Position:	Project Officer
Reports to:	Policy and Law Enforcement Support (PLES) Team Leader
Supervisor to:	No
Location:	Hanoi, Viet Nam
Country Program:	WCS Viet Nam Program
Team/Division:	PLES Team
Position Type:	One-year, full-time, project-based contract, with possibility of extension subject to funding availability and project needs.
Internal liaison:	WCS Viet Nam staff
Expected travel:	Approximately 30% within the country, or as required

Organization Background

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 in New York City. WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. To achieve our mission, WCS, based at the Bronx Zoo, harnesses the power of its Global Conservation Program in more than 55 countries and in all the world’s oceans, and its five wildlife parks in New York City, visited by more than 3.5 million people annually. WCS combines its expertise in the field, at its zoos, and in its aquarium to achieve its conservation mission.

WCS Viet Nam Program Overview

WCS has been working in Viet Nam since 2006, focusing on enhancing the commitment, capacity, and actions of the government of Viet Nam to tackle wildlife trafficking, supporting national partners by developing and implementing highly focused, evidence-based strategies informed by an in-depth understanding of the dynamics of trafficking and the people involved to reduce the profits of crime and increase the risk of capture and sanctions. WCS Viet Nam has generated a wide range of reliable data on a number of issues related to the illegal wildlife trade, trained and briefed approximately 4,500 law enforcement and judicial officers, policymakers, journalists, researchers and managers nationwide and distributed a number of technical handbooks and guides. It has assisted central agencies in reviewing and proposing necessary changes to national legislation, criminal intelligence analysis systems, and inter-agency cooperation. WCS Viet Nam has also facilitated government-to-government dialogue through multilateral and bilateral collaboration efforts between Viet Nam and Asian, African and Latin American countries, to detect and respond to transnational illegal wildlife trade networks. Its wildlife health expertise has been leveraged to address unregulated wildlife trade and mitigation of pandemic threats through collaborative research, training, and policy development. In the past decade, WCS Viet Nam has also expanded to work with other conservation organizations and public laboratories to find and protect Rafetus Swinhoei in the wild.

Job Summary

Under the supervision of the PLES Team Leader, the Project Officer will support efforts to strengthen wildlife protection in Viet Nam through legal analysis, case review, and capacity building for law enforcement and judicial officers. S/he will support in-depth reviews of legal frameworks and enforcement practices to identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities for reform. This will include analyzing wildlife-related violations and providing technical support to law enforcement and judicial agencies.

This Job Description is progressive in nature and shall be reviewed and amended from time to time to meet WCS Viet Nam program needs.

Key Responsibilities

A. Grant and Project Management

1. Supports the implementation of grant-funded activities related to policy, law enforcement and judicial capacity building, and international cooperation.

2. Assists with budget oversight and monitors relevant performance indicators.

B. Policy and Legal Framework Support

3. Supports institutional, policy, and legislative reviews to identify legal gaps and recommend improvements to wildlife protection and law enforcement frameworks.

4. Supports the development of legal guidance and briefs used to raise local communities’ awareness of regulations on wildlife protection, as well as practical guidelines, manuals, and other technical materials to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement and judicial agencies to prevent and combat wildlife and forest crimes;

5. Ensures legal accuracy and consistency in training materials, briefs, publications, and communication products.

C. Case Management

6. Collects, reviews and cross-checks wildlife crime verdicts against wildlife seizures identified through news scans and the Supreme People’s Procuracy’s wildlife crime statistics, and enters relevant data into WCS’s existing wildlife crime case database;

7. Reviews selected cases to initially evaluate the application of wildlife protection laws and identify challenges in investigation, prosecution, and conviction.

D. International and Inter-agency Cooperation

8. Supports initiatives that foster international collaboration against transnational wildlife crime, including legal research, event coordination, and bilateral/multilateral dialogues (e.g., Viet Nam–Africa cooperation).

9. Assists in managing and updating beneficiary databases.

E. Others

10. Perform additional tasks as assigned by the direct supervisor to support the overall effectiveness and adaptability of the Viet Nam team.

Required Skills and Experience:

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in law, policing, public prosecution, the judiciary, or a related field;

Experience and competencies:

A minimum of 1–3 years of work experience related to legislative development and law enforcement in the government, legal/criminological training institutions, or policy advocacy/influencing campaigns in NGOs or international organizations or other relevant legal affairs work.
Knowledge of Viet Nam’s political, legislative, and law enforcement systems.
Familiarity with the legislative development process and criminal proceedings in Viet Nam.
Ability to multitask, prioritize, maintain attention to detail, and manage oneself effectively.
Proficient in digital tools and platforms, including project management software, data systems, and communication technologies.
Familiarity with illegal wildlife trade, zoonotic disease risks, and relevant policy and enforcement frameworks is highly desirable.

Language requirements:

Advanced written and verbal communication skills in both English and Vietnamese.

Application guidance:

Interested candidates who meet the above qualifications are invited to submit (i) a cover letter and (ii) a résumé to the recruitment team at [email protected] by 17:00 on Monday, November 30, 2026.
The email subject line should be PLES PO_YourName
Note: This position is open to Vietnamese citizens only. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

WCS is an equal opportunity employer, and the organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate in employment based on age, color, disability, gender identity, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by laws and regulations.