Job Description
Team Leader
Bangkok, Thailand
One-year assignment with possibility of extension
The Asia Foundation is an international nonprofit organization working to solve the toughest social and economic challenges in Asia and the Pacific. Informed by more than 70 years of experience and deep local knowledge, we work with partners across more than 20 countries through 17 offices to improve lives and expand opportunities.
The Asia Foundation seeks an experienced and visionary Team Leader to lead the phase 2 of the Mekong Safeguards Program, a four-year, AUD 9 million program funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Building off Phase One, the program supports improved application of environmental and social safeguards in infrastructure development, particularly in the energy and transport sectors in the Mekong region. Activities will take place in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, engaging a diverse range of public and private sector stakeholders.
The Team Leader will be based in Bangkok, Thailand, and provide strategic leadership, technical guidance, and adaptive management to support the project’s implementation. We are seeking a leader with deep expertise in environmental and social safeguards, demonstrated success in managing DFAT-funded or similar programs, strong engagement skills across sectors, and an ability to foster locally driven, politically informed approaches across diverse cultural and institutional settings.
Position Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provide overall strategic direction and vision for the Mekong Safeguards Program, ensuring alignment with DFAT priorities and regional development objectives.
- Lead and manage a multi-disciplinary team of technical and operational professionals across multiple countries.
- Serve as the primary liaison with DFAT, regional counterparts, and implementing partners, ensuring clear and timely communication and fostering effective relationships.
- Provide effective project management, including budgeting, work planning, risk management, and ensuring on-time delivery, while maintaining high levels of organization and attention to detail.
- Oversee high-quality implementation, technical excellence, adaptive programming, and results-based management, monitoring, evaluation, and learning, and the integration of GEDSI throughout the program.
- Guide strategic engagement with private sector actors, civil society organizations, government agencies, regulatory bodies, and regional organizations to strengthen the adoption and application of environmental and social safeguards.
- Ensure that the program is grounded in locally owned, politically informed, and contextually appropriate approaches.
- Contribute technically to project outputs and thought leadership, particularly on safeguards policy, implementation challenges, and regional collaboration.
- Ensure alignment with global best practices and Australia’s strategic values in sustainable development.
- Ensure rigorous monitoring, evaluation, and learning to demonstrate impact and inform adaptive programming.
Requirements:
- Advanced degree in environmental management, social development, public policy, international development, or a related field.
- Minimum 10 years of progressive experience managing complex, multi-country programs, with prior Team Leader, Chief of Party, or equivalent leadership roles.
- Proven experience leading DFAT-funded initiatives and working within DFAT’s project management and reporting frameworks.
- Deep technical knowledge of environmental and social safeguards in infrastructure sectors, particularly in Southeast Asia.
- Demonstrated success working across sectors, including private sector actors, civil society, regulatory agencies, regional platforms, and government counterparts.
- Strong track record of culturally sensitive leadership, especially within the Mekong region or similar contexts.
- Experience engaging with multilateral institutions and senior-level stakeholders.
- Proven ability to lead teams effectively, think and work politically, and support adaptive, locally led development.
- Fluency in English required; proficiency in one or more languages of the Mekong region is an advantage.
How to Apply:
Applications should be submitted by visiting our website. To be considered, please upload your cover letter and resume/CV in one document. You can also upload both in separate documents, but please note that to do so, you will have to sign out of the system and go back into your record for additional documents.
The Asia Foundation offers excellent salaries commensurate with experience and expertise. We are an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage women and people of color to apply.
No phone calls, please.
