View Vacancy - Digital Access Programme Adviser (44/18 PTA)
Main purpose of job:
On 25 November 2015, the UK Chancellor announced a new cross-Whitehall Prosperity Fund with the primary aim of supporting growth in partner countries. This came into effect on 1 April 2016. South Africa has been identified as a priority partner country for the Fund, and the Chancellor announced up to £35m of such programmes for South Africa during his visit in December 2016.
The Digital Access programme will use Prosperity Funding to help South Africa expand its internet connectivity in a way that takes account of critical enablers such as security, regulation, the policy environment and the role of local digital companies. Access to the interenet is a powerful catalyst to prosperity, reducing poverty and building inclusion – with a 10% increase in internet access linked to 3% growth in GDP, and a range of social and economic benefits. The objective is for this programme is to support development and prosperity outcomes.
We are advertising for an expert Adviser to the Digital Access programme in South Africa. In this role you will work with implementers (programme management agent and implementing partners), the government, private sector and civil society, in South Africa and the UK, to advance the objectives of the programme. This will involve:
- Working with management agents and implementing partners to ensure programme delivers impact, monitoring the project activity, identifying risks and and identifying links across programme activity.
- Using anlaysis of the digital and cyber security situation to influence digital and cyber security policies in South Africa, including by providing advice and collaborating with others to support digital and cyber security policies in South Africa.
It will be a challenging and rewarding role with potential opportunities for regional travel.
Roles and responsibilities:
The Digital Access Adviser will be responsible for helping to finalise (following the initial year of scoping and inception) the set up the programme in South Africa – working with a central team in London – and then providing local oversight of projects and leading on government and stakeholder engagement to promote digital access and cyber security. The role presents unique opportunities to advance the UK-South Africa relationship on digital access and cyber security for economic growth at a time when these issues are of increasing importance to Ministers.
Management (40%)
Oversee the Digital Access projects in South Africa delivered by contracted management agents. This will require an ability to apply monitoring, evaluation, risk management, stakeholder engagement and project design skills.
The jobholder will build relationships with the programme management agents and their implementing partners and local supply chain to ensure delivery is monitored. This will include pre-empting any risks and ensuring that projects are delivering their stated intentions, intervening with London-based Leads where necessary, and robustly representing UK whole of Government interests with implementing partners.
The jobholder will lead on internal and external communications on the programme in South Africa, ensuring the UK governmet gains recognition for its work.
Policy deliery (40%)
Monitor the cyber security, internet governance and telecomms regulatory environment in South Africa. Influence key decision makers in South Africa government, civil society and private sector in support of the programmes objectives in these areas. This will involve building relationships that drive forward UK policy priorities in the digital/cyber policy area in South Africa, securing regulatory and policy shifts through diplomatic engagement and leveraging the programme and senior engagement to secure progress
Provide reporting on your analysis and meetings to government colleagues. Coordinate your work with others in the High Commission and relevant government departments in London. There will be a need to deliver a quality service in a matrix management environment.
Prosperity delivery (15%)
Support the prosperity benefits of the programme by looking for and acting upon opportunities to grow the local digital/cyber market in a way that supports economic development and poverty reduction. This shoudl have a secondary benefit of allowing international (including UK) companies to engage with that market. Work closely with the UK Tech Hub in South Africa, which will be funded by this programme, to ensure that it is fully coordinated with the other parts of the programme and relevant High Commission work.
Corporate(5%)
All staff at post are expected to participate in wider High Commission activities which can include active work on various committees and other corporate roles, as well as play a role in crisis management activities on an ad-hoc basis.
Resources managed (staff and expenditure):
Oversight of c. £16m of programme activity in South Africa.
The jobholder will need a combination of digital access and/or cyber security subject knowledge (with a an ability to use self-directed study to learn about both in the role), project management experience and the skills to work in a team and influence others.
No direct line management is envisaged, at least initially, though it is likely that the individual would need to contract manage consultants supporting the programme’s work. Team management and leadership experience, particularly across different geographies and with more senior stakeholders is preferred given the jobholder will be responsible for ensuring the work of the UK Tech Hub team fits into the strategic direction of the programme as a whole.
The jobholder will need to work across various interested parts of Whitehall as well as with the South African Government, coordinating with the High Commission’s and partner Whitehall Dept teams in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Capetown. There will be some possibilities for travel in the Region and to London and development in support of delivery will be actively encouraged. Relevant job related training will be given as required.
- Experience of the digital regulatory and policy environment in South Africa
- Experience of managing or advising large programmes
- Online safety (Cyber security for individuals and organisations) policy, in South Africa and the region
- Experience of working in an international development context, including managing/working with development programmes
- Experience of working in or with government
- Leadership of geographically disparate teams
Learning and development opportunities:
The job provides an excellent opportunity to acquire and/or deepen skills in policy formulation, influencing, including at very senior levels of host government, and programme management.
You will have access to learning and development opportunities through the Prosperity Fund Management Office (London-based) as well as in the role. Pretoria hosts a Regional Learning and Development Centre.
14 month Fixed Term Contract, with intention to continue to March 2021 subject to funding
Successful candidate must have availability for occasional travel.
- Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening.
- Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
- The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.
- Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Pretoria are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in South Africa.
- All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit.
- The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to;
- Obtain the relevant permit
- Pay fees for the permit
- Make arrangements to relocate
- Meet the costs to relocation
- The British High Commission do not sponsor visas/work permits except where it may be local practice to do so.
- Employees who are not eligible to pay local income tax: e.g. certain third-country nationals and spouses/partners of UK diplomats will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
- Information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Competency Framework can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework Please note: AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
- Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
- Please log into your profile on the application system on a regular basis to review the status of your application.
- We do encourage you to apply for your police clearance certificate at the time of your application
This opportunity is closed to applications.
