(Vietnamese Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply)

THE ORGANISATION

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected. Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 80 years and are now active in more than 70 countries.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Plan International began operating in Vietnam in 1954 and after a temporary withdrawal returned in 1993 with the mission to advance children’s rights and equality for girls. We recognize the important progress made in social and economic development in Vietnam over recent years, in a country experiencing rapid change. Significant challenges remain for remote, ethnic minority communities and especially for young women and girls further acerbated by the covid19 pandemic. We work in the most remote and hard to reach districts of the country, with local government and other partners.

The Country Strategy of Plan International Vietnam, that has recently undergone a thorough review, has one programme with three intervention areas that include:

1) Inclusive social services based on PIV’s niche programming in child protection and preventing GBV
2) Climate and disaster resilience which builds on PIV’s growing experience in this sector; and
3) Economic empowerment focusing on youth market oriented vocational training and entrepreneurship.

The programming in remote, mountainous areas in central and northern Vietnam in the five rural provinces of Lai Chau, Ha Giang, Kon Tum, Quang Binh and Quang Tri, will continue; and intervention in Hanoi area where relevant.

Aligning to Plan International strategic direction, PIV will ensure the agility and mindfulness required for locally led , localization, and decolonization strategy in its influencing, programmatic and partnership perspective.

To achieve the significant goals we have set above, we need a bold, forward-thinking and innovative individual to lead our country operations, driving change and delivering results that will allow us to deliver the refreshed strategy, while managing a team of approximately 100 staff

As a Country Director, you will drive Plan International’s programme and influencing work, setting overall direction, leading a high performing team, ensuring accountability for meeting demanding targets and maintaining alignment with the global strategy.

You will be deeply comfortable with leading transformative change, have a demonstrable commitment to gender equality and relish the prospect of representing Plan International to the highest levels of government, civil society, the media and international media.

You will understand and drive efforts to deliver positive change for girls through advocating, campaigning and communicating at a national level. Equally, you will ensure the country-operating model is fit for purpose, we have the right funding mix to achieve our ambition, key business processes are in place and organisational values are embedded in everything we do.

You will lead by example in ensuring gender equality is evident in everything we do from staffing, to programming and influencing, to ways of working. You will work with your team to bring about the right culture that ensures we are champions for girls and gender equality.

You will lead a motivated team, ensure legal compliance, and be ready and able to respond to emergency and development needs of the most marginalised children, especially girls

For a detailed job description, PLEASE CLICK HERE

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

To be successful in this role you will need among other things:

• Be fluent in Vietnamese
• Relevant degree is desirable.
• Experience of exercising leadership in an international environment related to development
• Proven understanding of “child rights” and “gender in development” concepts
• Experience and understanding of the concepts of sustainable community development and participatory approaches and practice in development interventions.
• Knowledge of the requirements of donor compliance and financial management
• Knowledge of programming in challenging environments with good understanding and appreciation of the historical, security context, political environment, economic, social/religious and humanitarian context in Vietnam or a comparable context
• Proven skills in the development and management of effective and motivated teams, including distance management.
• Proven networking and negotiation skills with governmental and non-governmental actors
• Diplomatic and communication skills with the ability to influence key stakeholders.

Location: Hanoi, Vietnam

Expected Contract: 3 Years Fixed Term contract under local terms and conditions

Reports to: Director of South East Asia and China

Closing Date: 06 November 2024

The selected candidate should be a citizen and/or a resident of Vietnam, a competitive salary and benefit package based on local terms and conditions is available

Only if there are no suitable local candidates will an expat contract be considered

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy.

As an international child centred community development organisation, Plan International is fully committed to promoting the realisation of children’s rights including their right to protection from violence and abuse. That means we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. We must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for. Our organisation is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We will provide equality of opportunity and will not tolerate discrimination on any grounds. We foster an organisational culture that embraces and exemplifies our commitment to gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion while supporting staff to adopt good practice, positive attitudes and principles of gender equality and inclusion.