View Vacancy - QAT - Security Sector and Partnerships Lead - Qatar (HEO)

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.
Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)
MOD (Ministry of Defence)

The British Embassy Doha has a vacancy for Security Sector and Partnerships Lead

This is a fixed‑term role for six months to design and establish a sustainable delivery model for UK-Qatar Security cooperation. The successful candidate will be expected to:

Design, establish, and embed a sustainable delivery model for UK–Qatar security cooperation, acting as the central point for coordination across defence, security, migration, and commercial security engagement

Provide end‑to‑end ownership of the Embassy’s security delivery portfolio which will include strong relationships with Qatar’s Ministry of Interior and the Qatar Embassy in London.

The role will act as a bridge between political, defence and commercial teams, identifying and shaping sustainable UK–Qatar security partnerships across government, in defence technology and related private sector opportunities emerging from engagement and in a post‑conflict and regional instability context.  The postholder will play a central role in implementing the commitments set out in the Security Memoranda of Understanding signed by the UK Home Secretary and H.E. Sheikh Khalifa in January 2026. 

Security Delivery and Programme Design

  • Design and establish a sustainable operating and UK-Qatar Security cooperation, enabling effective end‑to‑end management of the Embassy’s security delivery portfolio.
  • Support implementation of commitments arising from the UK–Qatar security MoUs, translating high‑level agreements into deliverable, practical activity.

Commercial and Economic Engagement 

  • Identify and ensure commercial opportunities emerging via the development of and engagement with JPO stakeholders are highlighted to UK companies, primarily through Department for Business and Trade colleagues at the Embassy.
  • Support the development of commercially viable, politically sound propositions aligned with UK and Qatari JPO priorities.

Defence Collaboration

  • Work closely with the British Embassy Doha’s Deputy Head of Mission and Defence Attaché to support the on-going Defence Working Group process with focus on the potential opportunities in the defence technology and security domains.
  • To assist with the formation and implementation of UK Defence Policy in Qatar, inputting to the 1-HMG and UK MOD Country Plans.
  • Identify sustainable, long‑term opportunities for cooperation, ensuring coherence across political, defence and commercial objectives.
  • Act as a connector between Defence, DBT and political teams, improving internal coordination and external delivery.

Stakeholder Engagement

  • Confidently manage sensitive cross‑Whitehall (x‑WH) relationships, including with HMG departments and agencies involved in defence and security delivery.
  • Engage with senior Qatari counterparts across security and military institutions, maintaining an understanding of local political and institutional dynamics.
  • Provide clear reporting and advice to BE Doha senior leadership team on risks, opportunities and delivery progress.

 The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required. 

The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive, and the job holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post. Job responsibilities evolve with change in business needs, and the Embassy reserves the right to update to job description to ensure it meets the business objectives.

Candidates will need to demonstrate the following Key Behaviours and Diversity & Inclusion during the interview:

Key Behaviours

Working Together: Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.

Seeing the big picture: Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider Civil Service priorities and ensure work is in the national interest

Communicating and Influencing: Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others.

Diversity and Inclusion:

The British Embassy Doha has a zero-tolerance approach to any form of bullying, harassment or discrimination and is fully committed to ensuring a safe and inclusive work environment for all.

We are committed to valuing diversity and to equality of opportunity. Our aim is to create and promote an environment in which all staff are treated fairly and with respect and feel able to contribute to the best of their abilities.

 Eligibility:

If you are selected for this position, we will be able to employ you as long as you meet the following criteria:

  • The successful applicant will be required to obtain the necessary security clearance. Higher clearances can be granted only to certain nationalities. For this reason, candidates must be of British, American, Australian, Canadian or New Zealand nationality in order to gain the level of clearance required for this role.
  • Only applicants with a valid Qatar Residency Permit and existing permission to work in Qatar will be considered. The British Embassy Doha is unable to sponsor your visa or transfer sponsorship due to the duration of the contract.
  • Pass the pre-employment checks, including security vetting.
  • Demonstrable knowledge of Qatar’s security and/or military sectors, or closely related regional experience.
  • Proven confidence in managing complex cross‑Whitehall relationships and working across departmental boundaries.
  • Strong political judgement, with the ability to operate in sensitive and high‑trust environments.
  • Experience in programme design, delivery planning or implementation in a security, defence or stabilisation context.
  • Experience working in the Gulf region or similar political–security settings.
  • Understanding of the UK security, defence or interior ecosystem, including public–private partnerships.
  • Knowledge of Arabic language
  • Experience bridging policy, commercial and operational delivery environments.

 

 

Communicating and Influencing, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together
24 September 2026
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
38
Middle East & North Africa
Qatar
Doha
British Embassy
1
QAR
Basic – QAR 26217 ,TA – QAR 800
monthly
15 November 2026

Working Hours and Remuneration:

 The British Embassy offers a competitive remuneration package, including non-negotiable salary of QR 26,217 per calendar month and transportation allowance of QR 800 per calendar month, paid in arrears. No accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

 This position is for a full-time employment, on a fixed-term basis for six (6) months, subject to a one (1) month probationary period.

 Conditioned working hours is 38 hours per week. Embassy working hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. from Sundays to Wednesdays and 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursdays.

 The Embassy supports flexible working including working from home for some part of the working week and is committed to helping its staff maintain a healthy work life balance.

 The Embassy has an active Continuous Professional Development Committee, and the whole of Post is committed to providing the time and resources for staff to develop professionally. The 70/20/10 learning, and development model is applied flexibility, with both internal and formal opportunities readily available. Full Consular training will be provided on the job with many other L&D opportunities offered across the consular network.  The successful candidate must also be available for occasional travel within the Gulf region (and possibly further afield) for training and logistical purposes.

 The successful candidate will need to commence security clearance procedures through the Embassy and will be required to have or obtain the appropriate security clearance before employment commences and maintain this clearance throughout the period of employment.

How to apply:

 Interested candidates must ensure that the online application form is completed in full, including:

  •  Complete education details and employment history.
  • Complete experience, professional skills, and behaviour-based sections.

Please note that it is mandatory for all applicants to complete every section of the online application form, including employment history, education details, technical skills, experience, and behaviour-based questions. Applications that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered during the shortlisting process.

 Please ensure that your application is authentically written based on your own experiences. If AI tools are used, their usage must only be limited to specific tasks such as ensuring formatting consistency and keyword relevance. The core content, personal narratives, and responses to behaviour and skill-based questions must genuinely reflect your professional journey, experiences, and achievements. We place great importance on originality and individual effort throughout the application process. Any form of plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification.

 Closing date of receiving applications is before 23:55 (local time) on 24 September 2026 

 Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered. 

 Internal candidates (i.e., those who are currently employed by the British Embassy Doha) applying for this position should consider informing their current line managers upon submission of their application.

 Process:

 The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around 2-3 months. The security clearance process includes checks available in country and with UK, dependant on the security level required for the role and the candidate’s profile and UK footprint. You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign, and we are working hard to minimise any disruption.

 Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful at interview may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of six (6) months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

 The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security-vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances, medical clearance, and reference checks.

 The FCDO operates an agile approach to delivery. To facilitate an agile workforce, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require. The British Embassy Doha is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy are subject to Terms and Conditions of service according to local Qatari employment law.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

This opportunity is closed to applications.