View Vacancy - Regional Inclusion Partner (81/19 PTA)
Main purpose of job:
This exciting new role has been created to improve team dynamics and working relationships across UK Missions in the region. The purpose of the role is to deliver interventions to raise performance, improve engagement, resolve conflict and make our working environments as inclusive as possible. The role holder will design, develop and implement tools, solutions and communications to improve leadership at all levels and tackle and reduce experiences of bullying, harassment and discrimination in Missions across their region. The successful candidate will engage with, encourage and influence leaders and stakeholders to improve our people’s experience of working life. The role holder will travel extensively and partner with a wide range of stakeholders across their region and in the UK, offering advice and practical support on cultural issues and ways to maximise engagement and inclusivity.
Roles and responsibilities:
Analysis (20%):
- Apply a pragmatic and proactive approach to identifying cultural norms, nuances and cultural gaps with respect to inclusion, both within the region and at individual Posts, and with reference to FCO goals. Identify options for addressing gaps, and a timeline for delivery.
Design and Development (20%):
- Based on diagnostic findings, provide consultative advice to stakeholders regarding possible solutions, working collaboratively with other teams, and design appropriate interventions / developments including the means by which impact will be measured.
- Develop and co-own Organisation Development and other interventions, along with Post Heads/ leaders and other stakeholders, to support culture change.
Implementation (40%):
- Stakeholder Management and Coaching: working as a strategic partner, coach, develop and advise leaders and managers on inclusive leadership; strengthen the capability of managers and leaders throughout the region to deal with barriers to inclusion; drive a culture of continuous improvement focused on personal performance, relationship management, engagement and wellbeing.
- Employment Relations: deliver expert, pragmatic advice to managers in posts, and work with HR teams to ensure consistency in decision making in accordance with FCO practice; in partnership with HR teams, anticipate and advise on potential employee relations issues and deliver business appropriate employee relations strategies for individual posts; advise, investigate and support Posts with complex and/or escalated employee relations cases working in partnership with HR Hub.
- Support a culture shift towards individual responsibility and informal resolution of issues, e.g. through promoting and/or delivering mediation
Evaluation (20%):
- Undertake systematic and regular review of impact against KPIs, e.g. a measurable reduction in bullying, harassment and discrimination. Apply results of evaluation to revised delivery options.
- Proven track record in employee relations casework, organisational development and leadership development.
- Experience of managing a diverse and dispersed group of stakeholders.
- Strong cultural awareness and conflict resolution skills.
- Degree educated in HR, L&D, OD or related field.
- HR Professional Accreditation (CIPD or equivalent)
Working patterns:
This role is a Local Staff role, working from the Pretoria HR Hub. The role will be line managed by the HR Hub Head and have a strong relationship with the Head of the Management Advice Service. The role will also work closely with the London-based HR Business Partner team. Extensive regional travel will be required to spend quality time in posts in the regional network. All applicants will need to be fully mobile.
Any other information:
This newly created role is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference to one of the FCO’s top priorities; to tackle bullying, harassment and discrimination.
The successful candidate must be able to work at pace and be highly proactive to maximise impact. Establishing a knowledge of best practice from within the FCO and externally will be important from the outset to provide advice to senior colleagues and effect organisational change. Some of these conversations may be challenging as you tackle misconceptions around management and communication and encourage leaders to look at working culture and their own behaviours.
On casework, the successful job holder will be someone who can understand the context on the ground and, through careful and considered analysis, read the situation and advise what needs to be done. They must have advanced communication skills, to be able to talk to people (from lowest to highest grade) and come up with suitable solutions.
The role needs highly developed interpersonal skills to be able to establish trust and confidence with others, including senior members of staff, and leverage relationships, in order to tackle problems before they escalate. The scope of action required will include providing solutions to implement for specific complex case work (e.g. investigation, mediation, organisational design, etc.) ensuring there is consistency of action.
As well as a proactive nature, this role will require someone with sound judgement as autonomy and impact will be high.
Applicants must have the legal right to work and reside in Pretoria for the duration of the contract without sponsorship of a work permit/visa. The contract of employment will be issued by the British High Commission Pretoria on the Terms and Conditions of Service of the Post.
Other Benefits:
- The British High Commission pays in full for the Key Care Plus option on Discovery Health for staff including spouses/partners and dependants.
- Once you have successfully completed your probation the British High Commission will contribute 9 % of your monthly salary to a Provident Fund.
- Annual leave entitlement of 25 days
- Working hours per week of 40
Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Pretoria are subject to the Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in South Africa.
All applicants must be legally able to work in the country of application with the correct visa/status or work permit.
Employees who are not eligible to pay local income tax: e.g. certain third-country nationals and spouses/partners of UK diplomats will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
Reference and security clearances checks will be conducted.
If you don’t already hold a valid SA Police Clearance Certificate, we recommend that you apply for the certificate at the time of your application.
Any questions you may have about this position will be answered during the interview, should you be invited.
Information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Competency Framework can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework
Complete the application form in full as the information provided will be used for screening purposes.
Check your application before you submit, as you will not be able to make any changes once submitted.
The British High Commission will never ask you to pay a fee or money to apply for a position.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
