Terms of Reference:

Program Director – ASEAN

About the Role

The Program Director-ASEAN works collaboratively with the Leadership Team and Country Managers to direct and oversee the program’s engagement with, and support to ASEAN.

This position is primarily responsible for the achievement of the end-of-program outcome 1 – ASEAN’s planning, monitoring and reporting of the ASEAN Convention against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP) implementation is increasingly effective, advances gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) and upholds victim rights, and supports achievement of other end-of-program outcomes and intermediate outcomes.

The Program Director – ASEAN maintains strong relationships with the ASEAN secretariat and relevant ASEAN sectorial bodies to promote regional leadership in countering trafficking in persons and better coordinated responses to trafficking in the region in alignment with ACTIP and related work plans.

The role is best suited to a candidate with strong leadership, strategic thinking, facilitation, and proven experience in regional program management. The position focuses on strengthening ASEAN’s capacity to effectively plan, monitor, and report on ACTIP implementation, while advancing GEDSI and victim rights.

About the program

ASEAN–Australia Counter Trafficking (ASEAN-ACT) continues Australia’s long-running collaboration with ASEAN and its Member States to end human trafficking in the region. The program is a 10-year investment (2018 to 2028) principally working to strengthen the justice sector response to trafficking in persons, while advancing the rights of victims. The program has established partnerships with government agencies, civil society, and business. We engage with all 10 ASEAN Member States in some capacity and have national-level programming in Cambodia, Lao PDR, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. We are establishing programming in Indonesia, and it is currently on hold in Myanmar.

ASEAN-ACT supports ASEAN Member States to integrate gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) and protect the rights of victims of trafficking. The program has developed GEDSI and victim rights strategies to provide a conceptual framework and practical implementation approach to analyse and respond to GEDSI and victim rights challenges in countering trafficking. As a core component of the program, specific projects and activities to advance GEDSI and victim rights have been designed and are being implemented in collaboration with ASEAN-ACT’s partners and stakeholders.

Program outcomes

The overarching goal that ASEAN-ACT will contribute to is that ASEAN Member States have effective justice systems that provide just punishment of traffickers and protect the rights of victims.

Three end-of-program outcomes together contribute to the achievement of this goal by 2028:

1. ASEAN’s planning, monitoring and reporting of ACTIP implementation is increasingly effective, advances GEDSI and upholds victim rights.
2. ASEAN Member States are increasingly capable of implementing their ACTIP obligations, particularly those that advance GEDSI and uphold victim rights.
3. ASEAN and member states’ policies and practices are inclusive, influenced by relevant stakeholders and aligned with the ACTIP.

Specific Duties

Partnerships and Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with all stakeholders, including Lead Shepherd of the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC), other ASEAN representatives and Regional Program Steering Committee (RPSC) members based on mutual accountability, trust and respect.
• Oversight development and implementation of the ASEAN-ACT regional work plan and related concept and activity notes to enable delivery with and through ASEAN.
• Provide strategic and technical advice to key counterparts and support the implementation of ACTIP and related work plan.
• Facilitate engagement between ASEAN member states to share knowledge and experience in counter-trafficking to enhance cooperation.
• Act as a liaison point between DFAT and relevant ASEAN stakeholders.

Project Management

• Technical input to activity designs and implementation across the projects, and ensuring activities are developed which reflect ASEAN–ACT’s objectives, principles, investment criteria and MEL framework.
• Continuous context monitoring of developments in the TIP sector particularly at the regional level and provision of technical advice and analysis as required.
• Support mainstreaming of gender equality, disability, social inclusion and victim rights throughout all program activities.
• Assist to identify and assess potential risks to the program implementation and effectiveness.

Knowledge and Communications Product

• Work closely with the Communications & Knowledge Director to develop communications materials to support DFAT’s public diplomacy and the program’s outreach to CTIP stakeholders.
• Work closely with the Communications & Knowledge Director to develop clear and accessible knowledge products for ASEAN and partners.

People and culture

• Manage and support the Senior ASEAN Program Coordinator, to provide input and manage coordination of activities across the program.
• Champion victim rights and GEDSI across all project activities and promote culturally sensitive and respectful communications.
• Fostering a culture that promotes learning, sharing of ideas, professional development and analytical thinking.
• Demonstrate and champion compliance with DT Global’s policies and procedures.

Selection Criteria

Qualifications

• Graduate qualification in a relevant field (e.g. policy engagement and partnerships, project management social sciences, social work, international studies, international development, human rights laws, laws, political science) with at least 10 years of experience in international development, human rights or similar.

Essential Experience, Knowledge and Skills

• Strong understanding of the regional context in relation to human trafficking, including the ACTIP Convention and the roles of ASEAN, SOMTC and other sectoral bodies/working groups, ASEAN Secretariat, justice sector, civil society, private sector and allied government institutions
• Understanding of human rights and rights-based approaches in development, particularly as these relate to human trafficking
• Established networks with relevant partners in the justice sector, civil society, private sector or government
• Ability to liaise with senior officials, demonstrating high-level communication and interpersonal skills, political acumen, strong advocacy skills and communicating with influence
• Understanding of development principles and approaches, including developing the skills and capacity of counterparts; monitoring, evaluation and learning; and mainstreaming of gender equality and social inclusion
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including the ability to provide timely and reliable advice to managers and counterparts
• An excellent understanding of trafficking in persons, labour migration and social issues within the ASEAN region.
• Strong analytical, verbal, and report writing skills in English

Desirable

• At least 5 years of experience working on counter trafficking in persons initiatives or other transnational crimes focused on supporting the justice sector.
• Knowledge and experience of Australian Government-funded development programs and reporting requirements.
• Proficiency in one or more ASEAN language. 

How to Apply

For further information and instructions on how to apply, please visit: https://bit.ly/ASEANDirectorApply.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE Sunday, 12 January 11:59 pm (BKK time)

ASEAN-ACT is committed to achieving workplace diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individual from minority groups, indigenous groups, people with a disability, women and ASEAN nationals are strongly encouraged to apply.

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Due to the expected volume of applications, only candidates under positive consideration will be notified.

Other Information

Amendments to the position’s terms of reference may be made during the period of the engagement as required.

DT Global Asia Pacific Pty Ltd is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or national origin. DT Global Asia Pacific Pty Ltd prohibits discriminating against employees and job applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose the compensation of the employee or applicant or another employee or applicant.  

Our organisation is committed to child protection and safeguarding the welfare of children in the delivery of our international development programs. Recruitment and selection procedures reflect this commitment. We are committed to safety and the prevention of sexual abuse and harassment, child protection and bribery prevention.

We want to engage with the right people to deliver our client programs. As part of our approach you will be subjected to formal background screening, criminal record checks, employment verification, and periodic compliance checks. All our staff receive safety, compliance and safeguards training and are responsible for contributing to a safer working culture.

About DT Global

DT Global is an international development managing contractor, working across a wide range of sectors and technical areas in over 90 countries around the world. DT Global launched in 2019, bringing together AECOM International Development’s Services Sector and Development Transformations along with their legacy companies. The DT Global family has since expanded further with the acquisition of IMC Worldwide in March 2022 and Cardno International Development in July 2022. Together, we bring with us over 60 years of experience, relationships, and technical excellence to better transform lives around the world on behalf of partners, clients and stakeholders.