View Vacancy - IHR Officer (Africa) B3 (14/21 ADD)

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.
Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)
Public Health England

Main Purpose of Job:

The post-holder will support PHE’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) funded IHR strengthening programme with Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), based at the African Union in Addis Ababa.  The IHR Strengthening programme aims to contribute towards improving global health security through increased compliance with the IHR in selected countries and regions in Africa and Asia.

The post holder will deliver a range of administrative, logistical and project co-ordination activity, on behalf of the IHR Strengthening Programme at Africa CDC, enabling the delivery of expertise on the ground. The post holder must be fluent in English, have excellent organisational prioritisation and coordination skills to meet complex logistical and operational deadlines. The post-holder will provide support to the PHE Lead for Africa CDC, to ensure the coordination and delivery of identified outputs, playing a crucial role in supporting the various projects within the workplan agreed with the Africa CDC, ensuring activities are delivered to time, within scope and resource allocation.

The post holder will have strong communication skills, be able to work in a team and independently. He/she must also be able to engage effectively and develop excellent working relationships with a wide range of individuals and stakeholders at local, national and international levels. While the post will be based in Addis Ababa, occasional international travel may be required.


Main Duties and Responsibilities:

  1. Office Management

Provide comprehensive administrative and logistical support to the IHR Programme in Africa CDC and PHE technical teams

Summarise correspondence, reports and compile letters, both routine and ad hoc, ensuring that deadlines are met

Manage incoming correspondence and emails, including that of a confidential and sensitive nature, exercising independent judgement to initiate appropriate action

Assess and prioritise own workload within given timeframe, to meet project schedules

Support projects by developing and identifying resources required, ensuring all materials and resources are current and appropriate

Liaise with external logistics providers to support the needs of incoming PHE technical teams and in country partners.

Manage own workload and activities, including emails and diary management of other relevant team members,

Participate in self-development to continually improve performance/systems and undertake development activities that are identified.


Project Support

Trouble shooting for the Africa CDC Lead experiencing technical and operational issues. Alert the lead to urgent issues arising

Make judgements and provide information involving a range of job-related facts or situations some of which require analysis and comparison of a range of options.

Write briefings and reports as required

Identify errors or problems, take action as necessary to resolve and/or notify the Africa CDC Lead

Monitor progress of defined aspects of specific projects and business processes, identifying problems or opportunities, take action as necessary and/or notify Africa CDC Lead

Plan and organise defined aspects of project delivery under the guidance of the country lead

Review procedures or systems to identify improvements, simplify processes and decision making, capturing changes in operational ways of working and incorporating these into the programme’s SOPs

Assist with the orientation of PHE technical teams on arrival in Ethiopia and at Africa CDC providing local knowledge and understanding.


  1. Communication and Stakeholder Engagement

Communicate with a wide range of health and other professionals both locally, nationally and internationally

Provide an effective and professional service when liaising with colleagues, partners, stakeholders and the public using tact and diplomacy to encourage effective working when dealing with any communication difficulties

Liaise and negotiates with staff and other teams to support the efficient running of projects and business functions including communications

Respond to enquiries from key stakeholders to provide information in line with agreed protocols and procedures

Support the planning of meetings, high level events and conferences, working with the local service provider and Country lead.

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the directorate. These responsibilities may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

  • Previous experience in similar administrative role in public sector or with bilateral/multilateral organisations.
  • Proven administrative experience, including complex diary management, arranging high profile meetings and events.
  • Experience drafting briefing papers, reports and presentations.
  • Knowledge of administrative procedures, project management and information analysis.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills on complex matters, often requiring persuasion and influence.
  • Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload without supervision working to tight and often changing timescales.
  • Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change.
  • Ability to handle strictly confidential information from internal and external sources whilst always adhering to best practices of confidentiality.
  • Computer literate and proficient user of Microsoft programs such as Outlook, Word, Excel and SharePoint.
  • An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems.
  • Understanding of global health including the health challenges of low and middle-income countries.
  • Experience of organizing events/conferences/ workshops.
  • Ability to analyse and interpret information and recommend appropriate actions.
29 June 2021
Executive Officer (EO)
Fixed Term, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
37.5 hours
8 months
Africa
Ethiopia
Addis Ababa
British Embassy
1
ETB 23,418.62
1 August 2021
31 March 2022

Annual Leave and Public Holidays:

Locally engaged staff of all grades will be entitled to paid annual leave as follows:
Up to 2 years 22 days
After 2 years services 25 days
After 5 years services 30 days

In addition to annual leave, the British Embassy observes up to a maximum number of 14 Ethiopian, British and Religious public holidays each year. A list of such Embassy holidays will be published each year. Office Staff required to work on these holidays will be granted time off in lieu or overtime where circumstances permit.

  • Please note this is a (08 months) fixed term contract with possibility of renewal.
  • 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 Embassy will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.

  • Employees recruited locally by the British Embassy in Addis Ababa are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Ethiopia.

  • 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.  
  • 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
  • Information about the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Competency Framework can be found on this link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework Please note:  Job grade AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5

  • Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.

  • Please log into your profile on the application system on a regular basis to review the status of your application.

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.