View Vacancy - Private Sector Development Officer (08/22 HRE)

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:

The British Embassy in Harare is looking for a dynamic and capable Private Sector Development (PSD) officer to support delivery of critical workstreams within the Green Growth Team. This team leads the Embassy’s policy and programme work across a range of thematic areas including resilience, renewable energy, private sector, trade, investment, humanitarian and climate.

The PSD officer will lead work to unlock investment into key sectors that support sustainable growth in Zimbabwe including renewable energy, agriculture (especially horticulture), financial services and technology. They will harness deep external networks and strong understanding of the business environment to develop new approaches and partnerships that help Zimbabwe capture its potential for private sector-led growth and create opportunities for UK trade and investment.

The adviser will work closely across the embassy with specialists in economics, trade/investment, climate, governance/politics and programme management.

Roles and responsibilities: 

  • Work with colleagues and external stakeholders to help deliver high-impact private sector development policy and programme interventions. For example: working creatively to de-risk opportunities for impact investors and commercial players to drive green growth; working with financial service providers, regulators, incubators and fintech companies to identify ways to harness innovation and new technologies that can drive financial sector development; ensuring access to top quality technical assistance or facilitating policy dialogue particularly to enhance the business environment and unlock investment in priority sectors, such as renewable energy or horticulture.
  • Forge positive relationships with Zimbabwean business leaders, trade associations, financial services providers and other key partners and harness these to shape the Embassy’s work and to strengthen economic ties with the UK.
  • Provide in-depth sector briefings; collate and analyse data and help Embassy colleagues understand economic, financial and business developments in Zimbabwe and form views and provide advice to shape UK support.
  • Stay abreast of cross-UK government developments and opportunities (such as from FCDO headquarters, or other government departments like the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) and ensure that the Embassy can draw the UK’s global network, programmes and expertise to deliver impact in Zimbabwe.
  • Provide PSD advisory input across the programme portfolio, for example bringing markets expertise to livelihoods, resilience and climate programming, and working closely with the Country Director for Trade and Investment to improve barriers to doing business in Zimbabwe, including for UK businesses. The postholder will ensure strong linkages between our work to increase UK trade and investment, and our efforts to deliver development impact on the ground through inclusive green growth.

The above list is not exhaustive, and you will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required. The job description may be reviewed to meet changes in business needs.

  • Proven experience working with Zimbabwean companies, especially in our priority sectors (renewable energy, commercial agriculture/horticulture, financial services).
  • Expert knowledge and understanding of the Zimbabwean economy, with a deep knowledge in one or more key sectors and a willingness to develop expertise in others.
  • Ability to build rapport, maintain a range of contacts, and build and develop a network of key stakeholders across government and the private sector, in order to monitor sector developments, identify opportunities and deliver UK objectives.
  • Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, preferably a Master’s, in economics, business, finance or similar relevant field
  • Ability to plan strategically, assimilate information from a range of sources, and to see the bigger picture to spot opportunities.
  • A self-starter that takes initiative and has the ability to drive delivery of outcomes and overcome obstacles, especially when working with Government partners.
  • The ability to communicate with others in a clear, honest and enthusiastic way and explain complex issues in a way that is easy to understand.
  • At least 5 years’ relevant professional experience working in economics, finance or related business field in Zimbabwe.
Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions, Working Together
14 November 2022
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Fixed Term
36 months
Africa
Zimbabwe
Harare
British Embassy
USD
USD 4,101.00
16 January 2023

Learning and development opportunities: 

The British Embassy is committed to supporting all staff with their career development plans and the postholder will have opportunity to access significant on the job learning as well as discussing opportunities for other learning and development with their line manager.

  • Employees recruited locally by the British Embassy in Harare are subject to the Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Zimbabwe.

  • All applicants must be legally able to work in the country of application with the correct visa/status or 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.    

  • Reference and security clearances checks will be conducted.

  • Any questions you may have about this position will be answered during the interview, should you be invited.

  • 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

  • Successful candidates not resident in Zimbabwe will be personally liable for costs and arrangements to relocate, including accommodation and work permits.

  • Complete the application form in full as the information provided will be used for screening purposes.

  • Check your application and attachments before you submit your application, as you will not be able to make any changes once submitted.

  • The British Embassy will never ask you to pay a fee or money to apply for a position.

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.