Location: Vientiane, Laos. Applicants should only apply if they have a work permit to work in Laos.

Occasional domestic and overseas travel to support programme implementation and/or oversee activities is required for the position.

​​Salary: LAK 63,250,000 – LAK 71,500,000 gross monthly – pro-rated annual contribution to med insurance/cost.

Contract: SUBJECT TO FUNDING. Ten months fixed term: June 2025 – March 2026 (with possible extension) Fixed Term contract for services.

​Hours: Full-Time

​Benefits: 4 wellbeing days per calendar year [pro-rata for part-time staff], plus annual leave and public holidays entitlement.

​WFD – LAOS: WFD has successfully been working in Laos since 2016, partnering with the National (NA) and Provincial People’s Assemblies (PPA) to strengthen core parliamentary mandates including legislative, oversight, and representative functions, as well as women’s political leadership.

​Current programmes delivered by the WFD Laos country team focus on post-legislative scrutiny at the national and subnational level, public participation, and women’s representation.

​The regional programme Advancing Equal Societies through Women’s Political Leadership and Participation in ASEAN Phase II (delivered in Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, and Thailand) seeks to advance greater equality in politics and wider society through creating a more enabling environment for women’s political leadership (WPL) and participation. Creating an environment where there are more women in politics, where women in politics are better protected from violence, and where women’s issues are better addressed in law and policy.

​Country Director Laos

​​The Country Director Laos is a substantial role with regional responsibility for the delivery of the Advancing Equal Societies through Women’s Political Leadership and Participation in ASEAN Phase II and​ a broad range of programmes/projects and activities within their designated areas.

As the main point of in-country contact for WFD, they will have significant responsibility for; the design of programmes, managing the full programme cycle, financial and administration management, reporting activities and impact evaluations.​

​The Country Director will provide an ambassadorial function for WFD in Vientiane, leading and hosting high profile events, as well as managing our relationships with key stakeholders such as National Assembly Members, the parliamentary secretariat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, think tanks, civil society, the international donor community and the British High Commission.

This key role will also provide leadership expertise for the area, developing future business opportunities and new contacts/partnerships for the and contributing to the wider work in the region and some international initiatives.

About You

We are looking for a Country Director with

​Substantial first-hand experience of designing, implementing and managing a portfolio of programmes – minimum 5-7 years’ experience. With an aptitude for cultivating additional programmatic entry points for WFD engagement in Laos.

• ​In-depth knowledge of the political environment in Laos and more broadly across the ASEAN region, ideally including recent developments in gender politics, political inclusion, political party, CSO, and parliamentary matters.
• Exceptional project and programme management skills, particularly relating to governance and gender programmes.
• Experience in proposal development, contracting, procurement, grant management, donor compliance, financial scrutiny and management, risk management, research/ analysis, and reporting in English.
• Experience using programme management systems and tools, with minimum intermediate level Microsoft suite skills.
• Experience organising and managing high-profile and complex events.
• Senior stakeholder analysis, development, and management skills.
• Excellent level of written and oral communication skills in English and Lao.
• Experience producing accurate briefing documents and communications.
• A self-starter with the flexibility to work in a fast-changing environment and the ability to manage and prioritise a range of operational, financial, and administrative responsibilities.
• Ability to work independently and effectively, and drive to manage workload, working with international, remote teams and with limited supervision.

How to Apply:

Application Submission: ​ If you want to make a positive difference, and work with people who care about this mission, then we would like to hear from you. Applications are via CV and Cover Letter, visit our website. Careers | Westminster Foundation for Democracy.

This vacancy will close on 11th June 2025