View Vacancy - SRR - CSSF Yemen Conflict Adviser (SEO)

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 (Programme Roles)
CSSF (Conflict, Stability and Security Fund)

The British Embassy Riyadh has a vacancy for a Conflict Advisor for Yemen’s Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) on a fixed term contract for two (2) years.

About CSSF

The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) is a unique cross-government Fund tackling some of the most complex challenges to national security and international peace and stability faced by the UK and our partners around the world. These threats range from terrorism and serious organised crime, to newer evolving challenges such as cyber and the destabilising potential of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the last six years, the CSSF has transformed the way the UK responds to national security threats, including from conflict and fragility overseas. In the last financial year (FY), CSSF funding has, for example: supported peacekeeping missions in Somalia and Mali; helped the extradition from Libya and subsequent conviction of a perpetrator of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing; enabled the National Security Communications Team’s modern slavery campaign to deter human trafficking, contributing to the rescue of over 400 potential victims and saving the UK c£134m; and supported the Colombian government to address illegal deforestation and promote sustainable forest livelihoods.  More information is in the CSSF Annual Report 2020-2021.

This year, with a budget of £875m, the CSSF is operating in 106 countries. The CSSF Yemen Programme budget is £25m over the next three years and is a fully cross-government portfolio. The Fund works towards both National Security Council objectives such as Protecting our People and Projecting our Global Influence, and UK Sustainable Development Goals, including promoting just, peaceful, and inclusive societies; and achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.

About the role

This an exciting and challenging role that offers the opportunity to shape His Majesty’s Government’s (HMG) efforts to deliver security and stability in Yemen. The role is funded by the CSSF Yemen Programme, with responsibility for ensuring a conflict sensitive approach across the programme as a whole. The role will include provision of advice, analysis, and reporting on conflict and stabilisation and conflict resolution issues. The jobholder shall also support the Head of CSSF Yemen Programme to ensure clear linkages between the CSSF Yemen Programme and wider UK political strategy and programming in Yemen, and will play a key role in the designing of new CSSF funded projects.

The jobholder will report to the Yemen Political Team, with the Head of the CSSF Yemen being their second reporting officer. The role is primarily focussed on supporting the Yemen CSSF programme (at least 80% of their time). However, the jobholder will also support the UKBS Conflict Advisor in developing and delivering the UK approach to conflict sensitivity across the Embassy’s portfolio as a whole.

Although this role is primarily a technical advisory role, the jobholder will also have some programme management responsibility (roughly 25% of the role) and will be the lead for coordinating the commissioning and distribution of analysis produced by CSSF funded project partners. They will also support the Political Team in influencing and informing a wide range of international and national stakeholders. The work is fascinating with real opportunities to make a difference and be involved in fast-moving events.

The CSSF Team is part of the Yemen Office Network (YON) which also has a presence in Amman, London, and East Kilbride. At present, there is only very limited travel to Yemen, but this may change. Any travel to Yemen will be subject to strict HMG guidance and will be considered in close cooperation with the jobholder. 

 

Duties and responsibilities:

  • Develop and deliver an approach to conflict sensitivity across the CSSF Yemen Programme, in collaboration with the UKBS Conflict Advisor, and provide expert advice and inputs into CSSF Yemen funded projects.
  • Support the CSSF Head of Programme in the overall design and development of the £11m (for FY22/23) Yemen CSSF Programme to deliver an innovative and complex portfolio of CSSF projects in Yemen.
  • Work with the Political Team, advisors, and HMG’s Research Analysts to coordinate the commissioning and distribution of research and analysis produced across the CSSF Yemen portfolio, ensuring research informs wider UK political strategy and engagement in Yemen.
  • Lead on provision of technical Yemen stabilisation orientated engagement with key regional stakeholders, including providing training as required.
  • Manage CSSF programmes and contracts following the CSSF Operating Framework. This include: project lifetime support from project design and procurement to project closure; active partner and implementer management, including quality control of activity reporting; and support in troubleshooting programme issues, escalating delivery risks as appropriate.
  • Ensure the programme is compliant with the International Development Gender Equality Act (2014) by demonstrating consideration for gender equality throughout CSSF projects, and supporting CSSF ambitions to achieve the UK’s Women, Peace and Security objectives.

The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any other response to a crisis affecting UK citizens.

The jobholder will also be encouraged to undertake developmental training and get involved in YON’s corporate activities. This role provides an excellent opportunity to build programme management knowledge and technical advisory expertise, gaining exposure to working across the UK Government.  The jobholder will have access to existing Programme Management support, as well as wider advisory and relevant learning and development (L&D), including mentoring and coaching, and support for your own personal development. The jobholder will also be expected to participate in programme annual reviews to assess the performance of other CSSF programmes across the region.

The Yemen CSSF team has its own L&D budget, and the Joint Funds Unit and Office of Conflict, Stabilisation and Mediation (OCSM) have a range of courses to support the technical aspects of programme management as well as the principles of the UK approach to stabilisation and conflict. The jobholder will be expected to take some of these courses. 

 

Key behaviours required:

  • Seeing the Big Picture - Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider priorities and ensure work is in the national interest.
  • Communicating and Influencing - Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others.
  • Working Together - Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.

Key technical skills required:

  • Applied Conflict and Political Analysis and Strategy Development
  • Conflict Sensitivity
  • Conflict Response: Addressing Conflict, Building Peace, Stability and Security

 

Eligibility:

The position is available to Saudi Nationals and to current holders of valid Saudi residence permits or transferable iqama. The successful candidate will be required to transfer their sponsorship to the British Embassy.

  • Experience of working on conflict, peacebuilding, or stabilisation activities in fragile or conflict-affected states.
  • Knowledge of conflict sensitivity principles and processes, with experience of developing practical measures to deliver conflict sensitivity in practice.
  • Relevant experience of working in or on Yemen; or equivalent relevant academic expertise, ideally at a master’s degree level or higher.
  • Strong grasp of programme management including knowledge of the challenges of programming in highly political and conflict-affected environments.
  • Native speaker or mother tongue level of communication skills in English and Arabic. Confidence to express ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication.
  • Strong analysis skills, ideally with experience of delivering, leading, and coordinating conflict analysis and actionable recommendations.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and a team player with willingness to work across boundaries. Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with contacts and colleagues and build effective working relationships.
  • Flexible, resilient, decisive, and calm under pressure. Proven track record of delivering results to a high standard to tight deadlines.
  • Excellent organisational ability. Proven ability to manage, plan, and prioritise tasks and workload.  Proactive approach to problem solving.
  • Strong IT skills and literacy in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).  
  • Experience of mediation and conflict resolution mechanisms.
  • Regional (GCC or MENA) experience.
  • Experience of working with HMG or international organisations such as the UN.
  • Monitoring and evaluation experience.
Seeing the Big Picture, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
24 March 2023
Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Fixed Term, Full-time
35
24 months
Middle East & North Africa
Saudi Arabia
Riyadh
British Embassy
1
SAR
29,113
21 May 2023

Working hours and remuneration:

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role.

Monthly salary details:

  • Base Salary including Eid bonus - SAR 22,971
  • Housing Allowance - SAR 5,743 (subject to eligibility)*
  • Travel Allowance - SAR 400 (subject to eligibility)*
  • Total - SAR 29,113 

*Allowances are not payable to staff who receive official provision for such expenditure in some other form.

No accommodation nor relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

This position is full-time, based on 35 hours per week. Normal working hours for the Embassy are from 08:00 to 15:00 from Sunday to Thursday, with core working hours from 10:00-15:00. Core working hours is the period of the day that employees are required to be at work. The working day outside of the core hours is a flexible period, which allows employees to choose when they work, subject to operational needs.

The jobholder will be required to be flexible in their approach to hours worked as these will be dictated by operational needs and may involve working out of hours (evening/ weekend) during visits and events.

The successful candidate will be subject to a 90-day probationary period.

 

How We Work

How we approach our work is important. The How We Work Statement below sets out the ambition the YON and the CSSF share with the FCDO and other government departments within the National Security community, for how we lead and behave towards each other, how we make decisions, and how we get the job done.

  • We put respect and kindness first. We are inclusive, we get to know each other, and value our diversity and the contribution we each bring. We are fair, act with integrity, and tackle inequality and unacceptable behaviour. We work together and take responsibility to solve problems.
  • We draw on the expertise, insight and diverse perspectives of people across the FCDO, HMG, and beyond. We use the best available data and evidence. We are open to challenge and take a sustainable, long-term approach. We are transparent about the rationale for decisions and smart about taking and managing risks.
  • We are agile and alert to emerging opportunities. We encourage learning, innovation, and use of data and digital. We are all clear on what we are expected to deliver and support each other in doing so. We look to reduce duplication and unnecessary process. We are committed to transforming both the individual departments and the way HMG delivers international policy.

How to apply:

Interested candidates must include to their online application form 1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV); 2) a covering letter/ motivation essay stating how you meet the requirements of the role; and 3) specific examples, in the relevant sections of the online application form, of how you meet the key behaviours and skills required.

Applications that do not include this information will not be considered.

The closing date for applications is at 23:55 KSA local time on 24 March 2023.

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.

Due to the large number of applications we receive, only those shortlisted for the next step in the recruitment process will be contacted. Candidates selected for interview will be required to do a short presentation and a written exercise.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful at interview may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of six (6) months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

The start date mentioned in the advert is an assumed start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security-vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances, medical clearance and reference checks. 

 

The British Embassy Riyadh is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Saudi Arabia employment law.

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.