Program Administrator Position for VLS-SYU Partnership

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR
Vermont Law School – Sun Yat-sen University Partnership for Environmental Law in China

With the support of a 3-year grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Vermont Law School has embarked on a collaborative project with the Faculty of Law at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China to offer training in environmental law and policy, with a particular emphasis on energy law. Working with legal educators, attorneys, lawmakers, utility analysts, regulators and citizen groups, this collaborative project seeks to enhance understanding of and public participation within our respective legal systems and institutions to advance more effective application and enforcement of environmental laws and policy. An overarching objective of this collaborative project is to enhance the capacity of members of local Chinese communities to become more effective environmental and energy problem solvers and to help develop enduring institutions that will continue to address problems of deep mutual concern, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.

Working under the supervision of the VLS-SYU Program Director, the Program Administrator will provide support for all facets of the collaborative project which will include arrangements for conferences, workshops, lectures, and communications in both China and in the US. The support will include handling arrangements for travel (for both Chinese visitors to the US and US personnel traveling to China), visas, translators, accommodations for all faculty members, students and professional staff participating in program activities, and any other related duties as assigned by the Program Director. The Program Administrator will also serve as a principal resource for visiting Chinese students, academics and professional staff who may be in residence at Vermont Law School to participate in program activities. This support includes, but is not limited to, language assistance (particularly in written communications or projects) for any program participants visiting from China. The Program Administrator will assist in the production of program-related materials, articles, books and any other communications that advance the purposes of the collaborative project. The Program Administrator will also work closely with the financial management team at VLS and the Program Director to maintain proper accounting of all program-related expenses and reporting requirements as dictated under the terms of the USAID grant.

The successful applicant must be fluent in Chinese (Mandarin) (both in speaking and in writing) and be available to travel to China for periods ranging from one to two weeks at a time. A bachelor’s degree (or higher degree) is required and must be coupled with study or work experience in international studies, environmental law and policy, energy policy, and/or Chinese history or culture. Candidates with formal legal training and experience in any related fields will be preferred. The Program Administrator will be based at Vermont Law School. Funding for this position is supported by the USAID grant and will provide salary and benefits for the three year term of the grant. Optimally, the successful candidate will be able to commit to working with the program for the entire three year term of the grant.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Please send a letter of application, a current resume or C.V. and list of references (at least 3) to: N. Bruce Duthu, Professor of Law & VLS/SYU Program Director, Vermont Law School, South Royalton, VT 05068. Applications will be reviewed starting immediately until the position is filled. Applicants may submit materials electronically or in hard-copy form.

Vermont Law School, a private, independent institution, is Vermont’s only law school. It offers a traditional Juris Doctor (J.D.) curriculum that emphasizes the public-serving role of lawyers, a Master of Studies in Environmental Law (M.S.E.L.) degree for lawyers and non-lawyers alike, and two post-J.D. degrees, the LL.M. in Environmental Law and the LL.M. in American Legal Studies (for international students). The school’s Environmental Law Program is recognized as among the best in the nation. The Environmental Law Center, a recipient of the American Bar Association Award for Distinguished Achievement in Environmental Law and Policy, is the largest graduate environmental law program in the country, providing both classroom-based and “real-world” opportunities for students to engage actively in environmental and natural resource issues. For more information please call (802) 831-1309, or visit Vermont Law School on the Web at www.vermontlaw.edu.
Vermont Law School is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.