View Vacancy - Prosperity Policy Officer

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)
Economic and Prosperity

Main purpose of job:

This is a vital role in the Embassy’s Prosperity Team, focussed in improving the education environment in Panama by working together with key stakeholders in Panama and the UK education sector. The objective is to identify and tackle key challenges in Panama’s education sector (including English language training, STEM education and vocational training), and strengthening the country’s education links with the UK education sector.  The jobholder will also provide support to cover the policy on financial services in Panama.

The jobholder will build up areas of expertise in policy areas, acquiring and using a network of contacts to spot key opportunities for the UK to work closely with Panama’s public and private sector to help improve Panama’s education sector.

The role also includes responsibility for bidding for and administering the Embassy’s GREAT fund; the UK’s international marketing campaign promoting both the commercial and soft-power of the UK.  This will require an ability to think creatively and generate new ideas to help promote the UK in Panama, as well as construct and develop a business case.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

Policy Development – 50%:

To develop and lead policy engagement on education and to provide support on financial services, identifying areas for change and working to deliver that change.  To build up a network of contacts to support this work and help advance the UK’s Prosperity Agenda in these sectors. There will also be other policy areas that arise in response to London’s priorities, which will require the ability to get up to speed on new issues quickly.

Project Support – 30%:

While much of the embassy’ work is through direct policy engagement, we also use projects to improve engagement and help deliver our objectives.  As the jobholder develops their areas of expertise, they will also be asked to take forward projects with external implementers in these areas.  The role’s management of the GREAT fund will also mean leading on bidding for funding from London to deliver activity, as well as delivering and evaluating these events.

Wider policy support  – 20%:

Alongside these key responsibilities, the jobholder will also support the team in other policy areas, as new opportunities for UK action arise.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

Lead on relevant projects (resource dependent on the year). There will be no staff-management responsibilities.

  • University degree (i.e. international relations, law, education, economics)
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office programmes, particularly Outlook and Word
  • Excellent levels of English and Spanish
  • Strong communications skills, both written and oral
  • Good networker
  • High level of organisational skills
  • At least 3 years of related professional experience
  • Understanding of policy development
  • Project management experience
  • Experience of working in international organisations and/or commercial activity
  • Knowledge of the Panamanian education sector
  • Economic skills/background
19 October 2021
Administrative Officer (AO)
Full-time, Permanent
37
Latin America and Spanish speaking Caribbean
Panama
Panama City
British Embassy
1
USD
USD $1,536.02
20 December 2021

The successful candidate must be Panamanian, or have a valid and current Work Permit through Ministry of Labour, and be able to provide it when requested by Embassy.

The British Embassy – Panama City does not sponsor work permits.

Office hours in the embassy are 8am-5pm Monday to Thursday and 8am-1pm on Fridays, though there is scope for flexible working arrangements, which can be agreed with the Line Manager.

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.

The British Embassy Network offers a strong benefits package. This package includes generous vacation and leave time, flexible working patterns, and an enriching learning and development opportunities.

The British Embassy is an equal opportunities employer which seeks to promote diversity amongst the workforce by operating, merit based and non-discriminatory policies in recruitment, pay and, benefits to ensure a positive working environment for all staff.

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

The Embassy is committed to learning and development and there is a range of training on offer for the successful application to support their work in the embassy. This will include training courses delivered remotely through the FCDO’s Diplomatic Academy, as well as the potential to travel for training courses delivered regionally.

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.