View Vacancy - SIN - Regional Research and Innovation Coordinator, B3(L)

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)
Science and Innovation

This is an exciting opportunity to work with the UK’s Newton Fund programme. The UK Government is investing £735 million until 2021 in the Newton Fund, which supports science and innovation partnerships that promote the economic development and welfare of developing countries. In Southeast Asia, the UK has Newton Fund partnerships with Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. The programme supports excellent scientific talent, joint research and innovation in key development areas including food and agriculture, health, and resilience. The delivery of Newton Fund programmes with these five countries in South East Asia is being co-ordinated by the Science and Innovation team based at the British High Commission in Singapore.

There is an opportunity for a regional Research and Innovation Co-ordinator to join the team based in Singapore. The regional Research and Innovation Co-ordinator plays a key role in delivering the Newton Fund in Southeast Asia. They will be responsible for co-ordinating plans for regional activities run through the Newton Fund, coordinating with stakeholders across the region and in the UK. They will monitor and report programme delivery, support communications with partners in UK and the region, share and extend best practise, and help maximise the impact of the Newton Fund in the region. They will work closely with the Regional Science and Innovation Director in Singapore and the five Newton Fund Programme Managers based at British Embassies and High Commissions in the Southeast Asia region, providing support, advice and surge capacity. This role does not involve direct engagement in the science; its purpose is to enable science and innovation partnerships between the UK and SE Asia to work and grow. The successful candidate is likely to have an interest in science policy and in encouraging international collaboration.

The British High Commission in Singapore is part of a world-wide network representing British interests overseas. Science and innovation play a key role in promoting prosperity and are at the heart of UK government strategy for sustainable economic growth. International collaboration is vital for maximising the economic and development benefits of research and innovation, as well as responding to global challenges including infectious disease, climate change, and food insecurity.

The role is full time and involves some regional travel, although there is often scope for flexibility in the timing and need for travel.

Main Duties:

  1.  Coordinate information flow between Country Programme Managers, the regional lead and the UK: providing timely information to the regional lead and others to inform programme development, disseminating updates to the region, and collecting and disseminating evidence of impacts.
  2.  Lead on regional communication and support programme teams to develop and implement country communication plans to engage external stakeholders.  Support and engage the ‘alumni network’.   
  3.  Work with Country Programme teams to support strategy development and coordinate the preparation of new regional funding opportunities, and supporting ongoing regional and bilateral activities
  4.  Coordinate regional team meetings for Country Programme Managers, setting agendas and tracking delivery.  Ensure best practice is shared across the team and organising regional training conference in Singapore.
  5.  Manage the programme management budget, monitoring spends and managing bids for additional activities. Contribute to monitoring and evaluation of the programme in the region

The job holder will be responsible for managing the programme budget for Singapore, largely travel, subsistence and events. They will also play an important role in helping Programme Teams in other countries in the region manage their programme budgets.

  • Project and programme co-ordination / management experience including successful stakeholder management
  • Excellent written and spoken English enabling effective communications and co-ordination of activities with UK and regional partners
  • Strong interpersonal skills, personal organisation and communications, initiative and resourcefulness and the ability to work both autonomously and as an integral member of a team
  • A degree level qualification and three years of relevant work experience
  • A proven interest in science or development
  • Experience of financial and budget management
  • Analytical, and strategy development skills
  • Experience in a communications role
  • Good IT skills and proficiency in using standard office software applications
10 July 2018
Executive Officer (EO)
Fixed Term, Full-time
37.5
12 months
Asia Pacific
Singapore
Singapore
British High Commission
1
SGD
4,273
27 August 2018

A one year fixed term contract will be offered in the first instance, with the possibility of renewal in subsequent years based on performance and continuation of programme funding.

Work will involve occasional travel around the Southeast Asia region (Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam).

Normal working hours are 37.5 per week: 8.30am to 5.00pm from Monday to Friday.

BHC Singapore supports and promotes flexible working as part of our inclusive offering. This particular role allows for flexibility in start and end times (eg to accommodate for calls with the UK between 4.00pm to 6.00pm), and a possibility to work remotely on one or a couple of days in a week, subject to agreement with management.

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. This is a locally engaged position subject to local laws and terms. Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment checks.

Should the successful candidate require a permit to work in Singapore, the British High Commission will apply and sponsor the appropriate pass on their behalf.

All applications must be received before 11:55PM (Singapore Time) on 10 July 2018.

Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. We regret to advise that we will only be contacting short-listed candidates. Applicants called for an interview will be assessed on the core competencies listed above.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted regarding the next phase of the selection process. To those applicants not short-listed, we extend our appreciation for considering the British Government as a potential employer.

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.