Job Description

DJRECRUIT ASIA

We are headquartered in Hong Kong and operate in Vietnam, overseeing recruitment efforts within the APAC region.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Location: Hanoi, Việt Nam (with regular travel to provincial locations)

About the Opportunity

Our client is an international non-profit organization dedicated to creating sustainable social impact through advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and policy development. They are seeking an experienced Senior Manager, Government Affairs to lead government relations, policy engagement, and strategic external partnerships in Vietnam.

This is a senior leadership position reporting directly to the Country Director and plays a critical role in shaping public policy engagement, strengthening relationships with government stakeholders, and supporting long-term organizational objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Government Relations Strategy

• Act as a strategic advisor to the Country Director on government engagement, policy direction, and regulatory matters.
• Develop and execute national government relations strategies aligned with organizational priorities.
• Support key regulatory and operational processes, including licensing and compliance requirements.
• Ensure proactive and coordinated engagement with government stakeholders.

Senior Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with ministries, government agencies, regulators, and other key decision-makers.
• Represent the organization in high-level meetings, negotiations, and policy discussions.
• Support leadership preparation for strategic government engagements and official visits.
• Position the organization as a trusted and credible partner to government stakeholders.

Policy & Advocacy

• Identify opportunities to influence policy, legislation, and regulatory frameworks.
• Lead the development of policy recommendations, position papers, and advocacy strategies.
• Collaborate with internal teams to align program objectives with policy engagement opportunities.
• Support national and provincial initiatives that contribute to systemic change.

Strategic Program Alignment

• Ensure government engagement strategies are integrated across organizational programs and initiatives.
• Translate organizational priorities into effective government-facing strategies.
• Incorporate political, regulatory, and stakeholder considerations into planning and decision-making.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop the Government Affairs function in Vietnam.
• Manage and mentor team members to build a high-performing government relations capability.
• Establish systems for stakeholder mapping, engagement tracking, and intelligence sharing.

Political Intelligence & Risk Management

• Monitor political, regulatory, and stakeholder developments.
• Identify emerging risks and opportunities and provide strategic recommendations to leadership.
• Anticipate changes in the policy landscape and proactively adjust engagement strategies.

Requirements

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of experience in government relations, public policy, external affairs, or a related field in Vietnam.
• Demonstrated success engaging senior government stakeholders and decision-makers.
• Proven experience influencing policy, legislation, or regulatory frameworks.
• Experience within NGOs, international organizations, development agencies, or advocacy-focused environments is highly desirable.
• Previous leadership and people management experience.

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong understanding of Vietnam’s government structure and decision-making processes.
• Deep knowledge of public policy and regulatory frameworks.
• Excellent stakeholder management, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong strategic thinking and communication capabilities.
• Ability to navigate complex political and regulatory environments.

Education

• Advanced degree in Public Policy, Law, International Relations, Political Science, or a related discipline (or equivalent professional experience).

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Senior leadership role with significant visibility and impact.
• Opportunity to shape policy and influence meaningful change at a national level.
• Work closely with senior government stakeholders and organizational leadership.
• Join a mission-driven international organization with a strong reputation and long-term commitment in Vietnam.