View Vacancy - Counter Terrorism Policy and Programme Officer, Grade-HEO, Islamabad

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. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Political

Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment, educational details, behavioural and technical/ professional skills questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the application forms only with all the required details and the shortlisting is not basis CV/ cover letter. Forms that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.

Main purpose of job:

The purpose of this role covers two core objectives:

  1. a) Provide subject matter expertise and analysis to support delivery of the Pakistan Network’s policy and political work on counter terrorism (CT),
  2. b) Assist with the financial management, programme governance and evaluation of the British High Commission’s CT programme portfolio.

Policy and Political:

The role will assist on the political and policy developments of our CT Country Plan. The job holder will ensure that our objectives are fed into political engagement across the High Commission and at the most senior levels. The job holder will be required to identify contacts and establish load-bearing relationships with a broad range of CT and Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) contacts. This will include Government of Pakistan, likeminded, middle ground, and non-government actors. The insight and understanding gleaned from this engagement will be translated into high quality and insightful reporting to further UK CT objectives in Pakistan.

The job holder will be expected to track, understand and explain the CT landscape in Pakistan. This will require using their own initiative and networks to identify trends across the Pakistani and international donor system, including the United Nations. The job holder will also provide high quality interpretation and translation in meetings where required.

Programme Management:

This role is critical to the team’s management of its entire portfolio of CT programming worth approximately £1.5m per annum.  Working to the Counter Terrorism Network Co-ordinator (CTeN), the jobholder will assist with the effective implementation of our programmes, working closely with the Counsellor for Security and Justice.

The CT Portfolio is complex covering UK activity to build a security partnerships with the Government of Pakistan. The job holder will be expected to manage the relationship with implementers, ensuring that risks to HMG are identified and adequately addressed with appropriate safeguarding frameworks. In particular the role will be specifically responsible for financial management, contracting, evaluation and delivery across the entire programme.

We reserve the right to review, revise or amend the roles and responsibilities from time to time reflecting the changing needs of business.

Roles and responsibilities that a jobholder will be expected to achieve:

This role will support the British High Commissions work in Pakistan by:

Counter Terrorism Policy:

  • Use existing and develop further networks of contacts to support BHC’s access, influence and understanding of CT issues in Pakistan. In particular, provide regular high quality reporting on the threat from ISKP, TTP and BLA in Pakistan to set policy direction for UK CT objectives.
  • Monitor new developments, including new legislative proposals, executive orders and other proceedings relevant to counter-terrorism with a focus on analysing the impact on UK objectives and clearly reporting this to the High Commissioner and London colleagues.
  • Produce regular oral and written reporting to update the BHC staff and teams in the UK, on key issues in relation to counter terrorism and advise how HMG should respond.
  • Work across departments and in particular with the Ministry of Defence and Home Office to ensure complementarity of programming.
  • Contribute to the development of UK policy and action on counter terrorism, drawing on the networks and expertise outlined above.  Provide top quality briefing to High Commissioner, DHC, Ministers and partners with senior stakeholders.
  • Lead the delivery of high level visits both from the UK to Pakistan, and for Pakistani in the UK. This includes logistics, advice and interpretation. Act as the lead coordinator for Pakistan visits to the UK.

Programme Management and Governance:

  • Manage project relationships with potential implementing partners. Build strong relationships within Pakistan, the UK and the region to drive high quality performance and adherence to Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) standards. Scrutiny and oversight of our implementing partners will be particularly key to this role to ensure effective delivery.
  • Lead on the effective financial management of projects to ensure value for money throughout programme cycle, including through accurate forecasting, asset management, timely payment of invoices/ claims, and timely submission of financial reports and Annual Audited Statements where required, in line with FCDO Budget, purchase to pay (P2P) guidance, Finance Specialist guidance, and in-house finance, procurement, and information reporting system.
  • Lead on the effective monitoring of projects, including through maintenance and regular use of the Delivery Plan; through timely and rigorous Annual Reviews (ARs) / Programme Completion Review (PCRs); through cycle of timely partner and supplier reporting; quarterly meetings with partners in the region and independent monitoring of programme activities.

Networking:

  • Be responsible for forming and managing relationships across the Pakistani Security sector at the highest levels, including MoFA, MoI, MoD, NACTA, FIA and Provincial CTDs. This should be done with the strategic aim of ensuring the UK has the requisite access and influence to inform UK CT engagement.

Interpretation and meeting support:

  • Provide high quality interpretation and translation services to the counter-terrorism team to include the High Commissioner.
  • Provide concise and clear readouts of meetings between UK and Pakistani officials with clear recommendations on how to advance issues discussed.

Ad hoc tasks:

You will also lead the organisation of visits to the UK for Pakistani stakeholders, and visits to Pakistan by UK officials. You will draft Note Verbales (NVs) when needed, using appropriate language. You will provide cover for the wider team when they are away from Islamabad. You will support the wider CG2 security and justice team as required, such as with NVs and engagement with key stakeholders.

Corporate:

You will be expected to support wider High Commission activities. You will choose what to become involved in based on your interests and development needs. Options include supporting the Chevening programme, major events (for example, the King’s Birthday Party) and promoting wellbeing or diversity and inclusion within the Mission.

Learning and development opportunities:

The jobholder will be encouraged to make the most of a wide range of L&D opportunities, depending on their development needs. Courses available include courses on counter terrorism, diplomacy, written communication and leadership.

Essential on arrival:

  • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject (i.e. Political Science, International Relations, Political Economy, Domestic Law, English, International Law, Human Rights, Government, Public Policy, Public Administration or History.)
  • Minimum three years’ work experience in a similar role and/or academic institutions such as further education, think tanks, international and/or non-governmental organisations, corporate entities, law, or government.
  • Minimum three years’ three years of experience working in counter-terrorism and/or in the prevention of violent extremism.
  • Ability to demonstrate subject matter expertise in terrorism and related issues, including the ability to produce both written and oral analysis on these topics.
  • Programme management skills including engaging with implementing partners to arrange delivery of activity
  • Strong understanding of Pakistan’s political situation, particularly issues on internal, regional and security issues.
  • Strong team-working skills. A team player who is capable of working on their initiative and who is adaptable to changing priorities. Must be able to work and act without close supervision and react calmly to situations that may arise.
  • Ability to work in fast-paced, high profile environments, and deliver to deadlines.
  • Proficiency in using Microsoft Office applications such as Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Teams.

Language Requirements:

  • Language: English, Urdu, Pashto
  • Level of language required: Highest standard of written and spoken English and highest standard of translation required for Urdu.



Communicating and Influencing, Managing a Quality Service, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together
10 July 2025
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Permanent
41
South Asia & Afghanistan
Pakistan
Islamabad
British High Commission
1
PKR
PKR 341,388 per month
monthly
1 August 2025

For BHC candidates, the Country Based Staff BHC Terms & Conditions will apply.

For other than BHC candidates the basic salary will be PKR 341,388 per month. This salary is non-negotiable.

Please note that the current salaries are being dollarized and processed in USD (using a fixed corporate exchange rate from November 2022) to provide cushion against the current external market conditions. This is a temporary measure and is subject to review at regular intervals. The payroll will revert to local currency processing once the external market conditions are normalised.

BHC offers a great benefits package that comprises of Annual Domiciliary cover and Medical Insurance Scheme which includes PKR 1,500,000 floater coverage per family for self, one spouse/long term partner and children under the age of 19 or under 23, if in full-time education and not gainfully employed. The Annual Domiciliary cover for day-to-day medical payments is upto PKR 200,000 per family (basis actual bills submission).

 Additionally, The British High Commission contributes to a retirement provision in the form of a mandatory provident fund. 

FCDO operates an agile workforce. To facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require. The BHC is recognised as a good employer, with a robust, fair and transparent performance management & appraisal system linked to increments and staff bonuses. We have a 5-day working week, plus annual leave, public holidays, maternity leave provision, special leave, paid sick leave provision; ample development opportunities, travel opportunities, a good organisational culture, and excellent work/life balance.

No relocation or any other related costs or assistance will be provided. FCDO does not pay for any travelling, accommodation & relocation expenses incurred and/or accept any financial risk, including cancellation or reschedule costs.

Around half of our work forces are women.  We treat people with respect and equality and have a policy of zero tolerance for any form of discrimination, bullying, or harassment. 

This is a good opportunity to be part of a strong, diverse team, working in the biggest network that FCDO has anywhere across the globe. We are aiming to make it the best.

Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment and educational details, motivational segment and the behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the application forms only for all the required details. Forms that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.

To Apply:

Please note applications without (a) and (b) will not be considered. Point (c) to be adhere strictly.

a) Complete the Online Application Form.
b) Complete the Experience, Behaviours, Technical/Professional skills-based segment in the Online Application Form.
c) Applicants need to answer the questions based on their professional experience. Kindly refrain from use of AI based tools to avoid application from getting rejected/disqualified.

To ensure a successful application it is important that you explain how you demonstrate behaviours and technical / professional skills, basis your experience. You are strongly advised to read the Success Profiles - Civil Service Frameworks, which provides a detailed guidance on how these behaviours are defined for each position. 

Applicants are encouraged to use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) technique to prepare specific examples of when and how you have demonstrated these behaviours in your application, by evidencing a structured response, including your skills and experiences. You briefly describe the situation in which you demonstrated the behaviour, and then explain your task in addressing the situation, what action you took and the result of this.

Internal candidates applying for this position must have completed their probation and have prior approval from their line manager, else the application will not be considered.

We will accept only online applications by 10 July 2025 (latest by 23:55 hours PST).

Please note that all the applicants will be required to strictly adhere to the security guidelines for British High Commission

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. 

Applicants who do not have the required qualification & experience should kindly abstain from applying, as their applications will not be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, and no telephone enquires will be dealt with. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’.  If during the reserve period of 12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative & the appointment of successful candidate will be subject to clearance of police and other checks including references, educational and professional.

We welcome all applications irrespective of age, race, colour, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief or creed. We are also open to applications from people who want to work flexibly.

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.