View Vacancy - Health Adviser - Brazil (All posts)

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:

This position is available at the British Embassy in Brasília or in any of the British Consulates in the Brazil network and the successful candidate will be responsible for leading the development of the UK Government’s health policy and advocacy strategy while overseeing the work of UK funded health programmes.

The UK’s priorities in health are guided by HMG’s Global Health Strategy and reinforced by the Integrated Review which focus on four key areas: Pandemic Response, Global Health Security, Health System Strengthening and the Advancement of Health Science and Technology. While our health policy and programme work support the delivery of wider UK embassy network priorities that seek to deepen our partnerships with Brazil in Security, Climate and Trade.  

  • Security: COVID-19 highlighted the need for global coordinated action to prepare, identify and respond to disease threats. In response, the PM launched his 5-point plan at UNGA calling for international action and a number of initiatives are under consideration. It will be important for like minded states such as the UK and Brazil to work together on these issues.
  • Climate: The need for specific action to deal with climate health impacts and forms part of HMG Global Health Strategy. Priorities include the need to bring health systems to net-zero; prepare health systems to better deal with the health impacts of a changing climate; and ensure health systems are integrated into disaster preparedness and response frameworks. 
  • Trade: Life Sciences is the third biggest export sector in the UK and Brazil has the largest healthcare market in Latin America. The expansion of digital health, big data, AI, medical technology innovations, and advanced therapies within the Brazil health system, offer opportunities for commercial, research and academic partnerships in areas of UK strength and raise ethical and regulatory issues that will need a global approach to tackle them effectively.

We are looking for a proactive, creative self-starter who can prioritise to operate in a fast-paced environment, largely unsupervised, delivering to deadlines.  S/he will need excellent interpersonal and communications skills to build strong relations within the Embassy, with delivery partners and stakeholders in the UK. 

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

Assessment and analysis:

  • Maintain situational awareness of the health system in Brazil and the UK through regular assessment and analysis of needs and corresponding response.
  • Communicate effectively to colleagues, senior officials and Ministers within FCDO and across the HMG network in order to effectively influence the necessary evolution or changes of policy and programme priorities. Manage upwards and consider wider political context to ensure effective influencing.

Policy:

  • Lead health policy work for the UK network in Brazil, working with the Brazilian Government multilaterals, INGOs, other donors, and colleagues in the UK  to position the UK at the forefront of health policy engagement.
  • Engage directly with policy makers to deliver against UK policy objectives, building a partnership with Brazil on the development of domestic health policy and regulations in priority areas i.e Digital Health, pandemic preparedness and response, global health security and genetics.
  • Support Brazilian efforts to ensure the quick and responsible introduction of emerging technologies and medicines to the Brazilian market
  • Design and lead the implementation of a digital health advocacy campaign that builds on the recommendations of the UK funded Better Health Programme. Working with government, academia and relevant groups to identify how successful pilots can be incorporated into national policies and working closely with UK commercial teams to identify relevant trade and investment opportunities for the UK’s life sciences  sector
  • Internally, engage effectively with senior officials within the UK embassy network to identify linkages between health and wider priority UK objectives across the trade, security and climate agendas
  • Identify areas for mutual learning between the UK and Brazil on healthcare policy, organising learning sessions and opportunities for cooperation between our health ministries and between SUS and the UK National Health Service.
  • Delivering timely, concise policy advice and briefing to senior officials and Ministers.

Programme:

  • Provide technical oversight and lead technical advice into the design, delivery, monitoring, evaluation and learning of UK health programmes.
  • Manage delivery partner organisation(s) to implement technical support / capacity building on health policy issues. Ensure good value for money and monitor implementer compliance with the contract, key milestones are met and that risks are mitigated appropriately.
  • Maintain a regular evaluation routine to assess impact of previous programmes.

Relationships and Influencing:

  • Establish constructive relationships with key individuals and organisations, including representing the UK with relevant partners and in relevant forums to influence programme and policy development. This will include:
    • A. Internally within the FCDO and HMG: working across policy teams and with other government departments within the Brazil network, the UK and regionally.
    • B.  Externally:  at senior levels with the Federal and State governments, bilateral and multilateral organisations in, and with civil society, INGOs, research organisations and academia.

Essential on arrival:

  • At least 4 years work experience working in policy or programming in either the public or private sector. Preferably, at least 3 years work experience in the health sector.
  • Proven experience in providing health sector specific reporting and analysis to inform policy or programme development.
  • Experience in managing a network of external contacts and ability to create and maintain long-term relationships that deliver results.
  • Ability to create effective strategies that deliver against organisational aims.
  • Passion for health and a desire to improve health in Brazil.
  • The job holder must have fluent written and oral proficiency in both English and Portuguese.

Language requirements:

Language: Excellent working levels of English and Portuguese, both written and spoken. 

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience 

  • Experience working with the Brazilian government.
  • Experience in programme management in a development context
  • Understanding of cross cutting policy issues that impact public health policy development including:
Seeing the Big Picture, Leadership, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
22 May 2022
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Permanent
36.5
Latin America and Spanish speaking Caribbean
Brazil
Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Recife, Rio De Janeiro, Sao Paulo
British Embassy
1
BRL
11,005 BRL
4 July 2022

 Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount. 

Learning and development opportunities

We place a strong emphasis on learning and development.  You will be encouraged to undertake developmental training and get involved in corporate activities.  The Embassy has a strong L&D offer (including L&D Weeks and the possibility of securing funds for personal L&D). 

Working patterns:

Flexible working available with the option to work from home 1-2 days per week. 


The British Embassy Network offers a strong benefits package.  This package includes generous vacation and leave time, flexible working patterns, and enriching learning and development opportunities.  Eligibility to work and live in Brazil is required.
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This opportunity is closed to applications.