Project Director, Climate Adaptation Investment Project (CAIP) At World University Service of Canada

POSITION TITLE: Project Director, Climate Adaptation Investment Project (CAIP)

POSITION LOCATION: Vietnam

REPORTS TO: Director of Programs

CONTRACT TERM: 2 years, renewable

LANGUAGES REQUIRED: Fluency in English and Vietnamese

APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 28, 2025

EXPECTED START DATE: Q2 2025

BACKGROUND

WUSC is a Canadian non-profit organization working to create a better world for all young people. We bring together a diverse network of partnerships with governments, businesses, civil society organizations, and academic institutions who share this vision. Together, we develop solutions in education, economic opportunities, and empowerment to overcome inequality and exclusion for youth around the world, particularly young women, and young refugees. WUSC currently works in 25 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the Caribbean, with an annual budget of approximately CAD 40 million. We have 300 global staff collaborating with donors such as Global Affairs Canada, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Mastercard Foundation, and the African Development Bank.

WUSC is recruiting a dynamic Project Director able to lead the start-up and delivery of a four-year project that aims to boost the resilience of vulnerable Vietnamese populations to climate change by supporting investment in and growth of Climate Enterprises (CEs), particularly those led by or serving women. CAIP will achieve this by strengthening business support services for CEs, facilitating increased investments, and promoting gender-responsive investment practices within Vietnam’s business ecosystem. By fostering the growth of CEs, CAIP seeks to create resilient employment opportunities and provide products and services that help communities adapt to the impacts of climate change. WUSC has the overall management responsibility of the project, which is implemented in consortium with Sarona Asset Management (Sarona) and in close collaboration with a strong network of Vietnamese partner organizations

RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Director of Programs, the Project Director (PD) oversees the strategic and operational implementation of the project. The Project Director manages relationships with key stakeholders, including with national and local Governments, project partners, local partners, and the funder.

The Project Director will be responsible for the following:

Partner Relations and Communications

• Establish and maintain effective relationships with key project partners.
• Develop robust relationships with project stakeholders, including the donor, the financial partner, relevant governments, and enterprise support organisations.
• Organize and manage project governance structures / committees
• Represent WUSC with stakeholders, ensuring that the project can provide value to local actors and make a positive impact within the entrepreneurial ecosystem

Technical Direction & Project Management

• Provide technical and managerial direction and guidance to the initiative, in line with the project’s expected outcomes
• Develop key project planning deliverables (i.e. Initiative Inception Plan, Annual Work Plans) using results-based management approaches and tools
• Develop specific strategies for cross-cutting themes (capacity building, gender equality, climate adaptation) for the initiative
• Share in WUSC’s commitment and approach to advance gender equality and social inclusion for all young people
• Maintain open and effective communication amongst strategic partners and project team members in Canada, Vietnam and across the region.
• Oversee day-to-day coordination and delivery of project activities in conjunction with staff, technical advisors, and partners

Human Resources Management

• Recruit and manage the project team
• Supervise, guide, and evaluate the work of project staff and consultants
• Oversee human resources management issues such as employment policies and practices, in line with local law and in keeping with WUSC policy

Financial & Office Management

• Oversee a financial management system for the project
• Support the establishment and oversight of investment structures in partnership with the access to finance partner
• Ensure that the project complies with relevant local taxation, banking controls, and labour laws
• In conjunction with the finance team, develop and monitor the project budget and ensure regular reporting to the donor
• Recruit, maintain and direct the required administrative and project infrastructure of staff, field offices and equipment as well as making decisions on administrative policy, planning and procedural matters
• Lead the establishment of management structures that integrate WUSC operational standards, workflows, and IT systems.

Risk Management & Security Preparedness

• Actively assess the risk profile of the initiative; identify specific risks and appropriate mitigation strategies
• Ensure the application and relevancy of WUSC security policies, procedures, and preparedness to the operational context of the project

Donor Liaison & Coordination

• Establish a strong working relationship with the Donor, including planning, capacity building and information sharing
• Convene Project Steering and Advisory Committees at regular intervals
• Coordinate regularly with other development actors to ensure harmonization and synergy with similar initiatives
• Represent the Project in official communication and fora

Work environment

• Ability to contribute to WUSC’s organizational culture that respects differences, including sex, age, ability, refugee or migration status, race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and other identity factors
• Support a working environment is free from sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH) and adheres to the corresponding WUSC safeguarding policies
• Understand own responsibilities towards ensuring high standards of prevention and response measures for SEAH

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

Education

• A university degree in environmental management, business administration, finance, or other relevant area; or equivalent work experience
• Specialized training in entrepreneurship support and impact investment would be an advantage.

Experience requirements

• A minimum of ten years of progressively more responsible assignments related to management of development initiatives
• Experience working with international development donor agencies
• Knowledge and experience in economic development and climate adaptation in the context of international development programs
• Existing network with stakeholders working on climate investment and entrepreneurial approaches to tackling climate change in Vietnam across Asia.
• Knowledge of Results Based Management (RBM) and environmental and gender policies and reporting requirements
• Proven financial, administrative, and organizational skills
• Knowledge of donor financial and narrative reporting procedures and requirements
• Proven experience managing a large, multi-disciplinary and international team of staff
• Proven experience of adaptability to a challenging and constantly changing environment requiring iterative planning on a regular basis
• Proven knowledge of and commitment to the concepts of Gender Equality

Assets

• Experience in impact environment investment component
• Knowledge and networks with Canadian businesses, researchers and / or investors
• Experience managing technical advisors
• Experience in entrepreneurship ecosystem support, gender lens investment and financial inclusion
• Experience in capacity building with local partner organizations and participatory partnership approaches to development
• Ability to work with multiple time zones and frequent domestic travels

Languages

• Complete fluency in English and Vietnamese is required.

WHY WORK WITH WUSC?

Join Us. Our work is important, cutting-edge, and rewarding. We encourage curiosity, innovation, and flexibility.

WUSC offers a dynamic international work environment with a diverse intercultural workforce. We offer employees exciting opportunities to apply their skills and gain experience all while making a difference in the lives of youth around the world. Employees at WUSC work hard to create lasting change in education, economic opportunities, and empowerment.

APPLICATIONS

WUSC’s activities seek to balance inequities and create sustainable development around the globe; the work ethic of our staff, volunteers, representatives, and partners shall correspond to the values and mission of the organization. WUSC promotes responsibility, respect, honesty, and professional excellence and we will not tolerate harassment, coercion, sexual exploitation, or abuse of any form.

WUSC is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and abilities. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Please note that only the candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in Vietnam. WUSC will not facilitate any work authorization process or relocation.