Social Work Specialist

Job title: Social Work Specialist (Foreigner). Full-time
Duration: One year,  renewable subject to performance, project needs and fund availability
Expected job start: Mid-July 2011
Duty station: Ha Noi with possible limited field trips

Background. The Ministry of Labor Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) implements a project named “Support to Social Work Development in Viet Nam from 2010 to 2014”. Project objectives include: (1) to improve general public and policy makers understanding of professional social work and its role and benefits for addressing personal, social and health concerns; (2) to create an environment for social workers to share information and promote opportunities for cooperation; (3) to improve social welfare and social protection services for vulnerable groups; and (4) to strengthen the capacity of MOLISA to coordinate, mobilize and involve other stakeholders and ministries to promote social work development. The Project is supported by the Atlantic Philanthropies (Atlantic). The Project is executed by the Social Protection Department of MOLISA in collaboration with relevant ministries and other stakeholders. The project duration is 4 years and it is expected to start from Jan. 2011.

Main Functions. The Social Work Specialist (SWS) is expected to have three main functions as follows:
- Suporting to Play a coordinating role in providing inputs for capacity building of MOLISA staff and its affiliates through the various stages of project management and implementation.
- Serve as a facilitator for MOLISA and its Implementing Partners and Atlantic in the areas of substantive activity that are being addressed by the project.
- Provide technical advices to advocate sustainable development of social work, share development experiences/good practices that have been acquired elsewhere and learn similar experiences/good practices in Viet Nam and share them with relevant stakeholders.

Specific tasks: To realize the above-mentioned function duty, the SWS will carry out the main specific tasks, which will be modified as necessary and appropriate, as follows:
- Capacity assessment and capacity building: Provide advice in assessing capacity gaps of MOLISA’s staff and its implementing partners and project personnel, mainstream lessons and best practices learned elsewhere into capacity building activities for the project and give guidance in organising such capacity building activities.
- Project planning, implementation and coordination: (i) Play the lead role in coordinating expert inputs that are provided by international and national consultants for project implementation, in coordinating technical inputs for major project events (e.g. national workshops, project reviews, project evaluations), in developing partnerships with relevant parties (e.g. donors, related projects) as well as in building information/knowledge networks; (ii). Provide advice to MOLISA and its implementing partners and project personnel in identifying emerging issues, improving the Annual Work Plan and developing project work plans for future years; (iii). Provide guidance in developing baseline and indicators for project monitoring and evaluation as well as in preparing project reports focused on capturing results, learning lessons and documenting best practices in order to improve project performance.
- Technical advice: (i) Provide substantive inputs to MOLISA to formulate relevant policy and regulations related to social work development in the form of drafting TORs for all project activities and in reviewing project semi-products and final draft products, which will be produced by project consultants/sub-contractors; (ii) Take part in preparing project periodic reports on progress and results; (iii) Take part in documentation, management and sharing knowledge, experience and lessons learned; (iv) Help to ensure English correctness of important project outgoing correspondences, etc.

Qualifications:
- Master Degree in Social Work or in  disciplines that relate to the substantive matters/issues that are being addressed by the project;
- Five years of work experience directly related to substantive mattes/issues that are being addressed by the project;
- Familiarity with technical assistance concepts/projects/activities and/or with a major  foreign NGO as a development partner will be an asset;
- Excellent English proficiency (in writing, reading, listening, and speaking)
- Prior working experience in Viet Nam in development works is an advantage

Reporting line: The incumbent will work under direct supervision of the National Project Director or through his/her designate.

Interested candidates are requested to submit their application dossiers to Social Protection Bureau in 35 Tran Phu Ha Noi indicating clearly on the envelope: Application for the Project “Support to Social Work Development in Viet Nam from 2010 to 2014” and their respective application position and code; or send to email: [email protected].
The application includes: a) Application letter; b) Brief CV following international practice (Guidelines for CV preparation can be downloaded in www.molisa.gov.vn); c) Copies of concerned diplomas (no need to provide notarized copies right now; successful candidates will submit them later on). The above papers should be typed in English. Deadline for submission: before 16.30 Thursday, 30/6/2011.