View Vacancy - Prosperity Fund Governance and Strategic Communications Manager

Main purpose of job

The British Embassy in Mexico City is looking for a Locally-Engaged C4 (L) Governance and Strategic Communications Manager to support the UK Government’s (HMG) work on Prosperity by leading coordination of governance mechanisms and strategic communications supporting key policy work streams in order to assure  timely and appropriate delivery of expected results while managing associated risks to deliver critical impacts in the UK-Mexico bilateral relationship. Prosperity is one of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s three Foreign Policy Priorities under which we actively seek to  create the conditions for global growth. 

The cross-government Prosperity Fund (PF) was established under the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) with the primary aim of supporting growth in recipient countries and thereby reducing poverty. As such, it represents a key component of the prosperity pillar of the UK Aid Strategy. But the Fund uniquely focuses on promoting growth in ODA-eligible middle income countries, which are home to around 60% of the world’s poor and where the development challenges remain significant, but at the same time are important business partners and drivers of prosperity. By delivering high impact, strategic multi-year programmes, across high opportunity countries, regions and sectors, the Fund will help create opportunities for international business, including UK companies. As the UK has left the EU, an even more outward-looking global Britain investing and trading with the fastest growing markets will become increasingly important. Around 25 multi-year programmes have so far been endorsed by the Ministerial Board. These cover trade, anti-corruption, infrastructure, business environment, health, future cities, education, financial services, energy and outward investment. For more information, see the Prosperity Fund Annual Report 2017/18.

This is a great opportunity to deliver a key component of the £1.2bn cross-government Prosperity Fund. New and innovative, the Fund represents a step change in HMG’s approach to promoting economic development and prosperity overseas.

Roles and responsibilities

• Lead on programme governance for the Prosperity Fund, including leading the Secretariat for two governance Boards, using these forums to ensure timely and appropriate levels of approval are achieved for all Prosperity Fund Strands. Produce Board papers, agendasminutes and keep ToRs and membership up-to-date. (20%)
• Lead on cross-programme planning to ensure milestones are delivered to time, budget and strategy. Coordinate planning and driving delivery across all strands of the programme and own planning for cross-cutting programme activities e.g. cross-strand coordination meetings and events (20%)
• Ensure the programme takes a strategic approach to communications by developing a Programme wide communications strategy, working with and through implementers to ensure effective strategic communications at the Strand level and coordinate a communications group between implementers. Monitor progress tracking of communications activities through active follow up, periodic meetings with implementers, policy officers and other relevant stakeholders and providing strategic challenge and input to these stakeholders. (30%)
• Coordinate programme communication activities both externally and internally to UK and Mexican audiences, promoting programme and project achievements and strategies and working with and through the Embassy Press team to deliver press releases, articles and digital content as necessary. Develop and maintain a bank of programme activity and achievements, using these to inform strategic communications. (10%)
• Lead on transparency and reporting for the programme, including quarterly ODA reporting, monthly dashboard reporting for the Programme Management Committee transparency publications (10 %)
• Corporate responsibility as a member of Embassy staff (10%)

In carrying out the above responsibilities the successful applicant will: 

• Lead the programme governance processes to ensure programme implementation contributes to UK’s policy strategies in Mexico. 
• Communicate programme and project achievements and strategies to UK and Mexican audiences. Coordinate projects events and public announcements/launches. 
• Contribute to the Embassy’s policy relationships under the relevant work stream with (including but not limited to) key government stakeholders both in the UK and Mexico, as well as civil society, academia and business. 
• In your role as Strategic Communications and Governance Manager ensure Gender Equality Act compliance and support PF ambitions on women’s economic opportunities, inclusive growth and poverty reduction through your department / team
• Support the programme team to deliver the objectives of their strands of the programme, including through use of strategic communications.

There will be some (limited) possibilities for travel as part of the role. Relevant job related training will be given as required.

• 3+ years on process governance and communications experience.
• Bachelors-level degree.

Language requirements

Language: Excellent working levels of English and Spanish both written and spoken which will be tested before and during interviews for candidates reaching that stage of the recruitment process.

Level of language required: Business (English and Spanish)