View Vacancy - Chevening Scholarships Officer, UK Office for Syria

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

The UK Government’s Syria Office at the British Embassy in Beirut has a vacancy for the Chevening Scholarships Officer, Grade - EO.

Main purpose of job:

This is an exciting and rewarding opportunity to lead the UK’s prestigious Chevening Scholarships programme for Syrians. Based in the UK Government’s Syria Office in Beirut, you will be responsible for driving forward a busy, rewarding programme to identify, support, and network future Syrian leaders. You will also have the opportunity to feed in to political reporting and analysis on Syria and to contribute to wider corporate initiatives, including the UK’s digital and social media communications. The Syria Office is part of the British Embassy Beirut. It is a friendly and highly motivated team dedicated to delivering UK policy on Syria and Lebanon.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Scholar Recruitment:

  • Managing the Chevening application process, including downloading applications, shortlisting, arranging interviews for 100+ applicants, updating the Chevening online application system with short-lists and interview results.
  • Organising pre-departure briefings in Beirut and working with Chevening Officers across the region to ensure successful pre-departure events for Syrian refugee Chevening scholars based around the region including Istanbul, Ankara and Amman.
  • Liaising with the relevant International Programme Officer / Senior International Programme Officer at the Chevening Secretariat to coordinate the application and selection process.
  • You will be expected to arrange, coordinate and sit on interview panels for a high number of potential Chevening Scholars.

Programme Outreach and Marketing:

  • Generate written and visual content for social media, press and radio.
  • In light of a challenging operating environment, identify new and innovative ways to promote Chevening to a range of potential Syrian applicants based inside Syria and across the region, including attending university fairs and proactively organising outreach events at universities in countries hosting Syrian refugees including Turkey and Jordan.
  • Creatively using social media to reach a diverse range of potential applicants inside Syria e.g. through Facebook live.
  • Requesting and making use of marketing materials from the Secretariat. Monitoring the Chevening marketing budget, keeping records of promotional material, contacting suppliers for quotations and following up to ensure that new orders are produced according to the Chevening branding guidelines.
  • Sharing information about the scholarships to all colleagues in the embassy in order to foster embassy-wide promotion of the scholarships.

Programme Administration:

  • Adhering to deadlines and requests set by the Scholarships Unit (TSU) and the Chevening Secretariat, such as submitting annual programme, marketing and alumni plans, and country briefings for the Reading Committee.
  • Carrying out administration of the programme in line with Chevening policy as set by TSU.
  • Responding to enquiries regarding the scheme and acting as point of contact with the Embassy team on Chevening-related marketing activities, application process and alumni events.
  • Responding to requests for information or insight from TSU or the Secretariat.
  • Maintaining positive relationships with applicants and award recipients before, during and after their award.
  • Acting as the primary contact point with UKVI and the Home Office to support visa applications and exercise discretion and judgement to respond quickly to any requests for further information to support successful processing of visa applications for Syrian Chevening Scholars.

Alumni Engagement:

  • Updating and maintaining the database of Chevening alumni. Promoting and actively using ‘Chevening Connect’ to engage with alumni and support the political reporting priorities of Syria Office.
  • Thinking creatively about establishing and developing an effective Chevening alumni network, including organising a series of alumni events either in London or around the region to help strengthen the diffuse network of Syrian Chevening scholars. Identify opportunities to connect Chevening alumni in the UK with FCDO colleagues.
  • Successfully bidding for alumni engagement funding opportunities and managing budgets associated with these.
  • Keeping TSU and the Secretariat regularly up to date with alumni engagement work in country.
  • Developing the Chevening programme to better support UK policy on Syria using the alumni network to help deliver Syria Office and wider HMG Syria policy objectives.
  • Managing the bidding process for the annual Chevening Alumni Programme Fund (CAPF) to encourage alumni to submit bids that support Chevening alumni activities across the FCDO network to help them create positive change in their countries/regions and to promote contacts and relationships between Chevening alumni and between the FCDO and alumni. Manage and evaluate the success of projects that receive money from the fund.

Partnerships:

  • Consider opportunities using judgement and sensitivity to develop local partnerships and account-manage existing partnerships including outreach, engagement and data management.
  • Engage the wider Post to get their input and support to develop partnerships.
  • Ensure any existing partnerships are managed effectively, working with the secretariat to ensure timely payments from partners.

Finance:

  • Ensure all financial issues are dealt with affectively and in line with policy, including ensuring costs are charged to the correct budget and meeting policy guidelines.

Political Reporting (20% of the role):

  • During quieter periods of the Chevening recruitment and management cycle provide political support across the Syria office, in line with UK Office for Syria policy priorities. Retain an overview of current issues and developments in Syria and the wider region. Provide political analysis and reporting, covering events both inside and out of Syria, including policy insight and recommendations to London.

 

Resources Managed:

  • An annual Syria Chevening Scholarship programme, usually between 22 and 30 scholars; the Syria Chevening alumni network of around 550 alumni and; the Chevening budget (£500,000 approx – tbc).

 

Key Behaviours required for the job:

  • Delivering at Pace: Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
  • Managing a Quality Service: Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.
  • Making Effective Decisions: Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.
  • Working Together: Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.

Knowledge & Skills:

The successful candidate will have excellent communication skills as well as being a strong team player with partnering skills with a diverse range of customers.  This is a high-paced role and you will need to be resilient in order to deliver high standards of service in a challenging but rewarding environment.  We are looking for someone that can demonstrate:

  • Integrity
  • Honesty
  • Objectivity
  • Impartiality

Essential:

  • Excellent communication skills in English and Arabic (both spoken and written);
  • Bachelor Degree or other professional qualification in a related field.
  • Minimum two years of relevant professional work experience in a similar job.
  • A deep knowledge and understanding of Syria, Syrian history and context or experience of working in or on Syria.
  • Strong networking, communication and organisational skills.
  • Ability to work autonomously and effectively as part of a virtual network.
  • Ability to use social media to run recruitment and outreach activities.
  • Strong IT skills, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and web based applications.

Desirable:

  • NA
Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace
23 May 2022
Executive Officer (EO)
Fixed Term, Full-time
40
12 months
Middle East & North Africa
Lebanon
Beirut
British Embassy
1
USD
2822
1 June 2022

Working Hours and Remuneration:

Conditioned working hours are 40 hours gross per week. The Embassy is committed to ensuring that you are able to maintain a suitable work-life balance. Leave entitlement is 20 days (on pro rata basis) plus 14 public holidays.

The embassy offers an attractive working environment and remuneration package of $ 2,822 monthly for this role. However, for third country nationals and UKB staff spouse/partners employed by the Embassy, you are not liable to pay Lebanese income tax, your salary will be abated by an amount equivalent to the Lebanese tax that would otherwise be payable (if appropriate). This is called salary abatement.

This position is offered on a Full Time, Fixed Term contract for 12 months.

The successful candidate will be subject to a 90 days probationary period. The appointment is also subject to satisfactory reference checks and local & UK security clearances.

There is a strong and active L&D culture across the Embassy and all staff are encouraged to have a dedicated L&D plan. The Chevening Secretariat runs online conferences for officers, which focus on skills and developing officer’s abilities to deliver their Chevening programmes.

Eligibility:

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

  • Receive the appropriate level of security clearance;
  • Have (or be willing to obtain) the right to live and work in Lebanon. Candidate's residence permit and work permit, and the expense to obtain them, will be their own responsibility.

Application Process:

Interested candidates must attach the following documents along with the completed online application form:

  • An updated Curriculum Vita (CV)
  • A covering letter

** (Applications that do not include the above stated information will be rejected).

 

All applications must be received before 23:55 (Beirut Time) on 23 May 2022.

 

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.

Interviews will be held at the British Embassy Beirut Office or remotely via MS Teams. Due to the large amount of applications we receive only those shortlisted for assessment/interview will be contacted.

The start date mentioned in the advert is an assumed 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 and reference checks.

 

The British Embassy is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.  Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy is subject to Terms and Conditions of service according to local Lebanon 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.