Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement

POSITION TITLE:  Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement
DIVISION: Civil Society
LOCATION: Vietnam
EXPECTED START DATE: Contingent on Award – Anticipated October 2011
RESPONSIBLE TO: Chief of Party

Founded in 1965, Counterpart International is a diverse, non-profit, international development organization dedicated to helping people in need in the areas of civil society, food security, private enterprise, environmental resource management, humanitarian relief, and healthcare. Counterpart does this by building the capacity of local partner nongovernmental organizations, lenders, businesses, governments and other institutions to solve their own self-defined economic, ecological, political, and social problems in ways that are sustainable, practical, and independent.

Summary:
Counterpart International is seeking a Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement for an anticipated civil society strengthening program with response to HIV/AIDS in Vietnam. With direction from the Chief of Party and Counterpart HQ staff, the Director will work to strengthen civil society in planning and policy advocacy, research, and the strategic use of information to improve responses to HIV/AIDS at the national, provincial and local levels. The Director will work with selected Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to promote greater engagement in agenda-setting, policy-making, decision-making and representation, and advocacy to improve services for people living with HIV.  S/he will also support efforts to improve civil society’s participation in the Government of Vietnam’s HIV/AIDS response and increase effective representation of key constituencies. The Director should have technical expertise in advocacy, policy development, civic-government engagement, networking, and engaging multiple stakeholders around advocacy or policy issues.

Qualifications:
- Minimum of eight (8) years’ experience implementing advocacy, policy engagement and reform, citizen-government engagement programs in Vietnam and/or abroad. Specific experience in health policy development and advocacy strongly preferred.
- Minimum of five (5) years experience working in Vietnam or South Asia- Pacific with an understanding of the current capacity of CSOs in the region.
- A Masters Degree in International Development, Political Science, Public Policy, Public Health or a similar field.
- Technical expertise in the areas of advocacy, policy formulation and capacity building, with a focus on improving CSO-government interaction and communication to inform national health policy.
- Must have leadership capacity to lead team of experts in attaining project goals.
- Previous experience managing USAID funded projects or similar donor agency highly desired.
- Excellent public speaking writing skills in English. Fluency in Vietnamese language skills highly preferred.
- Ability to work under pressure, perform and prioritize multiple tasks.
- Excellent communication and organizational skills.
- Excellent cross-cultural skills, ability to work in a diverse, multi-cultural environment, with respect, professionalism and gender sensitivity.
- Advanced computer skills, especially advanced use of MS Office.
- Excellent English language skills required (written and spoken). Fluency in Vietnamese highly preferred.
- Vietnamese nationals are strongly encouraged to apply.

“Counterpart International strongly believes in equal opportunity for all, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, veteran's status, age, marital status, sexual preference, disability or any other protected personal characteristic.”

TO APPLY:
Individuals interested in working with Counterpart International on this project, should send their resumes and salary requirements to [email protected]