View Vacancy - Newton Fund Officer (26/19 PTA)

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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Science and Innovation

Main purpose of job:

This is an exciting position working for the UK-South Africa Newton Fund, which is part of the wider £735m global Newton Fund aimed at increasing UK research and innovation engagement with 16 emerging powers, including South Africa.

The UK-SA Programme comprises a suite of matched funded activities worth up to £80m by 2021, involving a wide range of South African and UK stakeholders both within and outside government. Programme activities focus on research calls, fellowships, Research Chairs, mobility schemes, and other awards around the thematic areas of human capital development, innovation, public health, higher education, urbanisation, climate, and food security, with the ultimate aim of encouraging research that increases economic growth and social welfare.

This role will support the delivery of the UK-South Africa Newton Fund, with a significant focus on outreach to beneficiaries, monitoring and promoting the Fund. The role is funded entirely by official development assistance (ODA) and focuses exclusively on work associated with the Fund. The position is located within the High Commission’s Science and Innovation team based in Pretoria. 

Roles and responsibilities:

Programme Management and Delivery:

  • Primary responsibility for keeping track of all Newton Fund activity in South Africa, building up a database of all activity and beneficiaries to provide the Newton Central Team, Country Manager and High Commission with information as necessary
  • Supporting the Newton Fund Country Manager in coordinating Newton Fund activities in South Africa for impact assessment and monitoring
  •  Working with the Newton Fund Country Manager and Science & Innovation Team to identify opportunities for future collaboration
  • Engagement with Institutions to promote the Fund and generate high quality applications
  • Outreach and support to historically disadvantaged institutions
  • Event Planning and Management, which includes providing logistical support for meetings and visits
  • Manage own administrative tasks and support the Newton Fund Country Manager on administrative tasks as required

Communications:

  • Create and develop content for the UK-SA Newton Fund on social media platforms eg. newsletter, events calendar
  • Outreach to beneficiaries to create case studies of impact and progress
  •  Work with the Communications team in Pretoria to support and draft media scripts, and to maximize engagement on media channels
  • Regularly communicate with Delivery Partners and Central Management team to encourage information sharing for communication and event planning
  • Build & maintain positive relationships with stakeholders in country to help drive impact visbility
  • Create, update and implement a communications strategy on an ongoing basis
  • Assist central team in the creation of a digital platform for Newton alumni
  • Organise regional/institutional chapters and outreach events for Newton alumni
  • Identify and organise promotional and marketing opportunities, such as receptions, conferences, workshops etc to promote the Newton Fund and its activities  
  • Work with Newton Fund Country Manager to build evidence to demonstrate the value the Newton Fund in delivering for the UK in South Africa

Policy:

  • Provide Country Manager with project level evaluation input to feed into programme and policy planning

  • A bachelor degree or above in relevant field (Public policy, International Relations, Science or Humanities)
  • Minimum 2 years of Project/Programme management experience, preferably with International stakeholders
  • Knowledge of MS Office programmes (Word/Excel/PowerPoint)
  • Experience in either communications, media, social media management in government, business, academia or other high-profile organisations
  • Self-starter with a good track record of problem solving skills
  • Experience of providing administrative and logistical support
  • Ability to work well and have a flexible approach to work whilst under pressure
  •  Ability to work in fast-paced, high profile environments and deliver to deadlines
  • Computer literacy in Microsoft Office packages

Language requirements:

Language: English

Level of language required:Fluent communication skills in English (both written and spoken)


  • Effective communicator.
  • Experience of working with multi-lateral projects and programmes in the public, private sectors or in academia.
  • A strong existing network of contacts in South African research bodies would be an advantage, as would knowledge of the South African and the UK’s science and innovation landscapes.
  • Experience covering international development work is a merit.
6 May 2019
Executive Officer (EO)
Permanent
Africa
South Africa
Pretoria
British High Commission
R22,600.62
1 July 2019

Learning and development opportunities:

We offer opportunities to develop professional skills through our Learning and Development offer.

Newton Fund Official Development Assistance Training to be completed.

Opportunities to travel including visit to UK to liaise with UK stakeholders and the Newton Central Management team.

Social media publishing, monitoring and evaluation



The British High Commission pays in full for the Key Care Plus option on Discovery Health for staff including spouses/partners and dependants.

  • Once you have successfully completed your probation the British High Commission will contribute 9% of your monthly salary to a Provident Fund.
  • Annual leave entitlement of 25 days
  • Working hours per week of 36.5



  • 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.
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This opportunity is closed to applications.