This is a short-term policy officer role based in Hanoi, Vietnam, to provide capacity and support to the Vietnamese Government to assist in implementing wildlife trade commitments in CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) and other forums, including the actions Vietnam pledged to the Hanoi Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade and bring forward ideas to the London Conference on IWT in 2018.

This is a fascinating policy area where the post holder will have the opportunity to work closely with a wide range of international partners and demonstrate a wide range of skills, helping to develop policy/content and strategy, securing meaningful engagement from key stakeholders.

The post holder will be based in the Vietnam CITES Management Authority (MA) Office, Vietnam Ministry for Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD,). They will also be expected to work closely with the UK Embassy in Hanoi. The role will require someone with excellent people and project management skills. They must have demonstrable knowledge of the illegal wildlife trade, ideally including in South East Asia and CITES. This role requires excellent communication skills, influencing and negotiating abilities, attention to detail, and the ability to solve problems. They will have to be able to deal with a wide range of stakeholders of varying seniority, knowledge levels and backgrounds. The policy officer will be supported by an administrative officer.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?

• You will work under the direct management of the Director of the Vietnam CITES MA and collaborate closely with Vietnam CITES MA, MARD and key international partner countries and organisations.
• Support international cooperation activities within the scope of work of Vietnam CITES MA, including support for CITE compliance and in implementing activities pledged to the Hanoi Statement. Liaise with British Embassy and London office in the handover and run up to the London Conference on IWT.
• Support the implementation of CITES in Vietnam to ensure the effectiveness of the work in tackling IWT
• Build capacity within the CITES MA and British Embassy IWT team, including Identifying and designing learning and development opportunities for embassy and CITES MA staff.
• Draft grants proposals to obtain project funds, oversee and implement projects, including evaluation of ongoing and planned project activities, and donor reports.  
• Communicate with public audiences and the media to help raise the profile of CITES MA and wildlife trade issues in Southeast Asia. Draft press releases and original content for IWT website. Keep abreast of the trends within the wildlife trade environment in Vietnam and Internationally. Provide technical inputs, vision, strategic focus, and operational guidance as necessary for the further development and implementation of CITES MA programme and projects at both country and regional levels.
• Represent Vietnam at CITES meetings and in other relevant fora, including drafting briefs and reports to meetings, interventions, preparation and presentations at side events and side meetings.  Act as international and inter-agency focal point to CITES MA: open and maintain channels of communication between CITES MA and relevant NGOs, international and regional government agencies.
• Working under the direct management of the Vietnam CITES MA for day-to-day task assignment, you will provide regular and ad-hoc reports to the Vietnam CITES MA. You will also provide support and add resilience to the work of the UK Embassy, Hanoi, including the provision of regular updates on Vietnam’s activity in the field of IWT, under the approval of the Vietnam CITES MA. You may also be required to input into other relevant briefing material.
• Other tasks as requested

• Demonstrable knowledge of, and experience of working on, the issue of IWT
• Experience of working in or closely with governments, and international fora
• Knowledge and experiences in CITES