View Vacancy - Deputy Group Head & Policy and Programme Lead, Grade- G6, Islamabad
Note : All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment and educational details and the behavioural questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the application forms with all the required details. 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 Islamabad (BHCI) in Pakistan is focused on six main workstreams – Regional Stability; Threats; Health and Education; Climate, Resilience and Humanitarian, Open Societies; and, Economy and Trade. This role sits within the Climate, Resilience and Humanitarian Group in BHCI.
The Group goal is: to support Pakistan to adopt a more resilient and cleaner growth path by preparing for, responding to and reducing the impact of climate change, biodiversity loss and humanitarian disaster.
The Group delivers on this through four main thematic areas:
1. Strengthening adaptation and resilience to climate change;
2. Supporting Pakistan and its most vulnerable communities to withstand and recover in the event of a humanitarian disaster;
3. Supporting Pakistan to mobilise finance to build a green economy and respond to climate vulnerability; and
4. Supporting Pakistan to adopt new measures and policies to ensure delivery of its COP climate, energy and nature commitments.
In terms of programming, the Group has two active climate resilience and water governance programmes:
1) Water Resource Accountability Programme (WRAP); and,
2) Building Resilience and Addressing Vulnerability to Emergencies Programme (BRAVE).
They currently total £55m over six-years and are 100% International Climate Finance (ICF). However, following the ODA uplift in fiscal year 24/25 and a trebling of ICF and humanitarian spend across the Pakistan Network, the value of the Group’s programme portfolio is increasing in value (to £127m), geographic scope and complexity. BRAVE is set to become a complex, high value £97m, six-year programme that is currently being redesigned to increase its scope (from two Provinces to national level) and scale (due to the ICF and humanitarian ODA uplift in fiscal year 24/25), and to incorporate a new humanitarian response component which can be flexed as required to respond to humanitarian spikes, along with strengthening the disaster preparedness programme components. WRAP is doubling in value from £15m to £30m, expanding its geographic scope across GB, Punjab and KP, its beneficiary outreach, and integrating additional disaster resilience elements. The programmes will be implemented by approximately 15 bilateral and multilateral delivery partners. This will also entail oversight of a number of complex commercial modalities ranging from Memorandum of Understanding’s, Accountable Grants, Trust Funds, Contribution Arrangements, and Bronze (BRAVE – Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning Component), Silver (WRAP – Catalytic Fund), and Gold (BRAVE – Institutional Strengthening Component) commercial contracts. Finally, with CSSF funding, the Group recently began research into the Conflict-Climate Nexus Programme, mapping out how climate risks are exacerbating drivers of conflict in Pakistan.
BHC Islamabad is looking to recruit a suitably qualified and experienced CG4 Deputy Group Head & Policy and Programme Lead on a permanent basis who can start as soon as possible. This position is open to Country Based Staff: Grade 6 staff on level transfer or Grade 7 staff on promotion, who have demonstrated the required competencies and experience.
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Climate, Resilience and Humanitarian Group. The Post holder will provide strategic policy and programme leadership across the Groups rapidly growing programme delivery portfolio. This includes support to central and regional programmes, and advancing UK Beyond Aid priorities through collaboration with the Federal and Provincial governments of Pakistan and development partners. Through effective team working you will translate FCDO’s strategic approaches into effective programmes and policies that will bring better climate, resilience and humanitarian outcomes to Pakistan, particularly for the poor, most marginalised and for girls. This will require a strong focus on achieving results, value for money and good financial management (as you will manage one of the largest and most complex ODA portfolios in the office), and active liaison with other teams/programmes/policy areas across the Pakistan Network.
Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:
You are expected to be able to represent the British High Commission Islamabad in policy and programme discussions at the highest levels. Be able to design, manage and oversee complex, high risk and high value programmes and portfolios and advise on complex policy and political issues. You will apply your generalist leadership capabilities such as seeing the bigger picture and setting directions to your policy and programme work. You should be able to estabilsh credibility and influence at the most senior levels, including with external organisations.
Specific responsibilities and accountabilities are set out below. These may be subject to change over time, dependent on the team and wider group’s overall policy/programme portfolio and wider Pakistan Network business requirements.
- Lead, manage and develop the delivery of the UK Pakistan Networks rapidly growing climate resilience and humanitarian programme portfolio: (i) BRAVE; (ii) WRAP; and, new pipeline programmes. Act as the Senior Responsible Owner for BRAVE - one of the UK Pakistan Network’s most innovative, complex and high value new programmes - through all stages of the programme cycle for successful delivery of the outcomes.
- Lead humanitarian preparedness and response programming in the event of a humanitarian disaster
- Lead quality assurance and ensure that best practice and compliance are applied across CG4’s management of programmes and portfolios with key FCDO programme requirements (e.g., PrOF rules and good practice, corporate reporting, audit, risk management, safeguarding, fraud awareness) to deliver value for money and impact.
- Oversee programme portfolio governance structures in close coordination with respective government counterparts at Federal (Ministry of Climate Change) and Provincial (Secretary, Planning & Development Department) levels to mainstream FCDO’s climate portfolio into Pakistan’s national discourse on climate resilience.
- Build partnerships and deepen external relationships at senior level with key external stakeholders including government counterparts, bi-lateral partners, UN agencies, and other stakeholders to influence and leverage policy in line with UK objectives on climate and resilience - demonstrating UK leadership and expertise.
- Develop and maintain a strong network within wider FCDO and across HMG, in order to influence policy and bring lessons from other programmes into BHCI’s own work.
- Support strengthening of the ICF and Humanitarian cross-Mission capacity through mentoring existing and incoming ICF advisory and programme delivery resources to ensure successful delivery of the ambitious ODA uplift targets. Lead reporting on ICF and Humanitarian results and outcomes for UK engagement in Pakistan (to support DEPA and the Communication Team).
- Corporate responsibility: Lead the DEPA convened Senior Programme Management Cohort to support and develop programme management professionalisation and capability across the Mission (including direct mentoring) on behalf of DEPA and the Centre for Delivery (at Headquarters).
- Deputise for the Group Head: leading cross-mission representation and strategic engagement - both in key Pakistan Network meetings (Pakistan Steering Group, Portfolio Board) shaping the direction of the Mission, wider FCDO, and across HMG on climate, resilience and humanitarian.
- Contribute to leadership of the FCDO office/BHC and engage across HMG to support implementation of the Pakistan Country Business Plan.
Resources managed (staff and expenditure):
Within a Group of 12 People the post holder will have direct line management or counter-signing responsibility of over 50% of the Group, ensuring a culture of strong performance management, and supporting the wellbeing and resilience of the Group.
• At least 5 years demonstrable experience of driving strategic policy and programme leadership across complex and high value programme portfolios
• Excellent commercial, financial and risk management skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to prioritise workload and respond flexibly as new priorities arise.
Language requirements:
Language: English
Level of language required: Fluent
• ideally with some experience and knowledge of climate, resilience and humanitarian policy and programming.
Salary Details:
For British High Commission (BHC) candidates, the Country Based Staff BHC Terms & Conditions will apply.
For other than BHC candidates, salary will be PKR 706,118 per month.
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.
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.
Around half of our work force is women. We treat people with respect and equality and have a policy of zero tolerance for any form of discrimination, bullying, or harassment. 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 competency 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 Motivation and Competency Segment in the Online Application Form
Internal candidates applying for this position need to inform their current line managers, else the applications will not be considered.
To ensure a successful application it is important that you explain how you demonstrate these behaviours and technical/ professional skills, basis your experience. You are strongly advised to read the Success Profiles Civil Service Behaviours Framework which provides a detailed guidance on how these behaviours are defined for each position.
Please go through the technical competency framework before completing the technical questions: FCDO technical competency frameworks - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) for the Governance Cadre of FCDO.
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.
We will accept only online applications by 14th April 2024 (latest by 23:55 hours PKT).
Please note that all the applicants will be required to strictly adhere to the security guidelines for British High Commission. Also, please be advised that the FCDO does not pay for any travel related expenses incurred in interviews, or relocation costs.
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.
The appointment will be subject to Police Verification and other checks including references, medical, educational and professional.
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.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
