View Vacancy - Assistant Programme Officer, Grade-AO, Islamabad

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.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Programme Roles)
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Programme Roles)

Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment, educational details, behavioural and technical/ professional skills questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the application forms only with all the required details and the shortlisting is not basis CV/ cover letter. Forms that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.

Main purpose of job:

The work of the British High Commission (BHC) in Pakistan is focused on 6 main workstreams – Regional Security; Migration & Safer Streets; Modern Development Partnership; Climate, Nature & Humanitarian Group; UK Growth and Governance & Inclusion Group.

BHC Islamabad is looking to recruit a suitably qualified Administrative Officer (AO) as an Assistant Programme Officer who can start as soon as possible. This position is opened for both external candidates and FCDO’s internal Country Based Staff on promotion and level transfer who have demonstrated the required competencies and experience. 

This AO role sits within the Governance & Inclusion Group (GIG) in BHC Islamabad (BHCI). It is a top performing unit, that offers an attractive and rewarding work environment, and which delivers programme results and provides policy and technical input across the UK mission in Pakistan and to a wide range of external stakeholders. GIG strives to work together in a positive team environment, making development and career progression a priority and providing flexibility to deliver results at pace on high-profile priorities while maintaining work-life balance.

GIG has just transitioned into an enabler role and has a £91m portfolio. It leads policy & programmes at the federal and sub-national levels relating to governance/effective institutions (e.g., public sector management; risk governance); human rights (e.g., freedom of religion and belief; minority rights; children’s rights; child protection; inclusion; gender & disability as well as civic space and media freedom. 

Within GIG, this position will sit under Inclusion team that leads on £46.9m programme Aawaz II. This programme works with government and local communities to promote the rights of children, women, youth, religious minorities, people with disabilities and the transgender community to strengthen control over their own development. The programme has evolved over time with a sharper focus on child protection, gender-based violence, early and child marriages, and intolerance against religious minorities. The programme works with the government for institutional and legal reforms and with the communities for behaviour change and referral pathways to state services. The programme operates in three of the four provinces of Pakistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh. Programme will be ended by March 2027.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Governance & Inclusion Group. They will particularly lead on day-to-day administrative and logistics management.

The position is a key programme support role. The successful candidate will support HEO Programme Responsible Owner (PRO) and an Executive Officer (EO) in effective programme delivery and will support oversight and report on all programme management aspects for Aawaz II and will also contribute to group and programme management, finance and risk management across GIG. 

This is a challenging but rewarding role which requires the ability to work at pace and agility to support and collaborate with teams across the mission.  This is a superb opportunity to hone and develop skills and be engaged in some of the areas that matter to Pakistan, the region and the UK communities in Pakistan.

GIG has a positive team environment, energetic and diverse. Supportive line management, respect and career development are at the heart of staff relationships. All team members should strive to create and maintain a pleasant, inclusive and rewarding work environment where every member can achieve their best and it will be important to demonstrate these qualities in this role.


We reserve the right to review, revise or amend the roles and responsibilities from time to time reflecting the changing needs of business.

Roles and responsibilities that a jobholder will be expected to achieve:

Programme Administrative Support:

  • Assisting with the effective administration and management of the Team’s programme portfolio in accordance with FCDO’s rules and procedures.
  • Record keeping on Teams, stationery arrangement, maintaining asset inventories and checks. 
  • Providing support in procurement of Services or grant arrangements; and participating in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) activities.
  • Taking forward HR/ Business Support issues particularly supporting on logistics for field visits and programme/team meetings.
  • Processing payments, budget management, monitoring expenditure and assisting in accurate financial forecasting exercises while supporting the respective programme managers/officers.
  • Assisting the Team Leaders in responding to corporate tasks.

Programme Logistics:

  • Arranging internal and external meetings, away days, logistical support for briefings, events and conferences, receptions, and visits. Booking flights/transport, accommodation, meeting venues and arranging security clearances.
  • Drafting and issuing letters and e-mails in consultation with the team members.
  • Supporting the team to organize field visits, drafting and apply for NOC and TRA’s, liaising with transport, security, and programme partners to ensure effective field visits.
  • Internal information and knowledge management, uploading materials, maintaining spread sheets, calendars, and keeping minutes of meetings.
  • Provide surge support and respond to other priority needs.

The ideal candidate will be someone with strong language skills in both Urdu and English, able to manage a busy workload and prioritize effectively. 

Experience in a busy office environment and working within a team would be a strong advantage.  

This is a demanding and fulfilling role which requires agility to support and collaborate with teams across the mission and with partners to deliver programme goals and team objectives.



Working patterns:

High Commission hours, Monday-Friday. Some out of hours work may be required on ad hoc basis. Flexible working will be considered but we cannot guarantee that requests will be met.

This role is based in Islamabad, Pakistan. 

Learning and development opportunities:

  • FCDO has a set of mandatory learning opportunities which needs to be completed within stipulated time. In addition, learning goals for the year will be agreed with the line manager, based on job or career related learning needs.
  • Coaching, mentoring and job shadowing led by Line Manager 
  • Field visits and programme visits to project deliverables, partner meetings.
  • You will have the opportunity to develop skills and experience throughout the programme management cycle, including through formal in-house learning opportunities and team-wide capability initiatives.


Any other information (or specific local Post requirements):

You will have the opportunity to develop skills and experience throughout the programme management cycle, including through formal in-house learning opportunities and team-wide capability initiatives (e.g., Away Days). 

FCDO Pakistan would like to fill this role as soon as possible. If you would like to find out more about the role, please send us an email at saad.recruit@fcdo.gov.uk.

Selection process: Please note that only those applicants selected for interview will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates should be available for the next stage of the recruitment (interview) process around end-November 2025.

Essential on arrival:

  • Minimum 2 years’ work experience.
  • Bachelors / Graduation Degree
  • Very good written and spoken English.
  • Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills with the ability to develop effective working relationships.
  • An ability to work proactively and independently as well as part of a team, and strong IT skills.
  • Prior working experience and familiarity with MS Office particularly MS Excel, MS Word & MS Teams

Language Requirements:

  • Language: English & Urdu
  • Level of language required: Proficient in written and spoken

Desirable:

  • Knowledge of programme management cycle and financial management.
  • Experience in programme administrative roles.
  • Experience of using the Aid Management Platforms

Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service, Working Together
11 November 2025
Administrative Officer (AO)
Full-time, Permanent
41
South Asia & Afghanistan
Pakistan
Islamabad
British High Commission
1
PKR
PKR 152,684 per month
monthly
15 December 2025

For BHC candidates, the Country Based Staff BHC Terms & Conditions will apply.

For other than BHC candidates the basic salary will be PKR 152,684 per month. This salary is non-negotiable.

Please note that the current salaries are being dollarized and processed in USD (using a fixed corporate exchange rate from November 2022) to provide cushion against the current external market conditions. This is a temporary measure and is subject to review at regular intervals. The payroll will revert to local currency processing once the external market conditions are normalised.

BHC offers a great benefits package that comprises of Annual Domiciliary cover and Medical Insurance Scheme which includes PKR 1,500,000 floater coverage per family for self, one spouse/long term partner and children under the age of 19 or under 23, if in full-time education and not gainfully employed. The Annual Domiciliary cover for day-to-day medical payments is upto PKR 200,000 per family (basis actual bills submission).

 Additionally, The British High Commission contributes to a retirement provision in the form of a mandatory provident fund. 

FCDO operates an agile workforce. To facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require. The BHC is recognised as a good employer, with a robust, fair and transparent performance management & appraisal system linked to increments and staff bonuses. We have a 5-day working week, plus annual leave, public holidays, maternity leave provision, special leave, paid sick leave provision; ample development opportunities, travel opportunities, a good organisational culture, and excellent work/life balance.

No relocation or any other related costs or assistance will be provided. FCDO does not pay for any travelling, accommodation & relocation expenses incurred and/or accept any financial risk, including cancellation or reschedule costs.

Around half of our work forces are women. We treat people with respect and equality and have a policy of zero tolerance for any form of discrimination, bullying, or harassment. We welcome all applications irrespective of age, race, colour, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief, caste, or creed. We are also open to applications from people who want to work flexibly.

This is a good opportunity to be part of a strong, diverse team, working in the biggest network that FCDO has anywhere across the globe. We are aiming to make it the best.

Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment and educational details, motivational segment and the behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the application forms only for all the required details. Forms that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.

To Apply:
Please note applications without (a) and (b) will not be considered.

a) Complete the Online Application Form
b) Complete the Experience, Professional Skills and Behaviour based Segments in the Online Application Form

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

To ensure a successful application it is important that you explain how you demonstrate behaviours and technical / professional skills, basis your experience. You are strongly advised to read the Success Profiles - Civil Service Frameworks, which provides a detailed guidance on how these behaviours are defined for each position. 

Applicants are encouraged to use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) technique to prepare specific examples of when and how you have demonstrated these behaviours in your application, by evidencing a structured response, including your skills and experiences. You briefly describe the situation in which you demonstrated the behaviour, and then explain your task in addressing the situation, what action you took and the result of this.

Internal candidates applying for this position must have completed their probation and have prior approval from their line manager, else the application will not be considered.

We will accept only online applications by 11th November 2025 (latest by 23:55 hours PST).

Please note that all the applicants will be required to strictly adhere to the security guidelines for British High Commission

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount. 

Applicants who do not have the required qualification & experience should kindly abstain from applying, as their applications will not be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, and no telephone enquires will be dealt with. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’.  If during the reserve period of 12 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 tentative and the appointment will be subject to successful clearances including police verification, references, medical, educational, and professional checks. "

We welcome all applications irrespective of age, race, colour, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief or creed. We are also open to applications from people who want to work flexibly.

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.