first. Then use the checklist to fill in the overseas-specific fields before you post. If you are still deciding where to hire, start with our guide to how to hire a Filipino virtual assistant.
Overseas virtual assistant job description template
Copy, paste, and replace the brackets.
Job title
[ROLE, for example: Executive Assistant to a US-based founder]
About [YOUR COMPANY NAME]
[Write 2 to 4 sentences about what your company does, who it serves, and how the role fits into the team.]
The role
We are hiring a dedicated full-time [ROLE] to own [PRIMARY OUTCOME].
What you will do
- [Task, tool, and frequency, for example: Manage the founder’s inbox in Gmail and process messages each business day]
- [Task, tool, and frequency]
- [Task, tool, and frequency]
- [Task, tool, and frequency]
- [Task, tool, and frequency]
Working hours and time zone
- Candidate time zone: [PHT, SAST, or another time zone]
- Required hours in our time zone: [Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern Time]
- Required hours in the candidate's time zone: [Add the correct local conversion]
- Required overlap window: [For example, 9 AM to 12 PM Eastern Time]
- Work outside the overlap window: [Async acceptable / Not acceptable]
The Philippines uses Philippine Time, or UTC+8, and does not observe daylight saving time. For example, 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern Time is 9 PM to 5 AM in the Philippines during US daylight time, and 10 PM to 6 AM during US standard time.
Compensation and payment
- Monthly rate: $[MONTHLY RANGE], depending on experience and scope
- Payment method: [Wise / Payoneer / PayPal / another agreed method]
- Payment schedule: [Monthly on the DATE / bi-weekly on Fridays]
- 13th-month policy: [We provide 13th-month pay] OR [We provide an end-of-year bonus equivalent to one month]
- Equipment support: [None / stipend / equipment provided]
For overseas VA rate context, see how much an overseas VA costs.
Benefits and perks
- [Paid time off or other leave policy]
- [Philippine public holiday policy, if applicable]
- [Training or software support]
- [Performance or rate review schedule]
Classification
This is an independent contractor arrangement. The contractor is responsible for their own local tax filings and contributions.
The written contractor agreement will cover scope, rate, payment schedule, intellectual property ownership, confidentiality, and how either party can end the arrangement. This is a template, not legal advice. Ask a qualified employment specialist to review the arrangement for your situation.
Requirements
- English: [Written / conversational / client-facing]
- Experience: [Relevant experience requirement]
- Internet: [State a minimum speed], verified with a recent speed test
- Backup connection: [Mobile data hotspot or other plan]
- Power backup: [UPS, generator, coworking location, or other plan]
- Equipment: [Dedicated laptop or desktop, headset, webcam, and quiet workspace]
- Tools: [List the tools the person will use]
Nice to have
- [Relevant software or platform experience]
- [Experience with US-based clients]
- [Relevant portfolio or industry experience]
Success in the first 90 days
- 30 days: [First workflow or deliverable completed with supervision]
- 60 days: [Specific quality, response-time, or delivery goal]
- 90 days: [Primary outcome owned independently]
Paid trial
The first [NUMBER] days include a paid trial. The trial uses real, clearly scoped work, and either side may end the arrangement according to the written agreement.
How to apply
- Start your application with the word EAGLE so we know you read the post.
- Complete this Google Form: [LINK]
- Attach a 60-second Loom introducing yourself, your relevant experience, your internet setup, and your available hours.
- Share [NUMBER] relevant portfolio links or work samples.
We skip applications that miss any of these items.
Eight overseas fields to complete before posting
1. Time zone and overlap
State the hours in both time zones. Philippine Time is UTC+8 with no daylight saving time, so the gap from the continental US is 12 to 16 hours depending on the US time zone and season.
If the role requires work between 10 PM and 6 AM in the Philippines, Philippine law requires employees to receive at least a 10% night-shift differential for those hours. That rule applies to employees, not independent contractors.
If you need UK or EU hours overlap, a South African VA at SAST (UTC+2) may fit better. See our guide to the best countries to hire a virtual assistant.
2. English level
"Excellent English" is too broad. Choose the level the work requires:
- Written: inboxes, research, data entry, and back-office work
- Conversational: internal calls and team meetings
- Client-facing: sales calls, customer support, or brand-voice writing
The Philippines scored in the high-proficiency band and ranked second in Asia in the 2025 EF English Proficiency Index, but a general English rating does not replace a work sample.
3. Internet and backup
State a minimum speed and ask for a recent speed test. Recent OnlineJobs.ph listings show employers asking for 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload, or 50 Mbps both ways. Treat those as examples from individual listings, not a universal standard. Ask for a specific outage plan too.
4. Equipment
List what the person must already have and what you will provide:
- Dedicated laptop or desktop
- Headset
- Webcam, if calls require it
- Quiet workspace
5. Payment method and schedule
Name the payment methods you accept, such as Wise, Payoneer, or PayPal. State whether you pay monthly or bi-weekly and give the payment date or schedule.
6. 13th-month policy
Under Philippine rules, 13th-month pay is required for covered rank-and-file employees who worked at least one month during the calendar year. It equals one-twelfth of basic salary and is due by December 24. That requirement does not cover independent contractors.
7. Contractor classification and contributions
State the intended arrangement and who controls the work. For an independent contractor, the VA generally handles their own SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, and local tax obligations.
8. Screening mechanism
Add at least one screening instruction in the post itself. Ask for a speed-test recording, a short Loom, or a work sample that reflects the actual role. Pay for a trial task whether or not you hire the candidate.
Write responsibilities using the outcome, tool, and frequency rule
A useful responsibility explains three things:
- Outcome: what the work should accomplish
- Tool: where or how the work gets done
- Frequency: how often it happens
Weak: "Support social media."
Stronger: "Schedule 5 Instagram Reels and 3 TikToks per week in Later and CapCut, using the approved content calendar."
After you post the job description
- Review applications for the instruction and required materials.
- Use the overseas VA interview questions that match the role.
- Post through the channel that fits your role, using this guide to where to find overseas virtual assistants.
- Document the first 30, 60, and 90 days with the overseas VA onboarding process.
- For role-specific responsibility ideas, see our guide to tasks to delegate to an overseas virtual assistant.
For the full hiring process, see our guide to how to hire an overseas virtual assistant.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay 13th-month pay to an independent contractor?
No. Under Presidential Decree 851, 13th-month pay is required for covered rank-and-file Philippine employees who worked at least one month during the calendar year. Independent contractors are not covered by that requirement.
How many applications should I expect on OnlineJobs.ph?
OnlineJobs.ph says job posts generally receive dozens of responses and often hundreds. A clear JD with a screening instruction will narrow the field.
Is my overseas VA an employee or a contractor?
That depends on who controls the work, schedule, and tools. Philippine law looks at those factors. State the intended arrangement in the job description and have a qualified specialist review the agreement.
Next steps
If you want us to handle the search, we place dedicated long-term talent from the Philippines and South Africa at $1,800 to $3,000 per month all-inclusive. Placement takes 14 days or less from the first call to the placed person’s first day, with a paid trial, onboarding through the first 30, 60, and 90 days with your input, and a 30-day replacement guarantee.
Skip the hiring grind.
We place a dedicated, fully vetted overseas VA from the Philippines or South Africa in 14 days or less. Flat monthly, all-inclusive, matched to your role.
Start at Get started.
