View Vacancy - Policy-Portfolio Adviser, Southern Africa, fixed term contract - 4 months

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

Main purpose of job: 

On 25 November 2015, the Chancellor announced a new cross-Whitehall Prosperity Fund with the primary aim of supporting growth in recipient countries. This came into effect on 1 April 2016.  South Africa has been identified as a priority country for the Fund, and the Chancellor announced up to £35m of such programmes for South Africa during his visit in December 2016. That figure may well increase.


In contrast to other large countries, South Africa has taken a conscious decision to espouse the concept of developing a country programme from Global Thematic Programmes rather than develop its own country programme in isolation and in competition to these programmes. This makes the role of the Prosperity & Policy Programmes Team, which overseas PF activity in the Region, unique and requiring different, more strategic influencing skills. We also expect this team to oversee other cross-Whitehall Funds within which South Africa is a priority country and to lead a hub of regional Global Britain Fund programme management from Pretoria.

 

As the scope and pace of these ambitious FCO and cross-Whitehall programmes increase, the British High Commission in Pretoria is therefore preparing itself for this challenge, and is seeking a Locally-Engaged C4(L) Policy-Portfolio Adviser to provide local policy leadership to a portfolio of central programmes they will be appointed to oversee. The role will lead on the successful local implementation of Global Thematic Programmes, ensuring primary and secondary benefits stand the best chance of being delivered by working with Government to ensure buy-in, engaging with business (including UK companies through DIT offices), shaping the interventions to be delivered by the Programme, and integrating the programmes in their portfolio, and those outside it (including across Whitehall) into a coherent whole.

 

Roles and responsibilities:

Leading on all Southern African interests in the design, coordination and delivery of the Global Thematic Prosperity Fund Programmes in the post-holder’s portfolio (the post-holder will be assigned two to four). This will include ensuring coherence across the region, between Programmes to ensure best integration, and working closely with business, host Governments, and colleagues across Whitehall. Specifically:

  • 30% Deploying excellent strategic programme development and delivery skills, including leading on all local aspects of risk  management, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and (where not handled centrally) financial management, and procurement for Prosperity Fund programmes in their portfolio. This will eventually result in the post-holder reporting on all aspects of their portfolio to a Regional Portfolio Board now being established, and following directions from that Board as the key source of governance. 
  • 30% Developing specific subject knowledge to lead on all aspects of local direction and delivery of programmes in their portfolio for Southern Africa. This will eventually result in the post-holder becoming the High Commission policy lead where the area is not a core Chancery function already, and there will be a need to deliver a quality service in a matrix management environment beyond the direct Prosperity Fund sphere.
  • 25% Overseeing relationships with Prosperity Fund implementing partners locally. This will include pre-empting any risks and ensuring that projects are delivering their stated  intentions, intervening with London-based Global Thematic Programme Leads where necessary, and robustly representing UK whole of Government interests with those partners. 
  • 15% Liaison with other UK government departments to ensure that the Prosperity Fund programmes in their portfolio achieve the maximum impact for all parts of government.  This will include working with Department for International Trade to identify potential commercial opportunities arising as part of the programme, and with DfID to identify synergies with their emerging prosperity agenda.

There will be some possibilities for travel as part of the role in the Region and to London. Relevant job related training will be given as required. 


Resources managed:

Budget tbc depending on progress of centrally developed business cases but the full range of Prosperity Fund programmes are expected to be up to £35m managed from London but overseen locally. Some possible staff management opportunities in time.

Experience of managing large programmes.

Experience of working with UK Government

Experience managing budgets, including on the FCO Prism system

Expertise in at least two of the sectors in   which there are likely to be Global Thematic Programmes for South Africa, and the key obstacles to growth:

Trade, Business Environment, Transparency, Education and Skills, ICT, Future Cities, Health, Low Carbon Energy, Investment

16 October 2017
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Fixed Term
4 months
Africa
South Africa
Pretoria
British High Commission
1
ZAR
R499,184
1 November 2017
31 March 2018
  • As this is a fixed-term contract to cover for an existing employee on family leave, please note that the earliest start date is 1 November but may be extended to a later date depending on the team's needs.
  • 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 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.
  • If you don’t already hold a valid SA Police Clearance Certificate, we recommend that you apply for the certificate at the time of your application.
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This opportunity is closed to applications.