The Public Interest Law Institute (PILI) is seeking to fill the new position of Country Director, China. Leading candidates will be lawyers with demonstrated expertise and interest in legal reform and public interest law in China, as well as strong project management skills.
PILI has two major objectives in China: 1) to promote the provision of pro bono legal services to public interest organizations by developing a clearinghouse to match them with law firms; and 2) to encourage strategic litigation and other advocacy tools for advancing the rights of women, migrants and other vulnerable populations. For more information on PILI’s work, see their website at www.pili.org.
[Language below is taken from the PILI job announcement]
Founded at Columbia University in 1997 and now headquartered in Budapest, Hungary, the Public Interest Law Institute (PILI) is an international NGO whose mission is to advance human rights around the world by stimulating public interest advocacy and developing the institutions necessary to sustain it. Through its five main programs, Legal Aid Reform, Legal Education Reform, Promoting Pro Bono, NGO Advocacy, and Public Interest Law Fellowships, PILI increases access to justice for poor and marginalized communities, strengthens public interest advocacy, and nurtures the next generation of civil society leaders. PILI has two major objectives in China: 1) to promote the provision of pro bono legal services to public interest organizations by developing a clearinghouse to match them with law firms; and 2) to encourage strategic litigation and other advocacy tools for advancing the rights of women, migrants and other vulnerable populations.
PILI is seeking to fill the new position of Country Director, China. Leading candidates will be lawyers with demonstrated expertise and interest in legal reform and public interest law in China, as well as strong project management skills. The position offers a competitive salary and benefits package.
Key responsibilities
Program
- Work closely with PILI senior staff on strategy and program development and contribute to the drafting of proposals to potential donors
- Oversee implementation of PILI projects in China, including:
- Working closely with NGO partners on planning and organizing workshops on public interest litigation and advocacy.
- Organizing events on pro bono legal services
- Soliciting pro bono needs from public interest NGOs and matching them with law firms offering pro bono services
- Monitoring partners’ progress on preparing publications.
- Managing additional projects as they develop.
- Liaise regularly with headquarters staff on status of projects and conduct internal monitoring, evaluation, and report writing
- Provide technical assistance to partner organizations, particularly outside Beijing
- Draft reports to donors
- Represent PILI to donors, international and local NGOs, other partners, and government officials
- Assist in the recruitment of Chinese applicants to PILI’s Public Interest Law Fellowship Program
Finance & Administration
- Hire and supervise local staff as need arises
- Maintain regular contact with PILI senior staff on operational and programmatic matters
- Prepare financial reports for review by the PILI Administrative Director
Qualifications
- A law degree
- At least 5 years relevant work experience
- Significant project management experience
- Demonstrated expertise and interest in legal reform and public interest law in China
- Superlative communication skills, including fluency in English and Mandarin, both written and spoken.
- Willingness to travel regularly within China, as well as make regular visits to other PILI offices
Application instructions
To apply: Please email a resume, brief cover letter and two writing samples, to humanresources@pili.org. Please include salary requirements.
Deadline: December 17, 2007
Start Date: February 18, 2008
Only those offered interviews will be contacted. No phone calls, please.
PILI is an equal opportunity employer and encourages candidates of all racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds to apply. Personnel are chosen on the basis of ability without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, marital status or sexual orientation.