AusAID Mekong Social Development Adviser

The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) is the Australian Government agency responsible for managing Australia's overseas aid program. Consistent with the MDGs, AusAID is guided by five core strategic goals. The goals are:

• saving lives
• promoting opportunities for all
• sustainable economic development
• effective governance, and
• humanitarian and disaster response.
  With a head office in Canberra, and strongly complemented by its country offices around the world, AusAID works in close partnership with Australian and foreign government officials, international and multilateral organisations (including the United Nations, World Bank and Asian Development Bank), the private sector, non-government and community organisations, and civil society.  AusAID has working relationships with many more companies and organisations, who help us design and deliver important programs of assistance.
  For more information on AusAID, please visit our websitewww.ausaid.gov.au.
  AusAID work in the Mekong Subregion
  AusAID country offices in Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Vientiane and Rangoon lead day-to-day engagement with implementing partners and other stakeholders on AusAID projects, supported by the AusAID Mekong Hub in Hanoi and AusAID headquarters in Canberra.
  Job Description
  The objective of the Social Development Adviser is to advise AusAID regional management and country offices on a wide range of social development issues in the implementation of AusAID’s country and regional programs, focusing on Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Burma. Within his/her area of responsibility, the adviser will take a leading role in AusAID analysis, program development, and strategic planning for the region.
  This is a non-Australian Public Service position, with an nitial term of 3 years with the possibility of 1 year extension. It is anticipated that the successful candidate be located at the AusAID Mekong Regional Office in Hanoi. This may be negotiable given the residency of successful candidate and AusAID available resources and operational priorities. 
  Eligibility/Other Criteria
• Significant experience working in developing countries on social development issues, accompanied by postgraduate qualifications in a relevant discipline.
• The applicant must be available for frequent short travel within the Mekong subregion (Vietnam, Cambodia, Burma, Thailand and Laos) and occasional international meetings outside the Mekong subregion.
• The position is full time and anticipated to be based in Hanoi, Vietnam.  (This may be negotiable given residency of incumbent and AusAID available resources and operational priorities.)
  Selection Criteria
  Important: The Selection Criteria are used to assess an applicant’s suitability for a position.   Applicants must provide a statement of claims addressing the selection criteria below.  Statements should detail suitability to perform the duties of the position including personal qualities, experience, skills and knowledge relative to the selection criteria.
  1.        Demonstrated ability to apply social development expertise relevant for the position responsibilities, with specialist competencies in social analysis and a range of the following areas: social protection; infrastructure; social safeguards; civil society/NGO engagement; labour and employment; gender and women and girls empowerment;
  2.        Superior communication skills, with the capacity to share knowledge to build subregional staff expertise and provide concise, policy-relevant advice on a wide range of complex issues in the social development field;
  3.        Superior networking and representational skills, with a proven capacity to represent organisations with tact and sensitivity and to establish credibility and influence at the most senior levels, including in external organisations;
  4.        Strong analytical skills, sound judgement and the capacity to think strategically, including the ability to produce high quality policy materials and advice for development program implementation;
  5.        The ability to work effectively as part of a team within an Australian Government Agency that is accountable to the Australian people through their Parliament.
  NB:  All AusAID employees demonstrate a commitment to AusAID’s Overseas Code of Conduct, as well as to workplace diversity, occupational health and safety and employee participation principles and have appropriate cross-cultural sensitivities.
  How to apply
  Those interested in this position should lodge the following:
• A covering letter.
• A Curriculum Vitae (CV) of no more than 3 pages.
• A statement (no more than half a page per criterion) in support of your application, using the selection criteria as headings, to describe how you consider yourself suitable against each of the selection criteria by providing relevant examples from work, study or community roles.
  Applicants should ensure that they address all of the prescribed selection criteria
• Details of two referees who may be contacted if required.