View Vacancy - Higher Project Support Officer (04/21 LUS)

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)
Political

Main Purpose of Job

The post-holder will lead aspects of project management under the direction of the Senior Public Health Advisor to ensure the coordination and delivery of identified outputs. The post holder will play a crucial role in supporting the various projects within the workplan agreed with the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) and other partners, ensuring activities are delivered to time, within scope and resource allocation.

The post-holder will also support a number of PHE technical teams including (but not limited to) the National Infection Service (NIS), the Emergency Response Department and in country Technical Advisors. The post holder will also line manage a IHR Project Administrator post.

This post offers an excellent opportunity to gain exposure and experience of working in a fast paced and innovative environment and is an ideal chance for someone looking to begin a career in project and programme management. The ideal candidate must have a flexible approach to meet the needs of the service, be able to work to tight deadlines, be a good multitasker and be able to handle a number of competing priorities at any one time.

This post will be based in Lusaka with possible travel to other areas of Zambia as relevant.

Main Duties and Responsibilities 

  • To provide operational and project management oversight to the Zambia IHR Strengthening Project team
  • Proactively capture changes in operational ways of working and incorporating these into the project’s SOPs.
  • Track country-level programme activity and coordinating the Zambia project management team to ensure activities and deliverables are achieved on time and within budget.
  • In liaison with the Country Lead, lead on maintaining financial oversight of delegated project budget, forecasting and financial communications with the UK-based team
  • In collaboration with the UK-based team, lead the project monitoring and evaluation processes in country
  • Trouble shoot for Country Leads for technical and operational issues
  • Lead on identifying and managing local risks that could impact project delivery
  • Act as primary focal point for PHEs engagement with local logistical suppliers and lead on ensuring relationships and ways of working are reviewed at regular intervals
  • Effectively communicate issues arising with the IHR Strengthening Project Manager(s)
  • Coordinate the planning and organising of high-level meetings and workshops
  • Lead the induction of new staff
  • Write briefings and reports as required
  • Contribute to the authorship of peer-reviewed publications
  • Deputise for the Country Lead in meetings where required
  • Line manage project support staff as required

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the directorate.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  • Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan.  Attending internal / external training events
  • To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.

Resources Managed

Line management of 1 staff member, oversight of country-level project budget.

  • Degree qualification or equivalent experience
  • Experience or training in project management.
  • Experience of financial management and reporting
  • Understanding of and demonstrable experience of apply monitoring and evaluation techniques to project management
  • Demonstrable experience of good stakeholder management
  • Knowledge of project management, information analysis and Agile ways of working
  • Experience drafting briefing papers, reports and presentations to a high level
  • Experience of interpreting and implementing corporate policy e.g. HR policies and procedures.
  • An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills on complex matters, often requiring persuasion and influence.
  • Ability to analyse and interpret information and recommend appropriate actions.
  • Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload without supervision working to tight and often changing timescales.
  • Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change.
  • Previous experience in similar role in project/ programme management in public sector or with bilateral/multilateral organisations.
  • Understanding of global health including the health challenges of low- and middle-income countries and the international health architecture.
  • Understanding of PHE 
13 August 2021
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Fixed Term, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
6 months
Africa
Zambia
Lusaka
British High Commission
ZMW 26,674.22
1 October 2021

Working Hours:

Office hours at the BHC are from 0800 to 1630 Monday to Thursday and 0800 to 1300 on Friday, with a one-hour break for lunch. Weekly conditioned hours and 37.5 for all staff.

Annual Leave

On joining the BHC, except in compassionate circumstances, staff are only entitled to take leave once they have worked continuously for six months. The six months period is inclusive of the probationary period.
Staff are entitled to 27 days paid leave per annum.

Public Holidays

In addition to normal paid leave, the BHC observes a number of Zambian and British public holidays, all of which staff are entitled to take as days off without using their paid leave entitlements. A list of public holidays is issued each year.

  • Due to COVID 19, you may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign.  We are working hard to minimize any disruption.
  • 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 Lusaka are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Zambia.
  • It is essential that the applicants already have the right to live and work in Zambia without the need to apply for a work permit
  • Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax 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: Job grade 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.