Administrative Assistant cum Interpreter

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) was established on 1st January 2011. It brings together under one roof the long-standing expertise of the German Development Service (DED), the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and InWEnt – Capacity Building International, Germany. As a federally owned enterprise, it supports the German Government in achieving its objectives in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. We are also engaged in international education work around the globe.

For many years, Viet Nam has been a priority partner country for German Development Cooperation. Projects and programmes cover the following three priority areas of cooperation, which are closely interlinked with the overarching goal of Poverty Reduction: 1) Sustainable Economic Development and Vocational Training; 2) Environmental Policy, Natural Resources and Urban Development; and 3) Health.

Vietnam was identified by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as one of the countries to be most affected by climate change. In particular the deltas of Mekong and the Red River are at risk.

The Mekong River enters Vietnam through An Giang Province. The fluvial hydrology and economy of the Province is dominated by the annual flood cycle of the Mekong River. Changes in water flows in dry and flood seasons and inappropriate land use have led to increasing problems with drought and flooding, water acidity and salinity in agricultural areas, affecting severely the livelihoods of people. Climate change will exacerbate the current situation. A network of canals serve water transport, drain flood water in the wet, and are used for irrigating rice in the dry season. Faced with these changes which are interlinked between An Giang and Kien Giang provinces and the need for decisions from different departments within the province, the authorities have not yet found sustainable technical, planning and management solutions.

The project will work specifically to improve planning and water management in the agricultural and Melaleuca forest areas of An Giang Province but will also work closely with other provinces in the Mekong Delta as a component of a new program, the Integrated Coastal Management Program (ICMP) Climate Change in Coastal Ecosystems Program (CCCEP) which is jointly funded by the Australian and German Governments and implemented by GIZ. This program will operate in five provinces and at national level. Components and subject areas form a program that is relevant throughout the Mekong Delta and combine to assist in the development and implementation of a functional strategic policy and legal framework and a new model of cooperative management between the five Lower Mekong Provinces. 

GIZ is seeking a qualified and experienced Vietnamese national for the full-time position of:

Administrative Assistant cum Interpreter
Duty station: An Giang Province
Expected Start: Middle June 2013
Duration: Until July 2014 with the possibility for a 2 year prolongation until 2016

Main responsibilities:

- Performs a wide variety of administrative, organizational and secretarial duties effectively
- Providing interpretation and translation from Vietnamese to English and vice versa
- Providing written translation of documents from Vietnamese to English and from English to Vietnamese
- Types a variety of correspondence, memoranda, reports and other material
- Coordinates and monitors time schedules and maintains project’s appointment schedule, organizing time-management effectively
- Arrange transportation for field trips to the project areas for project national and international experts and assist them in ticketing, hotel reservations and visa arrangements
- Supervise monthly time sheets and travel records of project staff and partners
- Screens incoming calls and emails
- Composes correspondence independently
- Maintains good communication with visitors, guests, counterparts, project staff, and consultants
- Is responsible for organising administrative and logistical aspects of project activities (meetings, workshops, events etc.)
- Prepare and purchase stationery, drinking for office
- Prepare Services and Local grant contracts and PPP contracts. Monitoring and supervise budget for PPP and LG’s activities;
- coordinates with the GIZ office on the mode of service delivery ensures that computers and software function
- Performs other related duties as assigned

Minimum qualifications:

- University degree in English
- Good translation/Interpretation skills for English and Vietnamese; specific knowledge of technical terms used in water management, hydrology, development assistance and poverty reduction, is an asset.
- At least 3 years of sound working experience in administrative/secretarial work
- At least 3 years working experiences, preferably working experience with an official development assistance organization
- Highly motivated, willing to learn, service-oriented and able to work under high pressure and within a limited time frame. 
- Professional use of personal computer utilizing word processing and spreadsheet software programs (e.g. MS Office, MS Word, MS Excel)
- Excellent communication skills

The successful candidate will enjoy good working conditions in a friendly and creative working environment, a clear career path with opportunities for promotion, competitive benefits and compensation as well as excellent policies of training and development.

Interested, qualified candidates are invited to send their application in English, including copies of relevant certificates and references, either by email or by post, to the following address before May 30, 2013.

GIZ Office Hanoi
6th Floor Hanoi Towers, 49 Hai Ba Trung Street, Hanoi, Vietnam
Email: [email protected]
Note: Please state “Application for position of Administrative Assistant cum Interpreter for GIZ An Giang” on the envelope or in the subject line. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted within 2 weeks after the deadline. Tel contact is not encouraged.

GIZ – YOUR PARTNER FOR A BETTER FUTURE
(for further information please visit our website www.giz.de/vietnam)