View Vacancy - Commercial and Programmes Manager C4(L) (01/18 FT)

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.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Economic and Prosperity

Main purpose of job:

The British High Commission is looking for an experienced Commercial and Programmes Manager who will strengthen the political and commercial section of the High Commission, and deliver the UK’s programme work on prosperity, other Global Britain Fund programmes, the Chevening scholarship programme, and other programmes as they arise. The successful job holder will be able to form strong relationships with the relevant London programme secretariats and Regional Prosperity Coordinator, as well British and Sierra Leonean commercial actors.

Other responsibilities will include providing added support to the Political and Press Section as required. This will cut across the section’s wide and interesting portfolio, including on human rights, climate, and the Commonwealth.

Roles and responsibilities: 

This is a multi-faceted job and the successful applicant will play a leading role in our prosperity, project and programme work, in line with our business plan.

A key focus of this senior position on the commercial side will be on identifying potential investment and partnership opportunities for British businesses who are interested in establishing themselves in Sierra Leone. The jobholder will also support British businesses already with a local presence, in order to spot opportunities and overcome barriers to further growth. The successful applicant will build knowledge of particular interest to UK business in Sierra Leone, such as local providers of financing, professional services (good local accountants, HR managers, marketers, printers etc), business associations, etc. It will be essential that the jobholder can build the relationships necessary to maintain access to this information. In addition, the jobholder will be expected to provide demographic and economic data (e.g. the size of relative city markets) and on infrastructure (e.g. electricity reliability in various places). We expect the jobholder to have an understanding of the challenges being faced by British businesses here and to work with the economics team in DFID on unpacking them.

The job holder will be the relationship manager for major UK businesses in Sierra Leone; being the first point of contact for UK commercial visitors; providing analysis to the UK Government on market opportunities and market access; providing regional coordination with the UK’s other posts in the Mano River Union and the West Africa region more broadly; managing the British High Commission’s prosperity fund projects in Sierra Leone; and, supporting the British Chamber of Commerce in Sierra Leone.

The successful applicant will also manage the mission’s programmes under various UK Government funding streams. This includes identifying opportunities where UK funds can make a strategic difference, bidding for funds from London and identifying partner organisations with whom we can work.

The successful applicant will have a clear track record of delivery in the commercial sector (evidenced through either increasing revenues, overcoming barriers to trade, or identification of future market opportunities). Ability to work with minimal supervision but also as part of a close team will be essential.

This is a senior position within the High Commission so applicants will have to demonstrate familiarity with engaging at the highest levels of government and business; integrity; strong communication, presentational and influencing skills (in English and ideally also in Krio); and a focus on delivery of results.

Applicants are required to be computer literate, comfortable working with Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint, and able to manage information effectively with available computer systems, databases and websites. He/she will have a good sense of marketing in order to present a positive and professional image to UK and local stakeholders and customers, both in terms of communication and delivery of services.

Experience/knowledge of the Sierra Leonean private sector and the political system;
Experience of managing successful projects and programmes;
Strong drafting and report writing skills;
Strong IT skills (Windows, Outlook and Office);
A strong academic record to degree level or above; and
Strong organisational skills and initiative; Fluent English. 


Fluent Krio.
An understanding of social media tools.
19 February 2018
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Permanent
39
Africa
Sierra Leone
Freetown
British High Commission
1
SLL8,231,590.00 gross including Transport and Housing allowance
2 April 2018

Learning and development opportunities:

We provide regular learning and development opportunities.
The successful candidate will have access to the wide range of topics covered through UK Civil Service training and the FCO-wide training programme, the Diplomatic Academy.
At the beginning of the successful candidate's contract, the line manager will discuss with the staff member their learning and development needs. There is a regional training centre in Accra as well.
In-house learning and development is focused on IT literacy and English language classes. And the High Commission is a supporter of coaching, mentoring, and other forms of informal knowledge transfer.


  • 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 Freetown are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Sierra Leone.
  • 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 the fees for the permit
  • Make arrangements to relocate
  • Meet the costs to relocation
  • 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.
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.