Job description for Regional Officer on Responsible Business Conduct  

• Job title: Regional Officer on Responsible Business Conduct 
• Unit/mission: Consulate General of the Netherlands in Ho Chi Minh City
• Job level: 08 
• Number of hours: 40 hours per week 
• Duration: 2 years

General features of the job 

• The Senior Economic Officer primarily focuses on informing, supporting and coordinating with Dutch businesses in Vietnam implementing Responsible Business Conduct (RBC). 
• The Senior Economic Officer give impetus to the policy topic of Responsible Business Conduct in the ASEAN5 region (Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand). 
• The officer coordinates the Responsible Business Conduct efforts within the Dutch missions and coordinates with Dutch Business Chambers in the five countries.
• Taking into account the temporary nature of the position, the Senior Economic Officer ensures to internalize and secure knowledge on Responsible Business Conduct within the Dutch missions in ASEAN5, and embeds coordination between them on this topic.
• The Senior Economic Officer is active in maintaining and expanding the business network and promoting Dutch interests, regarding Responsible Business Conduct and the contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 
• The Senior Economic Officer establishes partnerships on Responsible Business Conduct with local stakeholders. 
• The Senior Economic Officer is aware of the Dutch Responsible Business Conduct policy (IMVO), as well as relevant European regulations and directives, such as EU Deforestation Regulations (EUDR) and the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). 
• The Senior Economic Officer is aware of the Dutch policy objectives in ASEAN5 and Vietnam specifically, contributes to their formulation, adopts a proactive approach, anticipates, takes initiative to implement projects and activities, specifically focussing on Responsible Business Conduct. 
• The Senior Economic Officer is results oriented and knowledgeable, and uses available instruments of the Ministry and Foreign Affairs and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.
• The Senior Economic Officer reports to the Consul who is Deputy Head of the Policy Section and Economic Affairs at the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, and works in the economic team in HCMC.

Possible duties

Content:  

• The senior economic officer is coordinating Responsible Business Conduct with Dutch businesses and Dutch Business Chambers in ASEAN5 countries (covering Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand). 
• The officer is responsible for initiating, organizing and contributing to business development activities (workshops, webinars, incoming missions, etc.) that support and educates Dutch businesses on Responsible Business Conduct. 
• The officer coordinates strongly with the economic teams at Dutch Missions in ASEAN5, especially with the Head of Economic Affairs, and the officers working on Responsible Business Conduct and ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance). 
• Seek cooperation and build a Responsible Business Conduct network with other Consulate Generals, Embassies, Chambers of Commerce (especially Dutch Business Association Vietnam) on Responsible Business Conduct in Vietnam and ASEAN5. 
• Monitor, analyse and provide information on relevant business and knowledge developments related to Responsible Business Conduct in Vietnam and the ASEAN5 region. 
• The officer takes the initiative to use the available instruments from the Ministry and Foreign Affairs and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency in The Hague to bring Dutch Responsible Business Conduct objectives into practice.
• Drafting briefing notes, speeches, analyses, strategy papers and content for external communications, trade missions and other events such as networking and seminars. 
• Providing input and dossiers for briefings and speeches for the Consul General and high incoming visitors such as ambassador or ministers. 
• The officer will handle requests from individual Dutch companies, solve trouble shooting cases and arrange matchmaking between Dutch and Vietnamese business on Responsible Business Conduct. 

Awareness: 

• Taking the initiative and being responsible for building and maintaining a relevant network regarding Responsible Business Conduct, involving all relevant businesses, business associations, local governments and knowledge institutes. 
• In order to be able to coordinate: taking initiative and responsibility to be fully aware of the Responsible Business Conduct efforts of the Dutch missions in ASEAN5 countries. 
• Cooperate with relevant parties such as Dutch Embassies, Dutch Ministries, Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), NL in Business, Dutch Business Associations, especially the one in Vietnam (DBAV), NL Works. 
• The officer pro-actively looks for Responsible Business Conduct opportunities for Dutch businesses, by structured business development (attending networking events, arranging meet-ups to build contacts in the fields, keeping an open antenna and going out into the “field”). The officer will communicate these leads to the relevant parties via different communication channels. 

Processes & Procedures:  

• The Senior Economic Officer is expected to be organized in the work, especially in project management in order to execute and fulfil tasks in a timely manner. - The officer will be involved in planning of processes related to events and incoming or outgoing visits of the Consulate General and the Embassy relating to Responsible Business Conduct. The officer is expected to be aware of the requirements for good and timely process planning and to execute these in an effective and inclusive manner. 
• The officer sets clear priorities and takes initiatives for the portfolio. - The officer needs to be familiar with and facilitate the use of Dutch government instruments in relation to project development and implementation. 
• The officer keeps regular records of relevant activities into Achilles and works effectively with 247 Sharepoint. 
• Understands and implements the standard procedures in carrying out missions and activities. 
• Provide the manager and the team with timely and proper planning proposals for incoming missions, outgoing trips and events. 

Knowledge 

• The Senior Economic Officer should have a firm knowledge on Responsible Business Conduct in order to advise on the relevant policy, and educate businesses on the Responsible Business Conduct policy and implementation thereof. Study of news, literature and reports are relevant sources of knowledge. 
• The officer should have strong knowledge of the Dutch Responsible Business Conduct policy (IMVO), as well as relevant European regulations and directives, such as EU Deforestation Regulations (EUDR) and the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). 
• The Senior Economic Officer should be aware of the Dutch policy objectives in ASEAN5 and Vietnam specifically. 
• The officer must interpret and analyse collected information independently to provide advice when necessary. 
• Work closely with the Consulate General and Embassy team members and involve them pro-actively. Because of the temporary nature of the position: sharing and internalizing knowledge within, and embedding coordination between economic teams is key. Most important are the Head of Economic Affairs of each ASEAN5 mission, as well as the respective officers responsible for ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) and Responsible Business Conduct/IMVO.
• Be aware of and help implement the Multi Annual Country Strategy and the Annual  Policy Plan of Embassy and Consulate General, and other relevant policy guidelines  in the daily work. 

Needed knowledge and skills 

Knowledge 

• Strong knowledge of Responsible Business Conduct and relevant (policy) developments,  both in the Netherlands and the EU 
• Knowledge on business development 
• Basic knowledge of Dutch policy goals and activities in Vietnam and ASEAN5
• Knowledge of Vietnamese ministerial policy and economy is considered an advantage
• Excellent command of English, both spoken and written 
• Good command of Vietnamese is considered an advantage 

Skills 

• Proven capacity to build and maintain a network of contacts in relevant fields
• Proven skills in translating insights and information into recommendations and leads
• Proven organizational and coordination skills and commitment 
• You show that you can work on a project (project based working) 
• You show that you are used to be active on social media and have computer knowledge  
• Able to work autonomously and within teams in different locations

Competences 

• Ability to work with others 
• Result oriented 
• Integrity 
• Organisational sensitivity 
• Initiative 
• Conscious of working environment 
• Networking skills 
• Good oral and written skills 
• Analytical thinking 
• Flexibility

Working environment and contacts
 

Working environment  
The employee will be based at the Netherlands Consulate General in HCMC under the guidance  of the Consul. The employee will work closely with the colleagues of the Economic team of the  Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City and of the Embassy in Hanoi. 
Vietnam is a priority emerging market to the Netherlands. The Dutch representations in  Vietnam, consisting of the Embassy in Hanoi and the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City,  focus on sustainable economic development, international order, human rights and social  progress. The Embassy and Consulate General also have a Consular Section which provides  consular services for Dutch nationals in Vietnam and for Vietnamese wishing to travel to the  Netherlands. 

The Consulate General is headed by the Consul General. The team comprises of 3 expat staff  and 10 locally employed Vietnamese staff and once a year an intern. There is a policy section  and a consular/general affairs section. The Senior Economic Officer will be a member of the  Economic Affairs of the Policy Section of the Consulate General. This policy section further  comprises the Consul-General, Consul, a policy officer, two Senior Economic Officers, a senior  agricultural officer and a senior press, culture and communications officer. The Consul is the line  manager of the Senior Economic Officer. There is close cooperation with the Economic Section of  the Embassy in Hanoi. The Senior Economic Officer is part of both the water and climate sector  teams. The office of the Consulate General is located in Saigon Tower on Le Duan Boulevard in  District 1. 
The Embassy in Hanoi is headed by the Ambassador. The team comprises of 8 expatriate staff,  15 locally employed Vietnamese staff and 1 trainee from the Netherlands. 
 

Contacts  

• With the Dutch, Vietnamese and ASEAN5 business communities, including the Dutch  Business Associations (Vietnam, DBAV).  
• With local ministries and authorities, Chambers of Commerce and Industry, universities and  branche organisations, Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), NL in Business, VNO/NCW,  and the Dutch ministries in The Hague. 
• With the Vietnam and broader ASEAN5 network consisting of colleagues at the Embassies in  Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta and Bangkok, and the Consulate General in Ho Chi  Minh City.  
• With local media. 
   

Salary  
The gross monthly salary based on a 40 hours workweek, starts from USD 1,975,- and depends  on skills and experience. 

Applications 
Can be addressed to Consul Hanna Pors (hcm@minbuza.nl) until January 12th.