Youth Voices Count (YVC) is seeking its full-time Coordinator with solid experience in HIV-related programs, focusing on young men who have sex with men and transgender people. The YVC Coordinator will accomplish several key programmatic, communication, networking and administrative deliverables during January 2012 to December 2012. Coordinator's primary roles are to a) ensure that the membership of YVC is scaled up; b) strengthen the voices of young men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people (TG) in Asia and the Pacific and; c) strengthen its partnership with other youth-led, youth-serving, and networks and organizations of MSM and TG communities in this region.

Applicants should be well-organized and detail-oriented, comfortable communicating and working with young people from diverse backgrounds and cultures and most importantly, have strong knowledge of HIV, human rights and related health issues affected young men who have sex with men or/ and transgenders. Preference will be given to applicants who have experience working with the aforementioned group at a community and national level.

The Coordinator will accomplish several key deliverables during the twelve month time period. The Coordinator will:

• Strengthen the YVC governance through the development of YVC membership criteria, recruitment of sub-regional working group members, formalized relationship with technical advisors and the development of stakeholder and partnership mapping;
• Develop and implement an external communication strategy to promote activities of YVC members through extensive use of on-line tools;
• Facilitate sharing of knowledge and experience among YVC members through improved internal communication;
• Support and facilitate capacity development programmes for sub-regional representatives and members in the area of research and advocacy; 
• Lead a community-led research team to identify research topics, methodology and tools, analyze and gather data, disseminate and promote research findings;
• Develop and launch regional advocacy plan for 2012;

The Coordinator will regularly report to the YVC Core Working Group and interact with YVC members as well as key technical advisors and fiscal agent.

Qualifications & Key Competencies

• Demonstrable research skills in the social sciences;
• At least three years professional experience working on HIV issues and/or international health and human rights;
• Preferably with a university degree in public health, social science or related fields;
• Experience and commitment to developing youth or community-driven leadership, empowerment and organizing;
• Demonstrated ability to understand the HIV and human rights advocacy priorities of MSM and transgenders, youth and people living with HIV;
• In-depth understanding and sensitivity of principles and methods of greater and meaningful involvement of people living with HIV (GIPA) and key populations;
• In-depth knowledge and proven experience of issues related to sexual orientations and gender identity, young people and to HIV prevention, treatment and care and support as well as creating enabling environments to access such services;
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including experience with public speaking;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with online technology and information management systems;
• Fluent in English. 

The following not required but prioritized:

• Ability to work independently, with limited day-to-day support;
• Diplomatic and strategic political skills;
• Ability to work in written and spoken English. Ability to work in other languages of Asia-Pacific would be advantageous;
• Excellent facilitation skills;
• Ability to work in an international and multicutural environment;
• Ability to work under pressure.

Applications from young men who have sex with men or transgendered person under the age of 30 and/or living with HIV are strongly encouraged. 

How to apply:

If you are interested in applying, please send a cover letter, resume and short writing sample (1 – 3 pages) to recruitment.yvc@gmail.com with YVC Coordinator as the subject line by February  5th, 2012. Applicants will be interviewed on a rolling basis so it is advisable to apply before the deadline. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview which is tentatively planned for the second week of February 2012.

About Youth Voices Count (YVC)

Youth Voices Count  (YVC) is an initiative led by young men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people (TG) in Asia and the Pacific that aims to advocate for meaningful participation of young MSM and TG in policy and decision making processes at national and regional level. In partnership with relevant key stakeholders, YVC works  to create opportunities for leadership among young MSM and TG to address HIV and social determinants which contribute to increased vulnerability of most-at-risk young people through; a) facilitation of high quality dialogues; b) provision of need-based technical assistance, peer mentorship and capacity development opportunity; and c) community mobilization for young MSM and TG in the region.

YVC is governed by the working group, consisting of enthusiastic young MSM and TG who are prominent leaders in their community with technical support provided by key stakeholders, among which are Asia-Pacific Coalition on Men Sexual Health (APCOM), Asia-Pacific Network of PLHIV (APN+), Coalition of Asia-Pacific Regional Network on HIV/AIDS (7-Sisters), Developed Asia Network (DAN), Insular South-East Asia network of MSM (ISEAN). YVC is financially supported by Hivos and 7-Sisters in Bangkok, Thailand as its fiscal agent. The Coordinator will preferably be based at Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM) and Australia Federation of AIDS Service Organisations  (AFAO)  in Bangkok.

For more information, please visit YouthVoicesCount.