Associate Private Sector Outreach Specialist

Associate Private Sector Outreach Specialist

Position: Associate Private Sector Outreach Specialist
Base of Operation: Hanoi, Vietnam
Period of Performance: one-year contract (potential extension during project duration)

Project Background:

The USAID Trade Facilitation Program is a five-year project that aims to support Vietnam to adopt and implement a risk management approach to the clearance of goods at Vietnam’s borders and facilitate implementation of the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement.

The Program collaborates with the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) to strengthen Vietnam’s National Trade Facilitation Committee* (NTFC) and its Standing Office and Working Groups; streamline border clearance procedures (including specialized inspection implemented by other line ministries and agencies); harmonize the implementation of risk-based approaches between the national and provincial levels; train national and provincial customs officers and staff from other ministries on risk management; and facilitate dialogue between customs and business and between stakeholders in Hanoi and in the provinces.

Overview:

The USAID Trade Facilitation Program engages with the private sector as a means of ensuring programmatic and operational relevance and the achievement of mutual strategic goals and objectives. This includes the key program priority: promotion, adoption and implementation of a risk-based approach to customs clearance that will reduce both border and specialized inspections. To achieve this goal, the Program engages with multiple private sector stakeholders to build cross sectoral support in the following ways:

1. Design program activities that encourage the private sector to identify business opportunities within the program’s priorities and challenges;
2. Capacity building and developing policies and strategies for strengthening the private sector and market systems;
3. Partnership with Foreign Chambers of Commerce and Donor Programs.

The USAID Trade Facilitation Program will identify opportunities to work with the private sector on aligned interests throughout the program components in building cross-sectoral support, elevating trade facilitation issues on the national level, awareness raising of trade facilitation agreement measures for small and medium enterprises, and leveraging the provincial presence of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industries (VCCI) and other business associations.

The primary role of the Associate Private Sector Outreach Specialist will be to provide technical assistance and support to the Private Sector Outreach Specialist and the Senior Trade Facilitation Expert in working with the private sector and their representative associations and chambers of commerce in implementing Component 4 of the Program which is dedicated to enhancing partnerships between the GDVC and the private sector. In addition, as the Program incorporates private sector engagement as a cross-cutting technical area, the Associate Private Sector Outreach Specialist will be required to liaise and work closely with the Program’s NTFC Advisor and Trade Facilitation Coordinators to encourage greater and sustainable engagement of the private sector in policy development and improve Custom-to-Business communication and collaboration on trade facilitation matters. The Associate Private Sector Outreach Specialist will be based in Hanoi and will be required to visit selected provinces as needed to cooperate and collaborate with various stakeholders. The Associate Private Sector Outreach Specialist will assist the Private Sector Outreach Specialist in implementing all project tasks efficiently, effectively and to the highest professional standard.

Responsibilities and Tasks

• Study the private sector landscape in Vietnam and analyze engagement opportunities.
• Identify key actors in the private sector such as Chambers of Commerce and Industry, public private partnerships, private companies, and others.
• Contribute to the preparation of Annual Work Plans for the Program with a focus on activities or tasks associated with private sector engagement and outreach so as to further the aims and objectives of the Program.
• Provide support to the Private Sector Outreach Specialist in identifying, developing and pursuing opportunities to leverage private sector ‘know how’, financial resources and business interests into the activities of the Program to offer sustainability and engagement beyond mere public-private dialogue.
• Support and contribute to studies, research, surveys and analyses carried out by the Program.
• Support project engagement with Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) for public-private dialogue and business surveys and private sector participation and/or membership in the NTFC.
• Build and maintain databases and networks of private sector partners.
• Other contributions to the Program as requested by the Private Sector Outreach Specialist.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in law, economics, business administration, international trade, or similar field (Bachelor degree with more than 10 years of experience in field may be accepted);
• Minimum 7 years of experience working with domestic and international private sector and Vietnamese government on trade or customs related matters;
• Ability to solve problems as well as exercise considerable analysis and judgement to identify solutions;
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills. Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Proficient in word processing, spreadsheets and office software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Applications; and
• Fluency in English and Vietnamese.

Reporting

The Associate Private Sector Outreach Specialist will report to the Private Sector Outreach Specialist and the Program’s Senior Trade Facilitation Expert.

Application

Interested candidates should send a cover letter outlining their interest in the position along with a CV to Mr. Filip Graovac at filip.graovac@asiafoundation.org or via fax at (24) 3943-3257.

Deadline for submission: September 6, 2019.

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*: The Vietnam NTFC was established under Prime Minister Decision 1899/QD-TTG dated October 4, 2016 and is otherwise known as the ‘1899 Committee’ or ‘NSC’ being the National Steering Committee for ASEAN Single Window system, National Single Window system, and Trade Facilitation.

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