THE ASEAN SECRETARIAT
INVITES ASEAN NATIONALS TO APPLY FOR THE FOLLOWING VACANCY
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
ENERGY & MINERALS DIVISION
Background:
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was founded in 1967 with the purpose of promoting regional cooperation in Southeast Asia, in the spirit of equality and partnership and thereby contribute towards peace, progress and prosperity in the region. ASEAN comprises eleven countries in Southeast Asia, with Timor-Leste being admitted as an ASEAN Member State during the 47th ASEAN Summit on 26 October 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was proclaimed a Community through the “Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together”, signed by the ASEAN Leaders during their 27th Summit 2015. The ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future articulates the collective aspiration of the ASEAN Community to realise a resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centred ASEAN by 2045, envisioning a developed ASEAN as the epicentre of growth in the Indo-Pacific region.
The ASEAN Secretariat was established in 1976 by the Foreign Minister of ASEAN with basic functions of providing greater efficiency in the coordination of ASEAN organs and for more effective implementation of ASEAN projects and activities. It is also envisioned to be the nerve centre of a strong and confident ASEAN Community that is globally respected for acting in full compliance with its Charter and in the best interest of its people.
In alignment with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and Strategic Plans of the three ASEAN pillars of Political Security Community, Economic Community and Socio-Cultural Community, supported by the Department of Community and Corporate Affairs, the ASEAN Secretariat is inviting qualified ASEAN Nationals to apply for the position of Assistant Director/Head of Energy & Minerals Division.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Assistant Director (ADR) Energy & Minerals Division reports directly to the Director for Sectoral Development Directorate, and he/she will be responsible for the following duties:
Manage the operational and administrative activities of the Division.
- Manage, plan and approve tasks and activities of staff
- Provide guidance/direction for staff on operational matters.
- Foster teamwork and collaboration within the Division.
- Conduct annual performance appraisals for staff; identify specialised training and professional development activities for individual staff.
- Manage effectively all financial, physical and human resources of the Division.
- Conduct annual performance appraisals for staff, map training and professional development activities for individual staff.
- Participate in and contribute to Divisional or Directorate management meetings.
- Meet and brief relevant parties related to the implementation of ASEAN energy and minerals initiatives.
Provide policy and technical advice and recommendations in the energy and minerals sectors
- Provide advice and recommendations pertaining to the policy planning in respective energy and minerals sectors including providing technical advice for sectoral action plans / work plans (and similar documents).
- Provide advice on realisation of energy and minerals key initiatives including technical advice and recommendations on the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Actions on Energy Cooperation (APAEC), the ASEAN Minerals Cooperation Action Plan (AMCAP) or the new energy and minerals sectoral plans beyond 2025. Sectoral work plans with individual and joint platforms with Dialogue Partners and specialised international organisations engaged in the energy and minerals sectors, and other relevant sectoral plans of actions.
- Provide advice on cross-cutting areas related to energy and minerals initiatives between relevant sectoral bodies.
- Facilitate negotiations among ASEAN Member States
Managing the development, implementation and evaluation of projects and/or programs
- Develop, implement and evaluate programs in support for the energy and minerals sectors: initiate projects; manage project approvals; manage project implementation (including coordinating with international organisations and donors where necessary).
- Monitor progress against sectoral work plans (and similar documents) including the Blueprint, and provide reporting inputs to the relevant Divisions responsible for programme coordination (e.g. Programme Coordination and Project Management Division, Connectivity Division and IAI and Narrowing Development Gap Division) where necessary.
- Assist with project implementation by providing technical input into projects (for example as technical resource persons for workshops).
- Where necessary, mobilise resources for project activities with the Programme Coordination and Project Management Division.
Support and service the sectoral bodies’ meetings under purview
- Provide substantive supports while servicing ASEAN sectoral bodies meetings, including preparing agenda, discussion papers and drafting reports.
- Act as a resource person and facilitator at meetings.
- Represent the ASEAN Secretariat at meetings as required.
- Monitor for organisation of meetings as required
Support the relevant bodies of the ASEAN Community
- Assist the implementation of relevant decisions / follow-up requirements from other ASEAN bodies by providing technical inputs.
- Monitor compliance with agreements.
- Where necessary, participate in and contribute staff to the meetings that discuss inter-linked and related cross-cutting issues
Support Director and Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for AEC in undertaking substantive work with regard to ASEAN energy and minerals cooperation and perform other assignments as may be assigned to them
- Prepare speech and talking points on energy and minerals-related issues. • Provide necessary energy and minerals policy development/update
Qualifications and experience:
- Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent degree) in Management or Economics or Engineering or other appropriate specialised discipline, with a minimum of six (6) years’ high-level experience in the development of policies and procedures, project management, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in a recognised specialised field, having extensive strategic planning and supervisory experience within a senior management position
- Sound financial, material and human resource management skills.
- Proven ability to develop and maintain sound working relationships with government officials, public and private sector organisations, and other stakeholders
- Proven ability for accuracy under pressure and adherence to deadlines.
- High-level interpersonal, negotiation and communication skills, including experience in crosscultural environment and international settings.
- Commitment to teamwork and collaborative work practices.
- Sound understanding of international and regional issues, and knowledge of and commitment to ASEAN ideals.
- Competency in computer skills with adequate knowledge of Microsoft Office and Outlook where relevant to the position.
- Excellent command of English, written and spoken.
Remuneration and Benefits:
Successful candidate will be offered a basic salary of USD 5,567 and attractive remuneration package including housing, outpatient medical reimbursement, hospitalization & life insurance, children’s education and gratuity. Subject to good performance during the probation, the candidate will be offered a fixed term contract of three (3) years, inclusive of the six-month probationary period. Please note that ASEAN Secretariat Staff shall not be retained in active service beyond the age of 60 years.
How to apply:
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