View Vacancy - Cyber Programme and Policy Officer (12/21 PTA)

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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
CSSF (Conflict, Stability and Security Fund)

Main Purpose of Job:

The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) is a unique cross-government fund created in 2015 to prevent conflicts and tackle threats to UK interests that arise from instability overseas.’ Over the last five years, the CSSF has transformed the way the UK responds to conflict and fragility overseas. A catalyst for a more integrated UK government response to instability and conflict, the Fund drives cross-government working. It incentivises government departments and agencies to respond to National Security Council priorities in a collaborative way.

The Cyber Programme and Policy Officer will lead on the design, development and delivery of cyber related programmes for South Africa under the CSSF Cyber Portfolio. This will include Trust & Resilience Pillar (2) of the Digital Access Programme. DAP is an FCDO-managed programme, part of the cross-government Digital Access Programme which was launched under the Prosperity Fund in 2018. It operates in Brazil, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa & Indonesia.

Programme Primary outcome: South Africa to have increased resilience to cybersecurity threats and reduced impact of cyber harms on their populations.

Secondary outcome: strengthened cybersecurity capacity ecosystem in these countries drives inclusive economic growth, opens trade and investment opportunities for UK cyber companies, and enhances UK bilateral cybersecurity relationship with South Africa. Programme activity is delivered through a single contract with an implementing Consortium of partners. Pillar 2 is currently in in inception phase (selecting and designing projects). Full implementation is due to start in May.

There are other issue specific projects under the CSSF Cyber Portfolio that the officer will be responsible for managing under the guidance of the Cyber Lead and Project Management Office.

Working within the South Africa Political team, reporting to the Southern Africa Cyber lead and liaising with the London-based Programme Management teams you will also contribute to effective coordination between the work of the Digital Access Programme in South Africa and internationally to maximise synergies and impact. The job holder will be required manage risks, monitoring implementation and reporting on programme progress against set intervention targets. The job holder will also be required to understand the Cyber policy landscape in South Africa, supporting the Southern Africa Cyber lead, in monitoring and reporting on developments in country.

 The role will entail the following functions:

  • In support of and under the oversight of the Cyber Lead, manage the implementation of the programmes, ensuring interventions are evidence-based and well placed to contribute significantly to the programme’s overall objectives in terms of primary purpose (poverty reduction and inclusive economic growth) and secondary benefits (opportunities for business partnerships with the UK). This will include supporting the design, delivery and monitoring of programme activities through coordinating with the global programme contractors and/or directly with the local implementing partners
  • Assist with setting up programme performance tracking systems to ascertain programme performance against plan and resource expenditure, identify deviations from plans and develop corrective actions
  • Assist with project information management and communications. Develop communications material to keep internal and external stakeholders informed of programme progress
  • Compile and maintain thorough project records and lead on the accounting and reporting processes, under the oversight of the Cyber Lead and Programme Management Office in Pretoria
  • Maintain effective coordination with the relevant teams within the British High Commission in Pretoria (and across the network in South Africa), with the cross-government programme teams in London, and with the international cyber network, under the guidance of the Cyber Lead
  • Maintain and update relevant stakeholders’ mapping in South Africa and the UK in order to inform programme work and support the Cyber Lead with stakeholder engagement and follow-ups. This will include liaising with government, the private sector, civil society and academia/thought-leaders
  • Proactively monitor and identify digital/ICT/cyber policy development, risks and opportunities for the UK
  • Ad hoc work and support in the Political Team

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

The Cyber Programme and Policy Officer will be responsible for supporting the setup of the Trust and Resilience Pillar of DAP programme in South Africa – working with the implementing partners, Southern Africa Cyber Lead and Programme Management Committee in the UK. The post-holder will provide oversight of all CSSF project activities and contributing to stakeholder engagement in the public and private sectors to promote digital access and cyber security. The role presents unique opportunities to advance the UK- South Africa relationship on digital access and cyber security for economic growth at a time when these issues are of increasing importance on the international agenda.

Programme coordination and management

Support the delivery of Digital Access Programme implementation activities in South Africa as delivered in-house as well as by lead contractors and other implementing partners, in coordination with Southern Africa Cyber Lead and with the central Programme Management Committee, ensuring coherence with bilateral and wider DAP portfolio. This will require an ability to apply project coordination, monitoring, risk management and stakeholder engagement skills.

The jobholder will maintain and build new relationships with the programme’s global contractors, and their local implementing partners and local supply chain to ensure delivery is monitored in coordination with the central Programme Management Committee. This will include pre-empting risks and ensuring that project activities deliver the expected outcomes.

The jobholder lead on the internal and external communication on the programme in South Africa, helping to ensure the Programme’s visibility is properly managed and that the UK government gains recognition for its work. The post holder will support implementation of the Programme’s communications strategy as approved by the Programme’s governance structure. The post-holder will also support the organisation and delivery of key visits from the UK, related to the implementation and promotion of the Digital Access programme.

The post-holder will be expected to regularly join key meetings and record outcomes, remotely where required, and provided regular updates on the progress of the CSSF Cyber Portfolio in South Africa

Policy

The job holder will support the Southern Africa Cyber lead in monitoring policy developments for Cyber, digital and data themes, developing relationships with key stakeholders in the public and private sector to provide an accurate understanding of the landscape. The job holder will support visits/delegations from UK government officials and technology sector partners when necessary and be involved in arranging logistics for formal bilateral dialogues.

Corporate

As all other staff at post, the job holder is expected to participate in wider British High Commission activities. These may include being active on various committees and in other corporate roles, as well as play a role in crisis management activities on an ad hoc basis.

The jobholder will need robust project management and coordination experience as well as the skills to work in a team and facilitate a results-oriented working culture. It is important that the post holder has good knowledge of the local context, including experience of working with the Government of South Africa, civil society, business and other stakeholders, in relevant digital access and/or cyber security sectors

  • Postgraduate qualification in at least one of the following field: Cyber security, ICT Policy and Regulation, public policy management, development studies or related field 
  • Public Policy Management experience in at least one of the following areas: Digital Access (innovative models for inclusive connectivity, use of digital technologies for development); Telecommunications; Digital/ICT; Cyber Security
  • Experience of managing large and/or complex programmes with good eye for detail and execution mobilisation abilities
  • Developing and applying tools to support effective project management as well as delivery control of implementing partners
  • Experience of developing and executing implementation plans, including linking programme theory of change statements to logical frameworks for projects
  • Experience of applying project coordination, monitoring, risk management and stakeholder engagement skills
  • Knowledge and understanding of Information Society and ICTs for Development Agenda
  • Experience of working in an international development context, including managing/working with development programmes, including in South Africa
  • Experience of working in or with government in South Africa
  • Experience of working in the private sector or organised civil society in relevant fields (e.g. use of digital for affordable connectivity, use of digital for development)
  • Experience at policy, regulatory as well as field level will be considered relevant
  • Experience of remote working as part of a larger team
10 May 2021
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Permanent
Africa
South Africa
Pretoria
British High Commission
R 46,900.66
1 June 2021

Learning and development opportunities:

The job provides an excellent opportunity to acquire and/or deepen skills in programme management/coordination, in technical advice, and in policy influencing, including through exposure to senior levels of host government and within the relevant private sector and civil society.

You will have access to learning and development opportunities through Diplomatic Academy, as well as in the role, including in advancing your capabilities or gaining qualifications in project management.

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;
  • Obtain the relevant permit
  • Pay fees for the permit
  • Make arrangements to relocate
  • 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 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:  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.