Climate Change Specialist

The Australian Embassy in Hanoi is seeking applications to fill the Climate Change Specialist position within the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID)’s Vietnam Program in Hanoi. For more information about AusAID, please visit www.ausaid.gov.au.

The Climate Change Specialist is a new senior level position within AusAID’s Vietnam team in Hanoi who will provide technical and policy advice on climate change and environment issues. The role will directly support the climate change team in promoting a coherent climate change portfolio that is achieving the intended results.

The position will support AusAID’s engagement in a range of partnerships, including with various government ministries, non-government organisations, multilaterals and bilateral donors. The Climate Change Specialist will also provide advice to help integrate climate change, disaster risk reduction and environment considerations across AusAID’s program in Vietnam. Responsibilities will include but are not limited to the following:

• Provide technical quality assurance on key activities under AusAID’s climate change portfolio, and undertake or supervise sectoral analysis that contributes to program development and implementation;
• Identify and promote synergies across AusAID’s climate change activities, including opportunities to coordinate with other donors to avoid duplication and enhance results;
• Proactively monitor and advise on current or emerging climate change issues and how they relate to AusAID’s climate change portfolio;
• Provide technical advice in support of coordination efforts among implementing partners and other key stakeholders, particularly in informing policy dialogue;
• Support improvement of results measurement and reporting, including identifying good practice examples that can be promoted more broadly, such as through knowledge sharing events and case-studies;
• Support AusAID’s engagement in policy dialogue under the Support Program to Respond to Climate Change, including monitoring progress against key policy actions and triggers;
• Support the identification and provision of targeted technical assistance to key ministries under the SP-RCC framework; and
• Provide technical support to develop the climate change team’s capabilities, including through specific learning and development events, coaching and mentoring, and in harnessing external expertise.

A work plan will be prepared once the position is mobilised, drawing on emerging priorities from within the climate change team and in other relevant areas of the Vietnam Program.
This position will report to the First Secretary, Development Cooperation (Climate Change) and will be a direct resource to the climate change team (including three Senior Program Managers).
The salary range for this position is US $3,437 to US $5,083 per month. The successful candidate will generally receive salary at the minimum point of the applicable salary range.
However, above the minimum pay point may be negotiated based on experience, qualifications and skills and likely corporate contribution.
This is a non-Australian Public Service position. Applicants not resident in Vietnam should note that if they are offered the position they will be responsible for their travel and removal of personal effects to Hanoi, along with accommodation. Applicants will also be responsible for ensuring they have the appropriate permission to work in Vietnam.

Essential Qualifications

• A degree in a field relevant to climate change adaptation and / or mitigation
• At least 5 years of relevant working experience in the formulation and implementation of climate change-related policies, programs, research, analysis, policy advocacy and monitoring and evaluation
• Excellent English communication and writing skills

Desirable Qualifications

• Professional work experience in Vietnam
• Vietnamese language skills

Eligibility / Other Requirements

The Specialist will be based in Hanoi on a full time basis, and must be willing to travel within Vietnam, including to remote locations, as required.
Capabilities of the Person:
Below is a list of key capabilities that we would expect from a person applying for this position. Candidates should consider these capabilities when providing examples against the selection criteria.
1. Supports and contributes to strategic direction
• identifying and strengthening the relationship between operational tasks and AusAID goals
• leading policy development through consultation, stakeholder engagement, scoping, development, implementation and review
• communicating expected outcomes.
2.
Achieves results
• undertaking objective, systematic analysis and drawing accurate conclusions based on evidence
• recognising links between interconnected issues
• breaking through problems and weighing up options to identify solutions.
3.
Values teamwork and builds partnerships
• helping to broaden individuals’ insight and perspective of the agency, their role and career
• acting as a mentor and delivering constructive feedback in a manner that gains acceptance and achieves resolution.
4.
Exemplifies personal drive and integrity
• persevering to achieve goals in the face of obstacles
• remaining calm and in control under pressure
• coping effectively with setbacks
• acknowledging mistakes and learning from them.
5. Communicates and works with influence
• approaching negotiations with a strong grasp of key issues
• anticipating the position of the other party
• selecting the most appropriate medium for conveying information and structuring written and oral communication to ensure clarity.
6.
Awareness of Aid Management and Development Policy
• awareness of the Australian Government’s priorities for international development policy and management of official development assistance
• can apply this knowledge to the Vietnam context and in the delivery of climate change assistance.
7.
Specific specialist / professional knowledge, skills and experience
• demonstrated experience in the development and delivery of climate change assistance, with sufficient depth to enable negotiation of strategic partnerships and influence sector policy discussions.
• Understanding of the role of aid in development and awareness of a range of different aid delivery instruments.
• Ability to undertake or interpret complex sector analyses and apply the implications of these to country program and policy development.

Selection Criteria

The Selection Criteria are used to assess an applicant’s suitability for a position. Applicants must provide a statement of claims addressing the selection criteria below. Statements
should detail suitability to perform the duties of the position including personal qualities, experience, skills and knowledge relative to the selection criteria. For this specialist position, the applicant should draw on examples that highlight experience in climate change programs, policy and analysis.

1. Proven ability to support and contribute to strategic direction and achieve results,drawing on recent achievements that have contributed to the overall success of your organisation.
2. Well developed people management skills, including coaching and mentoring skills, together with the ability to promote a strong team environment where skills and ideas are respected and valued.
3. Well developed ability to build relationships and partnerships, including working across a range of different stakeholders to build consensus on a proposed approach.
4. Good knowledge and experience in aid management and international development together with well developed policy and analytic skills. Specialist skills and expert knowledge in climate change should be highlighted in responding to this criterion.

NB: All AusAID O-Based employees demonstrate a commitment to the O-Based Code of Conduct and Values, as well as to workplace diversity, occupational health and safety and employee participation principles and have appropriate cross-cultural sensitivities.
Computer skills and ability to use email, the internet and standard Microsoft Office programs are a job requirement. Ability to travel outside Hanoi and work non- standard hours when work demands dictate is also a job requirement.

How to Apply

Those interested in this position should lodge the following:
• A covering letter;
• A Curriculum Vitae (CV) of no more than 3 pages.
• Details of two professional referees should be listed in the CV. Ideally, one will be your current or recent supervisor.
• A statement (no more than half a page per criterion) in support of your application,using the selection criteria as headings, to describe how you consider yourself suitable against each of the selection criteria by providing relevant examples from work, study or community roles.

Applicants should ensure that they address all four (4) of the prescribed selection criteria above or they will not be shortlisted for interview.

All lodgement of applications and enquiries and should be addressed to:

AusAID Recruitment by email [email protected] or facsimile +84 4 3831 7706, by 5:00 p.m. (Hanoi Time) on Friday 8 March 2013. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for interview.

Job Details
Organisation Name: 
Australian Embassy
Location: 
Ha Noi
Application Deadline: 
Fri, 2013-03-08