View Vacancy - Newton Fund Country Manager, Chancery - 23/18 PTA

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

Main purpose of job:

The UK-South African Newton Fund is part of the wider £735m global Newton Fund aimed at increasing UK research and innovation engagement with 17 emerging powers, including South Africa.

The UK-SA Programme comprises a suite of matched funded activities worth up to £80m by 2021, involving a wide range of South African and UK stakeholders both within and outside government. Programme activities focus on research calls, fellowships, Research Chairs, mobility schemes, and other awards around the thematic areas of human capital development, innovation, public health, higher education, urbanisation, climate, and food security, with the aim of encouraging research that increases jobs and economic growth.

The role is funded entirely by UK official development assistance (ODA) and focuses exclusively on work associated with the fund. The incumbent will serve as the ‘face’ of the Newton Fund in South Africa, providing strategic oversight and direction. The position includes line management of one Newton Fund Officer. The position is within the High Commission’s Science and Innovation team.


Roles and responsibilities:

Policy (45%)

  • Advising UK stakeholders of South African thematic priority areas and how research-linked activities can best address these development challenges in South Africa and the wider region.
  • Representing UK Delivery Partner interests in-country, negotiating with South African Science and Technology stakeholders over content and focus of the UK-South Africa Newton programme.
  • Working with SA government stakeholders as the Newton Fund point of contact, ensuring a partnership approach to managing the UK-SA Fund.  Building and maintaining strong relationships with SA government stakeholders. Negotiating the update of MoUs and agreements as appropriate.
  • Identifying strategic opportunities for shaping government science engagement through Newton Fund programme elements, including providing strategic input into visits and events.
  • Liaison with UK Government Departments and agencies and South African stakeholders to ensure the programme achieves its objectives and is aligned with South African strategic priority areas. This will include organisation and attendance of the Delivery Partner Task Force and assistance in the Science & Innovation Joint Commission.

Programme Management and Oversight (35%)

  • Oversight of UK-South Africa Newton Fund including all regional elements, ensuring matched funding and ODA compliance of all programme activities.
  • As Newton is extended and expanded, play a key coordination role in moving towards a multidisciplinary programme of activity encouraging linkages across pillars and between partners.
  • Influencing South African partners to take ownership of programme activity and to promote funding opportunities in-country.
  • Work with the Newton Fund Officer to maintain oversight of the delivery of UK-South Africa Newton programme strands in-country.
  • Ensuring required programme spend is achieved each year through active engagement with programme delivery partners. Managing risks of under/overspend and advising on acceptable levels of equivalent matched contributions.
  • Working with UK Government and other key SA and regional stakeholders to promote regionalisation of programme, including ensuring regional programme activities are contextually appropriate.

Communications (10%)

  • Oversight and responsibility for communication and marketing tools to promote the UK-SA Newton Fund.
  • Working with the UK Newton Fund Central Team, UK Delivery Partners, in-country agencies and the High Commission Comms team to ensure effective and promotion of the programme and visibility of positive outcomes.

Line Management (10%)

  • Line management of one Newton Fund Officer (B3), who will support on all aspects of the Newton Fund, with a focus on communications and programme management.
  • Following FCO and Newton Fund processes for activity and performance management, including setting strategic objectives and encouraging a focus on learning and development.
  • Degree or similar qualification
  • 3 years programme management experience
  • Excellence in Excel, Word  and PowerPoint

  •  Background in science/research
  • Working with civil society/international organisations
26 June 2018
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time
Africa
South Africa
Pretoria
British High Commission
1
ZAR
R38 398.77
1 August 2018
  • 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
  • Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening.
  • Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
  • The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.
  • Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Pretoria are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in South Africa.
  • All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit. 
  • The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to;
  1. Obtain the relevant permit
  2. Pay fees for the permit
  3. Make arrangements to relocate
  4. Meet the costs to relocation 
  • The British High Commission do not sponsor visas/work permits except where it may be local practice to do so. 
  • 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.
  • 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 Please note:  AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
  • Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
  • Please log into your profile on the application system on a regular basis to review the status of your application.
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This opportunity is closed to applications.