Senior Land Governance & Legal Reform Expert

Internal Recruitment

Request For Expressions Of Interest

                       Senior Land Governance & Legal Reform Expert  

                              Mekong Land Initiative (MLI)

Closing date: October 05, 2025, at 23:59 ICT.

Location: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and/or Vietnam

Project Duration: 4-years

One Oxfam Grade: C1

Salary and benefits: N/A

Department purpose: The Oxfam in Asia regional platform contributes to and implements Oxfam’s Global Objectives and Strategy and leads the implementation of Oxfam in Asia’s Strategic Framework, by providing vision and strategic direction to all of Oxfam’s work in Asia. This includes Oxfam’s humanitarian responses and the localization of humanitarian leadership, long-term development programming, and influencing work. Responsible and accountable for the strategic direction and effective management of the programming in Mekong Region, effective management of financial and human resources in line with Oxfam policy and providing high-level support and representation for advocacy, fundraising, and any other representational purposes in support of Oxfam’s work and interest while ensuring gender justice and feminist principles are adopted.

Team purpose: The Mekong Land Initiative Programme (MLIP) is to ensure that smallholder women and men farmers particularly those from ethnic minority groups enjoy secure, equitable, and sustained access to agricultural land and forests, while benefiting from responsible agricultural investments (RAI) and sustainable livelihoods.  Funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) the programme operates across Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam (CLMV), delivery four interlinked outcomes: 

1. Capacitate and connect multi-stakeholder alliances to regional and global initiatives,
2. Strengthen legal and policy frameworks on customary tenure rights and RAI through informed engagement,
3. Enable alliances to leverage funding and to translate land governance reforms into action, and
4. Foster cross-country learning and regional exchange.

Job purpose: Oxfam seeks an experienced Senior Land Governance & Legal Reform Expert to provide technical leadership and advisory support on land tenure systems, legal frameworks, and customary rights across the Mekong region. The role will strengthen policy and institutional frameworks, support inclusive tenure systems, and contribute to advocacy and capacity development with governments, civil society, and regional actors. The role requires proven technical leadership in SDC-funded programmes, donor compliance, inclusive and conflict-sensitive approaches, and the ability to drive policy influence and sustainable systemic change.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide specialized technical expertise on land governance, tenure security, and legal reforms in programme countries.
• Support policy analysis, research, and advocacy to influence land-related legal and institutional frameworks.
• Advise governments, CSOs, and regional platforms on land administration, dispute resolution mechanisms, and recognition of customary and collective tenure rights.
• Contribute to the design and delivery of programme interventions, ensuring gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) are embedded.
• Build capacities of national partners and programme staff on land governance and rights-based approaches.
• Develop knowledge products, case studies, and policy briefs to inform regional and global debates on land governance.
• Collaborate with other Senior Experts (Agroecology, MEL, Climate, GESI) to ensure integrated, cross-thematic approaches.
• Provide technical input into donor reporting and programme monitoring, in line with SDC requirements.

Job Requirements

Skills, Experience & Knowledge

Essential

• Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in land governance, land tenure systems, or legal reform.
• Relevant higher education in law, public policy, land management, development studies, or related fields.
• Demonstrated ability to work with government agencies, CSOs, and private sector actors in policy reform and programme delivery.
• Proven experience in land administration, tenure security, and customary rights recognition.
• Professional experience in the Mekong region (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam) is an asset.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken).

Desirable

• Knowledge of one or more regional languages: Lao, Vietnamese, Khmer, or Burmese.
• Experience working in multi-country and multi-stakeholder programmes.
• Familiarity with international frameworks such as VGGT (Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure) and CFS-RAI (Committee on World Food Security – Responsible Agricultural Investment).

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking: Ability to analyze complex governance issues and propose practical policy solutions.
• Technical expertise: Deep understanding of land governance, tenure systems, and rights-based approaches.
• Collaboration: Skilled in building partnerships with diverse stakeholders, including governments, CSOs, and private sector.
• Inclusivity: Commitment to advancing gender equality, social inclusion, and equitable access to land.
• Communication: Strong facilitation, negotiation, and writing skills for policy engagement.

Adaptability: Ability to work across different cultural, political, and institutional contexts in the Mekong region.

How To Apply

If you’re interested in this opportunity, simply click “Apply” and upload your up-to-date CV and cover letter. The candidates allowed Oxfam to obtain your resume for future opportunity where it is aligned and kindly note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

About Us

Oxfam is a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty. That means we tackle the inequality that keeps people poor. Together we save, protect and rebuild lives. When disaster strikes, we help people build better lives for themselves, and for others. We take on issues like land rights, climate change and discrimination against women. And we won’t stop until every person on the planet can enjoy life free from poverty.

We are an international confederation of 20 organizations (affiliates) plus the Oxfam International Secretariat, working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries.

All our work is led by our core values: Empowerment, Accountability, Inclusiveness, Courage, Solidarity and Equality.

Our Commitment To Safeguarding

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

Note: All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and may be subject to appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam International Secretariat also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, if a job applicant has been employed by another member of the scheme, we will request information from that organization about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.