Operations Officer/Associate Operations Officer

Vacancy Announcement

Job Title: Operations Officer/Associate Operations Officer
Appointment: Local hire – 3-year term
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. Working with more than 2,000 businesses worldwide, we use our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in the toughest areas of the world. For more information, visit www.ifc.org [1] Gender is an important strategic theme for IFC. Central to IFC’s gender work is helping clients build robust business performance by making them aware of, and invest in, the value women can bring either as a defined consumer segment, as employees, as business leaders or as entrepreneurs and suppliers.  IFC’s commitment to advancing gender equality is anchored in the business case and client demand for gender-smart solutions. IFC continues to stimulate and respond to market demand by expanding women’s access to credit, saving, housing, and insurance products, by advising companies on their workforce and talent management, and by building the capacity of women in supply chains and as entrepreneurs through SME financing and a new entrepreneurship training curriculum.  

IFC’s Gender Business Department supports staff and clients in implementing gender-smart solutions.  It sets a strategic agenda, develops common targets, improves knowledge, develops practical gender approaches, measures results, and forges key partnerships that strengthen the private sector’s contribution to integrated development solutions.  

The team is now seeking a passionate, energetic and knowledgeable candidate with experience in women’s employment and the private sector to selectively lead and substantially contribute to gender projects primarily in Southeast Asia - Vietnam and Cambodia – as well as contribute to IFC’s corporate gender agenda across East Asia Pacific. The job includes work on private sector strategies to address gender-based violence. The post is based in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Role & Responsibilities

The Operations Officer/Associate Operations Officer will report to the EAP Regional Gender Lead.  S/he will support delivery of projects and corporate support across East Asia Pacific with focus on Vietnam and Cambodia. The incumbent is expected to deliver client advisory on a range of topics related to gender and the private sector, including workplace sexual harassment and gender-based violence and employer-supported childcare. Specific duties and accountabilities include, but are not limited to:

Project Coordination and Monitoring

• Working closely with the EAP Regional Gender Lead, develop annual workplans and conduct bi-annual project supervision reports which track progress against project logframe targets, assess lessons learned and update risks/risk management. Refocus project activities as required to meet program targets in coordination with EAP Regional Gender Lead and other IFC stakeholders.
• Coordinate activities and events in Vietnam under the Get2Equal Vietnam project and its successor.
• Develop project documents (Concept Notes, Implementation Plans, Project Supervision Reports, Project Completion Reports) and collect and validate feedback from peers including industry, sector, product, and ES&G specialists as well as legal, M&E, and finance staff.
• Provide day to day budget oversight; report on financial performance according to plan. Control expenditures according to IFC policies and guidelines and within approval thresholds.
• Serve as main point of contact for the project in Vietnam and represent IFC with clients and potential clients, donors, UN agencies and NGOs with relevant mandates, Government of Vietnam and other stakeholders.
• Produce formal reports on project progress for donors; informally update donors periodically through briefings or informal reports as needed and in coordination with the EAP Regional Gender Lead.
• Travel as necessary within Vietnam and Cambodia, the EAP region, and occasionally globally; - Undertake ad-hoc tasks assigned by EAP Regional Gender Lead.

Business Development and Advisory Delivery

• Work closely with the EAP Regional Gender Lead to develop and deliver gender advisory services to IFC clients and pipeline clients. Such services are
• expected to include gender equality assessments, action planning, and training or implementation support based on client needs and priorities.
• Coordinate peer learning platform on employer-supported childcare in Vietnam. Liaise with relevant World Bank staff and global Tackling Childcare lead.
• Draft client deliverables, including analysis, training materials, best practice guides, standards, and papers or presentations containing recommendations to improve client performance.
• Support the development of a pipeline of potential clients for further women’s employment advisory engagements. Draft key project documents including pitch books, project service agreements.
• Develop and maintain relationships with project clients, building commitment to the project and ensuring that their needs are met.
• Further develop IFC expertise, products, and advisory delivery related to gender-based violence in coordination with current IFC and World Bank gender based violence specialists.

Gender Mainstreaming and Support

• Serve as resource to other IFC projects active in Southeast Asia that are looking to add value to their own projects through developing gender smart approaches.
• Contribute to meeting IFC projections under the EAP Regional Gender Strategy Implementation Plan (GSIP) including gender-flagged investment and advisory projects, selective research, and policy advocacy.

Knowledge Creation and Management

• Prepare draft Terms of Reference, select, and oversee quality of research outputs.
• Produce company case studies highlighted the business case for action, lessons from implementation, and results.
• Foster innovation and knowledge exchange between IFC colleagues involved in the program and other key partners.
• Work with the EAP Regional Gender Lead and Communications staff to develop communications strategy and materials, influencing strategy to promote uptake of best practices among private sector stakeholders.

Selection Criteria:

The candidate should have expertise and experience in gender and the private sector in emerging markets. Preference for candidates with direct experience in Vietnam or other Southeast Asia country, including relevant language skills. S/he should have experience in managing projects and integrating work of other (often multi-disciplinary) professional staff.  S/he must be able to interact with clients, government officials, and staff from other organizations with confidence and a high degree of professionalism.   

• Master’s degree in relevant field with four to eight years of relevant or related work experience or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Strong theoretical base in gender and the private sector and ability to translate theory into practical applications in context of IFC Advisory projects; Good understanding of women’s employment best practices in the private sector, including on gender-based violence and the workplace and employer-supported care.
• Work experience in an emerging market environment required.
• Demonstrated ability to (i) build trusting relationships with clients; (ii) develop integrated solutions that leverage best practices across institutional boundaries; and (iii) work well in a team setting.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and client relationship skills. Able to effectively communicate face-to-face and virtually with a variety of individuals at levels.
• Strong commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion within IFC, the program and with private sector companies;
• Proficiency in local language (Vietnamese or other Southeast Asian language) is desirable.

IFC offers a challenging and rewarding work environment, attractive compensation and excellent career opportunities. Interested candidates should review the complete job description and selection criteria and apply on-line at http://www.ifc.org/careers [2] and choose vacancy number Req4291. The closing date is 8th October 2019. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.