ROLI Asia ABA ROLI Sr Technical Advisor, Vietnam/South-East Asia Focused

ABA ROLI is a non-profit organization that implements legal reform programs in roughly 50 countries around the world. ABA ROLI has nearly 500 professional staff working abroad and in its Washington, D.C. office. ABA ROLI’s host country partners include judges, lawyers, bar associations, law schools, court administrators, legislatures, ministries of justice and a wide array of civil society organizations, including human rights groups.

JOB SUMMARY

The ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) seeks a Senior Technical Advisor (STA) for its Asia/Pacific Division. The position is based in Washington D.C. The STA will be responsible for providing programmatic, technical advice, counsel, and support to the international field offices and the DC staff in one of ROLI’s substantive reform areas and for managing US Government-funded programs in the region. The STA will bring a depth of substantive expertise in at least one area of ABA ROLI’s work, e.g. transnational crime, criminal law reform, access to justice, women’s rights, Anti-Money Laundering (AML) or another relevant field. The current STA portfolio includes a program in Vietnam aimed at enhancing legal services for victims of human trafficking through training of legal aid lawyers, as well as two regional Anti-Money Laundering (AML) programs aimed at 1) increasing Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) and investigators’ capacity to use available Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) data to identify money laundering trends, detect money laundering, and bolster investigations and prosecutions and 2) generating multi-jurisdictional support for enhancing the AML regime in the casino sector in the Greater Mekong Subregion. For this role, experience in Vietnam and/or a good understanding of criminal justice processes would be an advantage. However, the STA may manage programs across any country in Asia and relating to other focal areas, depending on team needs and availability of funding. The Senior Technical Advisor will also work closely with DC- and field-based staff to develop grant applications for new funding for current and existing programs in the region, including from diverse prospective donors (e.g., the US and other governments, private foundations, and individual donors). The STA is expected to be able to independently manage new business development, program design and proposal drafting for large programs. As a senior member of the Asia Division, the position is also likely to manage staff and contribute beyond their own programs to the Asia division and ROLI as a whole.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for the development, oversight, and management of special projects related to a particular substantive area.

• Serves as a subject matter expert and advisor/resource for DC and field staff, particularly for program and proposal development.

• Develops and assists in the coordination and management of US and field-based special events and regional workshops.

• Directs efforts to investigate and pursue program development/expansion opportunities and coordinates the development and maintenance of relationships with U.S.-based funders/partners. Assists in the development and maintenance of funder/partner relationships in the field.

• Supports the regional divisions in the identification, recruitment, and orientation of individuals to be posted in DC or in the field to relevant positions.

• Provides subject matter expertise as a speaker/presenter at international conferences/symposia, authors academic articles, pursues leadership roles in appropriate boards and committees, and participates in the international efforts to develop standards on rule of law reform.

• Manages relevant substantive practice group.

• Prepares U.S. and field-based assessments of draft law, concept papers, and research.

• Coordinates the implementation and management of relevant assessment tools and methodologies.

• Performs other related duties as required.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Possession of a Juris Doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school or recognized foreign law school, or possession of a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university.

At least ten years’ relevant professional experience required.

At least 8 years of experience working in international development required.

PREFERRED EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE

Significant experience in or working in relation to Asia, ideally Vietnam. Experience in Sri Lanka, Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and/or Indonesia.
Relevant professional experience with a strong preference in the rule of law

and/or human rights field, for example, access to justice, women’s or children’s

rights, justice sector reform, business and human rights, counter-terrorist

financing, transnational crime, anti-corruption, AML, training of justice sector

actors, developing bar associations.

Ability to travel occasionally to Asia, including to Vietnam, Thailand, and

Malaysia (pending the lifting of COVID-related travel restrictions).

Experience designing programs and writing proposals for funding to

government and/or foundation donors.

Experience managing programs funded by the US or other governments,

including drafting and managing budgets, work plan development, monitoring

and evaluating performance and impact.

Proficiency in an Asian language an asset.

Excellent interpersonal skills.

Experience engaging with pro bono lawyers.

Previous work experience in a not-for-profit, association, and/or NGO setting.

Demonstrated ability to manage and mentor staff and to coordinate teams.