JOB ADVERT
Position: Governance Specialist
Reports to: Combating Wildlife Trafficking Technical Manager
Location: Ha Noi
Team/Division: Law Enforcement Assistance
Position Type: Full-time
Expected travel: up to 25%
Organization Background:
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. In Viet Nam, WCS has been working to strengthen the commitment and capacity of the Vietnamese government to combat wildlife trafficking since 2006 and have established a well-respected
presence in the country, providing support to a range of government agencies. We have generated a wide range of reliable data on a number of related issues and trained nearly 1,200 law enforcement officers from a range of agencies in investigation and enforcement techniques, and distributed a number of technical handbooks and guides. We have assisted central agencies to review and propose criminal intelligence analysis systems, inter-agency agreements and cooperation, national legislation, and have supported bi-lateral dialogues to suppress the wildlife trade and strengthen Viet Nam’s enforcement response. WCS’ wildlife health expertise has been leveraged in Viet Nam to address core conservation issues, like wildlife trade, through collaborative research, training, and policy development.
Project Introduction:
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has supported counter wildlife trafficking (CWT) activities in more than 25 countries over the past decade by investing in the first line of defense against poachers and traffickers, bolstering community conservation, reducingdemand for wildlife products, and developing innovative solutions. USAID’s Biodiversity Policy aims to advance biodiversity conservation as an essential component of human development. The Biodiversity Policy ranks Vietnam as a Tier 1 country, meaning that Vietnam is among USAID’s highest ranked countries in terms of biological criteria based on the Global Environment Facility’s Global Benefits Index for Biodiversity and that contain a preponderance of globally significant ecoregions as determined by the World Wildlife Fund’s Global 200 list.
Awarded to Tetra Tech ARD, USAID’s funded Saving Species project (Oct. 2016 – Sept. 2021) seeks to reduce the pressure of wildlife crime on endangered and threatened species. This five-year project led by USAID/Vietnam will accomplish this by reducing consumer demand for and consumption of illegal wildlife and wildlife products, strengthening wildlife law enforcement and prosecution, and improving and harmonizing the legal framework for wildlife crime.
As a sub-contractor of the USAID Saving Species project, WCS will provide the technical lead to implement, monitor, and adapt activities outlined in Task 1 (Improve and Harmonize the Legal Framework for Wildlife Crime) and Task 2 (Strengthen Wildlife Law Enforcement and Prosecution) of the project to strengthen competencies of law enforcement officers to enforce wildlife laws and legislation.
Job Summary:
The Governance Specialist (GS) is responsible to design, implement and monitor activities, budgets for successful implementation of Task 1. The GS is expected to work closely with the Law Enforcement Assistance team to ensure the harmonization between WCS and the USAID SavingSpecies project for governance improvement activities. S/he will work closely with other team members of the USAID Saving Species project to support efforts of Task 2 (Strengthen Wildlife Law Enforcement and Prosecution) and provide insight and feedback to Task 3, as appropriate, with targeted audience and Government stakeholders.
Main Responsibilities:
- Develop and oversee work-planning, budgeting, project-tracking and performance reporting for activities under Task 1 of the USAID Saving Species project;
- Collaborate and coordinate with relevant WCS staff, Activity staff, subcontractors and grantees to execute the project activities;
- Provide day-to-day direction of all activities related to legal reform activities under Task 1;
- In coordination with the Law enforcement assistance team, establish and maintain partnership with Vietnam’s enforcement community;
- Coordinate and harmonize governance support activities between USAID Saving Species and WCS;
- Involve in the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategy to support legal reforms in Vietnam;
- Collaborate with and build upon the efforts of other USG, internationally-assisted and civil society activities;
- Contributes to the development of WCS Viet Nam policies and strategies;
- Acts as WCS’s representative and USAID Saving Species project at provincial and national level/meetings/workshops as required;
- Performs others as requested and mutually agreed with the leaders of WCS and USAID Saving Species project.
Requirements:
- At least seven years of experience in effective policy and legislation development and/or reform, the design and institutionalization of capacity building systems, institutional strengthening, and coalition building.
- Experience in supporting the establishment and/or operations of government and/or nongovernmental platforms to share information and coordinate anti-trafficking planning and enforcement actions is highly desired.
- Experience supporting and implementing biodiversity or CWT legal reform particularly in Vietnam, is highly desired.
- A master’s degree in a relevant field or, in lieu thereof, three additional years of experience in a related technical area.
- Proficiency in English is required
- Proficiency in Vietnamese is highly desired.
Required Competencies:
- Time management
- Communication
- Team building
- Accountability
- Result orientation
- Data management
Application Process:
Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications should apply by online via this link: https://goo.gl/forms/eomtVVBfH4wZ0gom2 [1] latest by 17:30 of 31st October, 2018.
WCS is an equal opportunity employer and the organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value.
The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate for employment based on age, color, disability, gender identify, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by laws and regulations.
Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted for interview.