Selection criteria and benefits for Chief Engineers and Chief Architects of Science and Technology

The Government has issued Decree No. 231/2025/ND-CP regulating the selection and use of Chief Engineers and Chief Architects for science , technology, innovation and national digital transformation.

This Decree regulates the selection and use of Chief Engineers and Chief Architects, including: criteria, selection process, regimes, policies, working relationships, management regulations, and evaluation of performance results of Chief Engineers and Chief Architects to make breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation, and national digital transformation.

General criteria for selecting Chief Engineer and Chief Architect

Decree No. 231/2025/ND-CP stipulates general criteria for selecting Chief Engineers and Chief Architects, including:

Have specialized training qualifications appropriate to the job application. Priority is given to those with degrees and certificates in core technology program management, advanced technology, and those who have received national and international awards in the fields of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Have a desire to contribute to the socio -economic development of Vietnam, have a clear background, good ethics; be healthy enough to work; be dedicated to the job. Have prestige, experience, outstanding capacity, and be typical in the field of expertise appropriate to the assigned tasks, and have had works, inventions, and products of practical value appropriate to the assigned field of tasks.

Ability to solve complex, interdisciplinary technical problems; handle technological crises; propose innovative solutions to accelerate project implementation within a limited time.

In case the candidate does not meet the specific criteria as prescribed but is capable of immediately meeting the requirements and professional tasks of the Chief Engineer or Chief Architect, the competent authority for selection shall decide on the selection to implement the program, project, or task and shall be responsible for that decision.

In addition to the general criteria mentioned above, the Decree stipulates specific selection criteria for: System General Engineer, Project General Engineer, Ministerial Chief Architect, Provincial Chief Architect, and Project Chief Architect.

For the selection criteria of System General Engineer, in addition to the general criteria mentioned above, the System General Engineer must meet the following criteria:

Have at least 10 years of continuous working experience in the field of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation at the time of selection.

Ability to design, organize and coordinate large-scale, multi-component, multi-disciplinary, multi-level, innovative and high-risk programs and projects; ability to connect and build a network of domestic and international experts and scientists.

Has chaired at least 2 interdisciplinary science and technology projects and programs in the strategic system field with high impact index or at least 2 interdisciplinary science and technology products and tasks in the strategic system field that have been successfully applied, transferred, commercialized or deployed in practice.

Directly managed or coordinated large-scale, interdisciplinary, and inter-regional projects, programs, and projects in the fields of science, technology, information, finance, law, human resources, or inter-regional; programs and projects in the fields of infrastructure, core technology, and national digital transformation that have been successfully applied in practice; participated in developing or implementing digital transformation strategies, technology strategies, and national or industry technology maps.

For the selection criteria of Project Chief Architect, in addition to the general criteria, the Project Chief Architect must meet the following criteria:

Have at least 5 years of continuous working experience in the field of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation up to the time of selection. Successfully lead the implementation of at least 1 program, science, technology, innovation, digital transformation task with impact at the project level. Have the capacity to implement the overall architecture of the program, project and organize the implementation of tasks with science, technology, innovation, digital transformation components of the program, project.

Ability to work, research, and cooperate internationally with foreign organizations in the fields of science, high technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

Regime and policy for Chief Engineer and Chief Architect

The Decree stipulates the regimes and policies for: System General Engineer, Project General Engineer, Ministerial Chief Architect, Provincial Chief Architect, Project Chief Architect. Specifically, the regimes and policies for System General Engineer include:

Regarding salary: The Standing Office of the Central Steering Committee reviews the salary and income received by the person selected as the General System Engineer to negotiate the salary and income in the labor contract for the General System Engineer, ensuring that it is commensurate with the assigned tasks and consistent with the salary level according to the corresponding industry, profession, and field of work on the market.

Regarding bonuses: Based on the nature and complexity of the assigned tasks, the head of the General Engineer Management Agency of the System decides on the bonus level: a- Maximum of 5 months' salary in the evaluation year if the task is completed well; b- Maximum of 3 months' salary in the evaluation year if the task is completed well.

In addition, the System General Engineer is initially supported with 1 month's salary according to the contract to stabilize accommodation, travel, and essential purchases.

In addition, the System General Engineer is allowed to select personnel for the System General Engineer's support unit of no more than 10 people and propose salaries, regimes, and policies for the Standing Office of the Central Steering Committee to decide on signing labor contracts with each personnel; is allowed to propose competent agencies to prepare budget estimates to proactively perform assigned tasks; is granted funding for domestic and foreign scientific surveys and research; participates in international cooperation activities on science, technology, and innovation.

Regarding housing, transportation, and working conditions, the System's Chief Engineer is provided with official housing (in case official housing is not yet available, he/she will be supported with house rent), transportation, and working conditions according to the standards of the title of senior expert level 3.

Regarding honor and reward: The General Engineer of the System is honored when officially taking on the task and when completing the task according to the contract; is met, praised, and heard reports, recommendations, and proposals by senior leaders of the Party and State; is allowed to participate in forums to exchange experiences on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation; is rewarded according to the provisions of the Law on Emulation and Commendation; is awarded titles and awards on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation domestically and internationally, in accordance with the provisions of Vietnamese law.

In addition, the System General Engineer also receives policies on medical care, vacation and annual leave; policies for family members; policies after completing the task of System General Engineer./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/tieu-chi-tuyen-chon-che-do-doi-voi-tong-cong-trinh-su-kien-truc-su-truong-khcn-post1058537.vnp