Vietnam Country Director

Recruitment for Vietnam Country Director

Animals Asia is devoted to ending bear bile farming and improving the welfare of animals across Asia. We are committed to ending the suffering of animals throughout Asia by promoting compassion and respect for all animals while striving to create long-term and sustainable change. Animals Asia is currently seeking to recruit a qualified candidate for the position Vietnam Country Director with details as follows:

Position: Vietnam Country Director

Employment type: Full-time

Contract duration: Two-year contract extendable based on performance

Work location: Ha Noi Viet Nam

Role Purpose: The Vietnam Country Director provides leadership operational oversight and organisational representation for Animals Asias work in Vietnam. The role is responsible for ensuring the effective implementation of global organisational strategies within Vietnam maintaining legal and regulatory compliance strengthening government relationships supporting staff and managers managing organisational risk and ensuring the efficient operation of Animals Asias programs facilities and offices throughout the country.

Responsibilities:

Leadership and Organisational Management

Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for Animals Asias operations programs facilities and staff in Vietnam. Ensure effective implementation of organisational strategies priorities and objectives in alignment with global goals. Foster a collaborative accountable and high-performing organisational culture. Lead organisational change initiatives and oversee risk management and business continuity planning.

Program Leadership

Oversee the delivery of programs and projects in Vietnam ensuring alignment with organisational objectives donor requirements and legal obligations. Promote collaboration innovation learning and continuous improvement across teams. Ensure key program decisions are informed by evidence organisational priorities and operational realities.

Operations Governance and Compliance

Maintain overall accountability for operational effectiveness governance compliance and risk management. Ensure compliance with Vietnamese laws organisational policies permits and regulatory requirements. Approve contracts financial transactions and organisational commitments within delegated authority. Act as the authorised representative of Animals Asia in Vietnam.

People and Culture

Lead and support managers to build a high-performing engaged and inclusive workforce. Ensure compliance with labour legislation and organisational HR policies. Drive workforce planning succession planning staff development and performance management.

Financial Management

Oversee budgeting forecasting financial planning and resource allocation in collaboration with the global finance team. Ensure sound financial stewardship compliance and accountability. Monitor financial performance and support internal and external audit processes.

Government Affairs and External Relations

Build and maintain strong relationships with government agencies NGOs donors academic institutions and other key stakeholders. Represent Animals Asia in meetings partnerships policy discussions and external forums. Provide strategic leadership on government engagement stakeholder management and organisational reputation. Act as a senior spokesperson for Animals Asia when required.

Cross-Organisational Collaboration

Work closely with global leadership teams to deliver organisational priorities and strategic objectives. Facilitate effective communication and collaboration between Vietnam-based and global teams. Contribute to organisational planning and decision-making as a member of the leadership team.

Animal Welfare and Mission

Ensure animal welfare principles and organisational values are embedded across all operations and programs. Promote the highest standards of ethical conduct professional practice and organisational excellence. Support the achievement of Animals Asias mission and long-term strategic goals.

Requirements:

Skills and Competencies

• Proven leadership ability with experience managing multidisciplinary teams in a complex cross-cultural environment.
• Strong strategic thinking decision-making problem-solving and change management skills.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement negotiation and relationship management skills including working with government agencies and senior external partners.
• Strong financial management governance compliance and risk management capabilities.
• Excellent communication presentation and representation skills.
• Ability to work effectively within a global matrix structure and manage multiple priorities.

Knowledge

• Sound understanding of the regulatory and operational environment for international NGOs in Vietnam.
• Knowledge of labour law organisational governance compliance and financial controls.
• Understanding of government relations stakeholder engagement and policy processes in Vietnam.
• Awareness of animal welfare conservation and related social impact issues.
• Commitment to diversity equity inclusion and cross-cultural collaboration.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of senior leadership experience including experience in country management operations or executive leadership roles.
• Proven experience leading organisational growth change management and multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience working with government agencies regulators donors and other key stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience in financial oversight governance compliance and organisational risk management.
• Experience working within an international organisation is highly desirable.
• Experience living and working in Vietnam or a comparable cultural and regulatory .

Languages

• Fluent Vietnamese and English both written and spoken.

Education

• Masters degree in Business Administration Management International Development Public Policy Law Conservation Animal Welfare or a related field.
• Additional qualifications in leadership governance finance risk management or human resources are an advantage.

How to Apply

Please send your cover letter and CV (clearly stating the applied position) by clicking the application link below. Link: shortlisted candidates will be notified for interviews. Applicants who have not received a reply after two weeks from the date of the advertisement should consider their applications unsuccessful. Only short-listed applicants will be interviewed; the interview will be conducted in English. Closing date for application is 05th July 2026.

To find out more:

Animals Asia values candidates with different backgrounds experiences and perspectives. We welcome applicants of every ethnicity age gender identity and expression sexual orientation religion national origin socioeconomic status disability or veteran status. We are committed to building an organization that creates an inclusive environment for all.

Using AI During Interviews
Animals Asia is committed to ensuring a fair and authentic interview process. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools including but not limited to real-time transcription automated response generation or assistance in formulating interview answers is strictly prohibited during any stage of the interview will take a candidates agreement to participate in an interview with us as confirmation that they will not use AI tools in any form during the conversation. If it is discovered or reasonably suspected that AI has been used the interview will be terminated immediately and the candidate will no longer be considered for the appreciate your understanding and adherence to this policy which is in place to maintain the integrity professionalism and reliability of our recruitment procedures.

Required Experience:

Director