Research Specialist; Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist; Project Officer; Project Team Leader; Provincial Planning Specialist

Plan is an international humanitarian, child rights development organization without religious, political or governmental affiliation. Plan’s vision is a world in which all children realize their full potential in societies that respect people’s rights and dignity. 
Working with children, their families and communities in 50 of the world’s poorest countries, Plan today is one of the world’s largest international development organizations, committed to the well being of children. In Vietnam, Plan works in partnership with local people, organizations and government bodies at all levels.
With an annual budget of over 14 million USD, we are expanding our programs in Vietnam and looking for experienced, qualified and motivated Vietnamese candidates who are committed to working long-term for the following positions:

1. Research Specialist (Based In Hanoi)
Main responsibilities:
To initiate, manage and provide technical support to all programmes on high quality research in staff led, partner led and consultant led initiatives.

1. Ensure good quality outcomes from Research Initiatives
- Support Country Programmes to identify relevant research initiatives
- Develop and maintain partnerships with relevant organizations and inter-institutional collaboration in support of Plan’s research
- Manage consultants and research partners to ensure research outsourced is of high standards
- Support Country Programme teams with management of research initiatives e.g. development of Terms of Reference, following up with field researches including management of consultants if required, Reporting, etc.
- Ensure quality of reports from research initiatives
- Manage the development, review and update of internal research policy and guidelines
- Support Country Programme Teams and field offices to bring back the results of internal and external researches back into the programming cycle (responding to research findings in programmes).

2. Capacity Building of internal and external stakeholders on research methods
- Conducting Capacity Needs Assessment for simplified research skills e.g. analysis of available data
- Training of relevant Plan project management staff on management of research skills
- Training partners including Local NGO’s and representatives at Community level on relevant research skills

3. Ensure adequate and efficient dissemination of the research outputs
- Support Country Programmes on developing working papers and management briefings based on research initiatives
- Follow-up on production, publication and printing of reports with Communications department.
- Support Country Programmes with dissemination of research results e.g. through workshops, Internet and Plan Intranet

4. Contributing to the main roles of Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Unit including but not limited to
- Supporting Project teams at Country Office and Programme Unit level with reporting for Annual Participatory Progress Review
- Liaise with Database Management Specialist and Monitoring and Evaluation specialist on setting up, operation and improvement of Knowledge Sharing Platform
- In-charge of coordinating the Country Programme Progress Report.
- Engaging in studies across Plan Vietnam as required.
- Support the methodology and reporting for Phase-in and Phase-out studies within Plan Vietnam
- Supporting various units / departments in regards to assessment and research

Requirements:
- University Degree in Social Sciences, Public Administration, Planning or relevant fields
- At least two years of proven experience with research in social field within Vietnam addressing specific issues of Ethnic Minority groups
- Publishing journal articles or working papers
- Experience in management of research and evaluation consultancies
- Experience in data processing and with computers
- Proficiency in spoken and written English and Vietnamese.
- Strong analytical skills
- Solid understanding of rural participatory development and gender issues in context of Vietnam
- Familiarity with processes of strengthening and building capacity for local organizations
- Willingness to undertake regular field visits and interact with different stakeholders
- Computer skills with focus on data analysis and publishing

2. Monitoring And Evaluation Specialist (Based In Hanoi)
Main responsibilities:
To provide technical support to all programmes on adapting the Monitoring, Evaluation (ME) framework and implementation of related activities within various projects and ensuring timely and relevant information is provided to project stakeholders.

1. Monitoring of the Country Strategic Plan / Country Programs
- Support various Country Programmes to identify key milestones and indicators including tools for their verification and reporting
- Train, support and follow-up with relevant staff on reporting against the identified milestones and indicators.

2. Project monitoring at Program Unit (PU) level
- Orient the programme staff at PU on Corporate Program Accountability and Learning System including ongoing developments and lessons learnt across Plan international
- Support the projects at PU level to undertake regular monitoring as per the project annual ME plan
- Support the PU Manager with consolidation and analysis of monitoring information across all project at the PU level
- Support the development and implementation of standard PU quarterly report format for sharing practices and lessons on programmatic and management issues among PU’s

3. Annual Participatory Programme Review
- Develop Annual Participatory Programme Review (APPR) plan, guidelines, tools and process details.
- Undertake orientation for PU staff on APPR outcomes, guidelines, tools and process details
- Support PU’s during the stakeholder reflection workshops

4. Supporting other studies, evaluations and thematic assessments
• Supporting Project teams during their mid-term and final evaluations for consultancy management process and also being part of evaluation team if required.
• Participating in Phase-in and Phase-out studies as required
• Supporting various thematic assessments as required

Requirements:
- University graduate in Economics, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Public Finance, Planning or relevant fields
At least five years of proven experience with:
- The logical framework approach and other strategic planning approaches
- M&E methods and approaches (including quantitative, qualitative and participatory)
- Planning and implementation of M&E systems
- Training in M&E development and implementation
- Facilitating learning-oriented analysis sessions of M&E data with multiple stakeholders
- Information analysis and report writing
- Experience in M&E system design
- Experience in data processing
- Proficiency in spoken and written English and Vietnamese.
- Computer skills
- A solid understanding of rural participatory development and gender issues in context of Vietnam
- Familiarity with processes of strengthening and building capacity for local organizations
- Willingness to undertake regular field visits and interact with different stakeholders
- Leadership qualities, personnel and team management (including mediation and conflict resolution)

3. Project Officer (Based In Quang Binh)
Main responsibilities:
The Village Saving and Loan (VSL) Project Officer(s) will be part of a small VSL Project Team responsible for providing project and technical support to the Women’s Union and VSL groups . The Project Officer(s) will work closely the Team Leader to implement plans, assist in conducting training workshops, carry out extensive field monitoring, provide regular technical support to the WU and VSL groups; complete M&E data requirements as needed, and provide reports to management as needed.

- Support the Team Leader in the preparation/implementation of yearly work plans.
- Coordinate closely with the District/Commune woman union (WU) and other local authorities
- Support the training of the WU and community groups in the VSL methodology.
- Provide regular technical assistance support to WU and VSL groups.
- Support the implementation of the VSL monitoring system to track the effectiveness and efficiency of the VSL project.
- Provide required inputs to the VSL MIS system.
- Submit periodic monitoring reports to management as needed.
- Support any necessary communications &/or PR work as needed by the donor.
- Work with the WU, Team Leader, project consultants and other stakeholders to develop/implement tools to measure the impact of the VSL model on individuals, children, households & communities.
- Support sponsorship works as required.

Requirements:
- University graduate in related field
- At least 2-3 years of field experience in community development projects.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with local partners
- Willingness to travel extensively, with over 75% of the time in the field.
- Basic written/oral communication skills in English
- Basic accounting and knowledge of MIS
- Demonstrated capacity and willingness to learn.

4. Project Team Leader (Based In Quang Binh)
Main responsibilities:
The Village Saving and Loan (VSL) Team Leader will have overall responsibility for the implementation of the VSL project in designated province. Working closely with management and partners, the Team Leader will develop implementation plans; conduct training workshops, provide regular technical assistance support to partners and staff; and maintain the M&E system providing regular narrative and financial reports to management and donors.

- Manage the VSL in designated province in accordance with the project objectives and activities including spending progress;
- Lead the preparation and implementation of yearly work plans;
- Coordinate closely with the Provincial/ District Women’s Union and other government stakeholders. Prepare partnership agreements with the Women’s Union as needed;
- Contextualize and implement a monitoring system to track the effectiveness and efficiency of the VSL project;
- Submit periodic narrative and financial reports outlining the project’s progress;
- Manage training of the Women’s Union and Plan staff in the VSL methodology;
- Provide regular technical assistance support to Women’s Union and Plan field staff;
- Carry out any required communications or public relations work in coordination with the donor;
- Work with VSL Project Manager and other stakeholders to develop/implement tools to measure the impact of the VSL model on individuals, children, households & communities;
- Manage VSL Project Officers in designated province.

Requirements:
- University graduate in related field
- At least five years of field experience in development projects promoting sustainable livelihoods;
- Strong knowledge of microfinance including familiarity with traditional systems of savings and credit;
- At least three years experience managing a microfinance or sustainable livelihoods project and staff;
- Experience in working with MIS systems, providing analysis of information to improve performance.
- Result-oriented, pro-active, and a strong team builder
- Understanding of rights-based approach to development will be important.
- Demonstrated capacity and willingness to learn.
- Basic accounting and project budgeting skills
- Willingness to travel extensively, with over 50% of the time in the field.
- Good written and oral communication skills in English.

5. Provincial Planning Specialist – Ppdp (1 Based In Hoang Su Phi, Ha Giang)
Main responsibilities:
- As part of PPDP (Pro-poor Participatory Development Project) team, develop and maintain relationship with partners and stakeholders to facilitate for development of setting up yearly and five years socio-economic development plans (SEDPs) at the project commune, district and (province) levels;
- Coordinate and organize all trainings, workshops, studies, capacity building programs and consultations at the province for the PPDP project implementation;
- Prepare the provincial PPDP implementation plans and reports based on requirements of PPDP project and Plan;
- Regularly carry out monitoring and evaluation of the PPDP project implementation as well as the project fund utilization at the province;
- Liaise, establish, and maintain relationships with relevant in-house staff, stakeholders and partners in the province for development and implementation of the project.
- Bring in lessons learned and pro-actively seek for innovation in participatory methodologies applicable to planning process for socio-economic development at village, commune, district and province levels, with regarding to real participation of the most marginalized and vulnerable groups in these processes.

Requirements:
- University degree in related fields;
- At least 3 years experience in development, with a particular focus on community participation and an emphasis on integrative approaches for the participation of marginalized groups. Familiar with bottom-up participatory planning process for socio-economic development plans (SEDPs) is an advantage.
- Innovative, able to draw on a wealth of participatory methodologies that are applicable to the province and Vietnam.
- Able to deliver in a sensitive and complex environment.
- Good team player and interpersonal skills.
- Result oriented.
- Good English in both oral and written communication is desirable.
- High level of computer proficiency.

A very competitive salary, benefit and career development will be offered for qualified candidates commensurate with the responsibilities and qualifications. All applications will be treated in strictest confidence. For more information about Plan and e-mail contact please visit their website:
http://plan-international.org/where-we-work/asia/vietnam/about-plan/jobs.

Please submit your letter of application (stating clearly the position and based location you want to apply for) and detailed curriculum vitae in English with recent photo together with copies of degrees and certificates and contact numbers by email or post not later than 6th February 2012 to:
Human Resources Department - Plan in Vietnam
10th floor, 72 Tran Hung Dao, Hanoi, Vietnam
Email: [email protected]