Business Enabling Environment Technical Assistance Manager/Advisor

Program: USAID Linkages for Small and Medium Enterprises (LinkSME) Project

Location: Hanoi, Vietnam

The USAID LinkSME project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), supports the Government of Vietnam (GVN) in its efforts to develop, adopt, and implement policy and regulatory reforms to provide a more favorable environment for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It also works with business support organizations (BSOs) and the GVN to improve the performance of SMEs and integrate them into lead-firm supply chains. The project is implemented by the International Executive Service Corps (www.iesc.org), under a contract with USAID and an operating license issued by the People’s Aid Coordinating Committee. Click here for more information.

The project’s work on policy and regulatory reforms consists of two components. The first focuses on streamlining regulations and administrative procedures, reducing compliance costs, and enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs. The second focuses on supporting efforts to improve the effectiveness of government to business interactions, for instance enhancing government information available to enterprises and improving the government’s mechanisms for handling feedback from the business sector. The lead agency for these two components is the Administrative Procedures Control Agency under the Office of the Government.

The project is seeking qualified candidates for a Business Enabling Environment Technical Assistance Manager/Advisor (BEE TAMA) position. The objective of this role is to implement technical assistance activities under the annual work plan for Component 1 and Component 2 consistent with the direction of the Business Enabling Environment Team Lead, and to perform tasks in support of the Project PSC/PMU/Secretary in coordinating with the government counterparts. The BEE TAMA will split time between the PSC/PMU/Secretary and the Project Office as needed, and work under the supervision of the BEE Team and the LinkSME Director in Hanoi. The BEE TAMA would be expected to travel as required to perform the duties and meet the responsibilities as described below.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Closely work with the project teams and the implementing counterparts to implement and monitor the progress and quality of activities for Components 1 and 2 of the annual work plan; Attend, and provide necessary support for, project sponsored events related to Components 1 and 2;
Develop and submit technical assistance concept notes (TACNs) and follow up on sub-activities with the implementing counterparts and PMU oversight in close coordination with the BEE Team Lead;
Provide technical inputs related to legal and regulatory framework to implementing partners, the project teams, and support efforts to disseminate current or reformed policies, regulations, and administrative procedures to stakeholders;
Supervise and monitor short-term technical consultants, ensuring clearly stated deliverables and adherence to quality indicators;
Assist the monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) Officers in data collection, analysis, learning and adaptation of project interventions under Component 1 and 2; Assist with integrating key program learnings into actionable SME-related regulatory reform recommendations;
Assist with reports and documentation on meetings held and assessments conducted in a timely manner, and contribute to periodic reports such as weekly bullets and quarterly progress reports;
Provide necessary technical inputs or technical assistance to the daily work of the PMU/Secretary and, as necessary, the PSC with regards to the project management and implementation;
Work closely with the person in charge of the LinkSME Office and provide support to the PMU/Secretary with regarding to planning and reporting work as required in the Term of Reference of the PMU and the Secretariat, as well as in the Project Document and the PIM.
Support the PMU/Secretary with scheduling, preparation and holding of PSC and PMU meetings; participate and facilitate regular and other ad hoc meetings as necessary with GVN counterparts to foster proactive communication and coordination, including ensuring that agenda, notes, and follow up actions are taken, assigned, and completed in a timely manner;
Support the coordination work among the PSC/PMU/Secretary and other government counterparts and the Project Director/ Team Leads
Provide other support reasonably related to facilitating relations between the Project and its government counterparts as requested by the PSC/PMU/Secretary, the Project Director and the Team Leads. Expedite counterpart approvals designed to ensure smooth and timely implementation of the project;
Perform any other task assigned by the supervisor(s) to meet project objectives.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:

Vietnamese national;

A Master’s degree in Economics, Law, Public Administration or closely related fields of study;
Minimum 10 years work experience related to economic governance issues, specific experience on business-related policy and regulatory reform will be an advantage;
Demonstrated ability to conduct economic policy and regulation reviews;
Excellent understanding of Vietnam’s institutional and regulatory reform programs;
Demonstrated ability to adopt international good practices in institutional and regulatory reforms and make relevant recommendations for reforms in Vietnam;
Proven record of working experience with/for Government agencies, specifically with Office of Government will be a plus;
Working experience in coordinating or facilitating multi-government agencies relationship will be a plus;
Prior experience working with/for USAID/USAID projects at the technical level is preferred;
Fluency in written and spoken English is required;
Relationship orientation: demonstrated public and private client relationship building and management skills;
Demonstrated leadership, integrity, and organizational skills; and

Maturity, professionalism, positive attitude, and self-motivation.

APPLY HERE

Please note that this position is intended for a Vietnamese national. CVs and cover letters should be submitted in English. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the position will remain open until filled. Early applications by August 12, 2021 are strongly encouraged.