View Vacancy - Policy Portfolio Adviser, Southern Africa

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

Main purpose of job:

On 25 November 2015,the Chancellor announced a new cross-Whitehall Prosperity Fund with the primary aim of supporting growth in recipient countries. This came into effect on 1 April 2016.  South Africa has been identified as a priority country for the Fund, and the Chancellor announced up to £35m of such programmes for South Africa during his visit in December 2016. That figure may well increase. In contrast to other large countries, South Africa has taken a conscious decision to espouse the concept of developing a country programme from Global Thematic Programmes rather than develop its own country programme in isolation and in competition to these programmes. This makes the role of the Programmes Team, which overseas PF activity in the Region unique and requiring different, more strategic influencing skills. We also expect this team to oversee the new Empowerment Fund within which South Africa is a priority country, and its lean Office leads a hub of regional Global Britain Fund programme management from Pretoria.

As the scope and pace of these ambitious FCO and cross-Whitehall programmes increases, the British High Commission in Pretoria is therefore preparing itself for this challenge, and is seeking Locally-Engaged C4(L) Policy-Portfolio Advisers to provide local policy leadership to a portfolio of central programmes they will be appointed to oversee. The roles will lead on the successful local implementation of Global Thematic Programmes, ensuring primary and secondary benefits stand the best chance of being delivered by working with Government to ensure buy-in, engaging with UK business through DIT offices, shaping the interventions to be delivered by the Programme, and integrating the programmes in their portfolio, and those outside it (including across Whitehall) into a coherent whole.

 

Roles and responsibilities 

Leading on all Southern African interests in the design, coordination and delivery of the Global Thematic Prosperity Fund Programmes in the post-holder’s portfolio (the post-holder will be assigned two to four). This will include ensuring coherence across the region, between Programmes to ensure best integration, and working closely with business, host Governments, and colleagues across Whitehall. Specifically:

  • 30% Deploying excellent strategic programme development and delivery skills, including leading on all local aspects of risk management, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and where not handled centrally, financial management, and procurement for Prosperity Fund programmes in their portfolio. This will eventually result in the post-holder reporting on all aspects of their portfolio to a Regional Portfolio Board now being established, and following directions from that Board as the key source of governance. 
  • 30% Developing   specific subject knowledge to lead on all aspects of local direction and delivery of programmes in their portfolio for Southern Africa. This will eventually result in the post-holder becoming the High Commission policy lead where the area is not a core Chancery function already, and there will be a   need to deliver a quality service in a matrix management environment beyond the direct Prosperity Fund sphere.

  • 25% Overseeing relationships with Prosperity Fund implementing partners locally. This will include pre-empting any risks and ensuring that projects are delivering their stated intentions, intervening with London-based Global Thematic Programme Leads where necessary, and robustly representing UK whole of Government interests with those partners. 

  • 15% Liaison with other UK government departments to ensure that the Prosperity Fund programmes in their portfolio achieve the maximum impact for all parts of government.   This will include working with Department for International Trade to identify potential commercial opportunities arising as part of the programme, and with DfID to identify synergies with their emerging prosperity agenda.

There will be some possibilities for travel as part of the role in the Region and to London. Relevant job related training will be given as required.

 

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

Budget tbc depending on progress of centrally developed business cases but expected to be up to £35m managed from London but overseen locally. Some possible staff management opportunities in time.

 

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

The job provides an excellent opportunity to acquire and/or deepen skills in policy formulation and programme management, as well as exposing the post-holder to a broad array of Whitehall Departments on an agenda of   increasing importance as we move towards Brexit. 

You will have access to existing and new PPM L&D available through the Prosperity Fund Management Office as well as wider job-relevant L&D and support for your own personal development. Pretoria hosts a Regional Learning and Development Centre.

 

 

Experience of managing large programmes.

Experience of working with UK Government

Experience managing budgets, including on the HMG Prism system

Knowledge of some of the sectors in which there are likely to be Global Thematic Programmes for South Africa, and the key obstacles to growth:

Trade, Business Environment, Transparency, Education and Skills, ICT, Concessional Export Credits, Future Cities, Health, Low Carbon Energy

25 May 2017
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Fixed Term
36.5
12 months
Africa
South Africa
Pretoria
British High Commission
1
ZAR
R38 398.77 paid 13 times per year, plus medical aid, provident fund and performance related pay
1 July 2017

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 36.5

 

This position will be based in Pretoria.

  • 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 and attachments 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.
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This opportunity is closed to applications.