Operations Director

**OPERATIONS DIRECTOR**

**KEY INFORMATION**

**Job Title**: Operations Director (Full-time)

**Reports to**: Team Leader

**Direct Reports**: Operations Team (Finance Manager, Finance & Administration Officer, Logistics & Procurement Officer, Grants Manager, IT Officer)

**Location**: Hanoi, Vietnam

**Duration**: 2025 - 2026, with possibility of multi-year extension

**SUMMARY OF PROJECT**

The anticipated Aus4Adaptation program will be a partnership between Australia and Vietnam to work together in responding to the challenges of climate change facing the Mekong Delta. It complements other investments that Australia has already made in climate change adaption. Aus4Adaptation comprises an investment of AUD 75 million over 10 years, with an initial phase of 5 years, with an option for a further 5-year extension. It supports the commitments outlined in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Australia and Vietnam, where one of the six focus areas is on climate change cooperation. The anticipated Aus4Adaptation program will respond to the challenges of climate change in Vietnam through a comprehensive strategy and approach. It aims to position Australia as a thought-leader in the climate adaptation space in Vietnam, drawing on international practice and experience, and Australia’s comparative advantage and institutional capabilities.

The anticipated Aus4Adaptation program’s objective is that Australia works in partnership with government (at all levels), the private sector and communities to demonstrate, learn from and scale up inclusive adaption responses to climate change in the Mekong Delta. Central to the investment’s theory of action is the role of Australia in facilitating shared research, knowledge exchange and learning through a flagship knowledge hub which will become a convenor of policy dialogue and engagement between and across stakeholders to support a stronger evidence-based policy and planning approach.

The overarching goal of Aus4Adaptation is underpinned by four key pillars:

- Government action: National, provincial and local levels of government improve capacity for coordinated and targeted climate adaptation.
- Private sector action: Private sector actors adopt integrated and coherent action along selected value chains for effective climate adaptation.
- Community action: Local organisations expand and diversify community involvement (including women and men, girls and boys and people with disabilities) in action for climate change adaptation.
- Shared research, knowledge and learning: All actors (donors, government, business, academic, and non-government and community organisations) increase engagement in sharing research, knowledge and learning on adaptation responses to climate change.

Aus4Adaptation will be delivered through a range of partners, including Australian Government entities, international and local NGOs and community organisations. Governance includes a Steering Committee at national level, a Partnership Group (with all delivery partners of new and existing investments), and an Operational Coordination Committee.

**SUMMARY OF POSITION**

The Operations Director will be based in Hanoi, Vietnam (with need-based travel to Mekong Delta region) and report to the Team Leader as part of the program Senior Management Team.

The Operations Director will be responsible for the program implementation and operations for the anticipated Aus4Adaptation (including wider responsibilities for risk management, governance mechanisms, quality assurance, communications and reporting). The Operations Director will manage the day-to-day implementation of the annual workplan and will have a lead role in establishing, implementing and quality assuring a robust and proportional monitoring plan (MERL) and reporting systems. The Operations Director will contribute to the development of high-quality, concise, and relevant routine and ad hoc reporting to DFAT, and communications products and services. The Operations Director will be responsible for day-to-day program risk management including management of the risk register and risk mitigation.

The Operations Director will work with the team to ensure that the Program delivers against its contracted outcomes and outputs, efficiently and effectively by contributing to and delivering against annual work plans, reporting to the Team Leader (TL). He or she will build strong working relationships with key Program stakeholders and counterparts.

This position is full-time, based in Vietnam, and is contingent on Cowater being awarded the project.

**KEY RESPONSIBILITES**

**Inception**:

- Ensure timely start-up and inception arrangements for Program (mobilisation, office set up both at central and regional level) and management, recruitment, governance, work planning, contract deliverables).
- Establish and oversee all operational and implementation requirements of Program, working with the Team Leader to operationalise the Program’s out