Job Description

Project: United States Department of Agriculture Food for Progress U.S.-Vietnam Trade in Agriculture and Food Safety Expanded

Location: Hanoi, Vietnam

Start Date: On/around December 2026/January 2027

Expected Duration: Up to four years

IESC Background: 

Improving Economies for Stronger Communities (IESC) is a leading U.S. nonprofit organization that catalyzes private sector growth and creates economic opportunity for people and communities across the economically developing world. Since our founding in 1964 , we have delivered lasting solutions across 139 countries.  

IESC is a valued partner to people and communities throughout the economically developing world. We share proven business skills and experience with entrepreneurs, jobseekers, businesses, farmers, cooperatives, and governments. We also offer resources—human, technological, and financial—that sustainably build capacity and empower communities. Our long legacy of strengthening developing economies is matched by our vision for the next generation: a world with economic opportunity for all, where people and communities thrive.    

Project Background:

Building on three decades of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States (1995–2025), the 2025–2026 period marks a significant transformation in bilateral ties. Under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) framework, agricultural cooperation has been identified as a key pillar. This cooperation has deepened beyond merely promoting bilateral trade turnover to focus on technical collaboration and enhancing system management capacity. This progression is an essential step toward realizing joint commitments to transparent, science-based trade, aiming to promote economic prosperity and ensure substantial benefits for the business communities of both nations.

To realize this strategic vision, Vietnam has been officially selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as one of five focus countries for the "Food for Progress" Program for the 2025–2030 period. In Vietnam, the USDA Food for Progress Program will be implemented through the USDA Food for Progress Trade in Agriculture and Food Safety Expanded (TAFSE) project. This opens a rare opportunity for Vietnam to access financial resources and deep expertise from the U.S. to resolve bottlenecks in infrastructure and SPS standards (sanitary and phytosanitary measures), thereby comprehensively modernizing the national agricultural trade system. 

This is a technical assistance project funded by non-refundable official development assistance from the U.S. Government through the USDA, and managed by IESC. From Vietnamese Government, The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) is the project Executing Agency (EA). The Agricultural Projects Management Board (APMB) is the agency assigned by MAE to coordinate with stakeholders during project preparation and implementation. The project will:

• I mprove the efficiency of the SPS and food safety systems in Vietnam;

• Strengthen supply chain capacity and cold chain logistics systems;

• Expand access to agriculture trade finance for the private sector; and

• Support Vietnam’s broader goals for innovation, private sector growth, and international integration related to agriculture trade.

The project will operate nationwide, focusing on major cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and localities with major ports and cold chain development needs. 

The project will have a main office in Hanoi and a regional office in Ho Chi Minh City.

General Objectives

The Food Safety Specialist , under the direction of the Deputy Director – Public Sector Lead, will increase institutional capacity for sanitary phytosanitary (SPS) regulation to facilitate compliance with international requirements at the national level and within the northern and central provinces of Vietnam

This is a full-time (40 hours per week) position based at the Hanoi office. This position reports to the Deputy Director – Public Sector Lead.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement activities under Activity 1 to increase institutional capacity for sanitary phytosanitary (SPS) regulation to facilitate compliance with science/evidence-based international requirements and best practices for food safety with national level policy and regulator implementation specific to the Ministry of Agricultural and Environment,  Ministry of Health and Ministry of Industry and Trade as well as provincial agencies and public/private food safety labs in north and central Vietnam related to both;

• Provide stakeholder coordination for activity implementation at the national level and provincial level in the north and central of Vietnam, specifically to help support the Food Safety Law covered in Circular 50/2016/TT-BYT (maximum residue limits of pesticides for plant products), Decree 46/2026/ND-CP (including import inspection, facilities registration, and self-declaration), and Circular 04/2024/TT-BNNPTNT (quarantine of terrestrial animals and animal products), and any subsequent revisions or similar laws, regulations, or decrees in close coordination with the HCMC based food safety specialist and the other project technical leads and project support related staff (monitoring, evaluation, learning; communications; and finance and administration);

• In coordination with the HCMC based food safety specialist, design and/or develop and oversee educational materials and training on food safety programs for processing facilities including but not limited to a certified Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) course, description of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) requirements for food safety programs, and hands-on training on laboratory methods for detection;

• Monitor and address stakeholder validated institutional strengthening action plans in coordination with local and international resources;

• Support with monitoring and evaluation data collection and the development of project communications materials;

• Manage short-term technical consultants and contracts to deliver outcomes related to activity implementation, working closely with the implementing partner Kansas State University (K-State), including managing regular monthly or bimonthly technical check in meetings to advance work plan priorities and solve technical challenges;

• Contribute to required USDA reports and deliverables including annual work plans and all periodic progress reports;

• Travel to the Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) office and activity sites as required; and

• Complete other tasks as assigned by the Deputy Director – Public Sector Lead and/or the Project Director.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, food safety/food science, or other relevant discipline required;

• Familiarity and experience with international development principles and practices;  

• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in agriculture trade, food safety, and animal and/or plant laboratories;

• Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) Certified required, familiarity and experience with ISO 9001 preferred;

• Well-organized, detail oriented, excellent verbal and written communication skills;

• Demonstrated leadership and proven organizational skills;

• Maturity, professionalism, and positive attitude;

• Proficient in Microsoft office tools, including SharePoint; Excel, Word, and PowerPoint;

• High level of maturity, integrity, and the ability to work independently in a lean team structure; and

• Fluency in Vietnamese and English (both written and verbal) required.

IESC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Please note that this position is intended for a Vietnamese national. Applicants must submit their applications (CVs and cover letters in English) for this position through the IESC recruitment platform by November 20, 2026, to be considered.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and interested candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible. The position will remain open until filled. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

The employment contract for this position will be signed only after the project document has been approved by the Government of Vietnam.

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