View Vacancy - BK - Prosperity Fund Programme Advisor (Global Future Cities), C4 (L)
Background and main purpose of job:
The cross-UK Government Prosperity Fund (PF) was created in 2015 to promote economic growth in middle income countries and create opportunities for international business, including for UK companies. The fund has a budget of £1.2 billion over 6 years to provide support to partner countries in key reform areas such as the business environment, energy, financial services, infrastructure and future cities, amongst others.
Future Cities is a global FCO programme supported by the Prosperity Fund. It is being implemented in 19 emerging ‘megacities’ throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America. It supports collaborative interventions to address the challenges of rapid urbanisation. A rigorous planning and design process was conducted in consultation with Thai stakeholders and the procurement process to select an implementing consortium is now almost complete.
We are recruiting a Prosperity Fund Programme Advisor to guide, oversee, assess and monitor the programme activities in Thailand during the Implementation Phase, to ensure intended outcomes and impacts are achieved, and the programme continues to offer value for money.
The successful candidate will build relationships and work closely with delivery partners, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), businesses, civil society, Non-Governmental-Organisations (NGOs) and other external stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of the programme. S/he will report to the Head of Prosperity Fund at the British Embassy in Bangkok and will coordinate with other GFC Country Programme Advisors in the region and the global GFC management team in London to ensure the programme delivers inclusive economic growth, to achieve UK policy objectives and to ensure that the programme complies with OECD rules for ODA. An important aspect of the job will be working with both Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Department of International Trade (DIT) colleagues in the Thailand and in the UK to unlock the opportunities created by the programmes’ interventions for increased inward trade and investment, particularly for UK companies.
The post will be based at the British Embassy in Bangkok, a vibrant, international organisation, committed to diversity and staff development.
This is a challenging and exciting opportunity to play an influential role in a high-profile and strategic British development initiatives in Thailand, which aims to have a positive impact on economic development and trade, as well as strengthening the relationship between the UK and the Thailand.
Roles and responsibilities / what the jobholder will be expected to achieve:
We are looking for a pro-active, engaged individual with a passion for delivering development impacts, excellent relationship management skills and experienced in managing consultants. The job holder will have two main responsibilities around programme implementation (70%) and administration (30%):
Programme advisor role (70%)
- Using technical expertise and operational leadership to effectively deliver the PF Global Future Cities programme in Bangkok. Provide urban planning and infrastructure development expertise alongside delivery partners to maximise high-quality implementation and outcomes of the programme.
- Build wide stakeholder networks in the Thailand and in the UK to enable programme implementation and ensure that synergies with other Prosperity Fund and UK Government funded initiatives are identified and exploited to maximise efficiencies and impact. This involves close coordination with colleagues in the British Embassy Bangkok and the PF Global Future Cities global and regional networks.
- Participate in and, when required, support planning and facilitation of workshops and other activities, including with government and wider stakeholders to achieve specific programme outcomes and influence sustainable and inclusive infrastructure development in the Thailand.
- Facilitate delivery activities, e.g. inward visits by technical advisors and government engagement, and provide reporting of these activities to concerned stakeholders.
- Conduct analysis and research on relevant policy developments in the Future Cities space, using this knowledge to shape programme delivery, e.g. analysis of UK priorities and local context and policy shifts.
- Act as representative for the PF Global Future Cities programme to the BMA and Thai government, working collaboratively with delivery partner(s) and government officials to identify capability gaps, develop technical assistance and then contributing towards implementation of these capacity and capability building activities.
- Reflect Thai government interests to HMG officers within the British Embassy Bangkok and to relevant HMG officers in London. Understand the broader UK offer and ensure effective communication of these goals with key stakeholders.
- Support partnerships between relevant international organisations and local stakeholders/implementers to drive the development of the programme.
- Support a cohesive set of Embassy objectives under the Country Business Plan of the British Embassy Bangkok by working closely with the Head of Prosperity Fund, policy, programme communications and commercial colleagues at Post ensure fully coordinated implementation with the other parts of the prosperity programme, relevant to wider British Embassy Bangkok diplomatic work.
- Collaborate with Department of International Trade colleagues and other relevant cross-government stakeholders in Bangkok and in London to unlock opportunities for increased inward trade and investment, particularly for UK firms, and track UK response to the opportunities.
Programme manager role (30%)
- Manage successful roll out of externally procured contract with international consultancy. Ensure good value for money and monitor implementer compliance (e.g. SLAs). The role will provide strong management of implementing partners ensuring they are performing well, finances are correctly administered and the programme’s benefits are realised. This will include ensuring the programme continues to offer value for money and are well-managed throughout the various delivery stages.
- Ensure that programme activity is run effectively, working alongside delivery partners to ensure key milestones are met and that risks are mitigated appropriately. Feed-into centralised reporting systems, including internal programme reporting, both to wider HMG and into the PF Monitoring and Reporting platform.
- Support the process of quality assurance, approval and commissioning of programme interventions for Bangkok.
- Provide specialist technical advice to the programme team, including on Monitoring, Reporting, Evaluation and Learning (MREL), working with the programme team to monitor and evaluate programme effectiveness.
- Maintain a strong network with Future Cities programme colleagues in the UK and other partner countries, adapting the programme on the basis of lessons learnt and opportunities arising from potential synergies with other country programmes. (This may involve international and regional travel).
- Deploy British Embassy Bangkok diplomatic levers to support the programme’s primary aim of reducing poverty and deepen the Embassy’s engagement in the infrastructure sector, closely coordinating with Post programme, policy and commercial colleagues.
Underpinning Requirements
- Ensure the programme complies with the International Development Act, including the International Development (Gender Equality) Act 2014; meets the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC)’s criteria; is untied; meets UK government transparency commitments on ODA spend; and complies with UK Government audit requirements.
- Support the Prosperity Fund’s policy and guidance on gender equality, women’s economic empowerment and inclusive growth.
- Graduate with a university degree relevant to the job and at least 5 years of experience in a relevant field.
- Experience of delivering complex programmes
- Experience of managing delivery partners
- Understanding of ODA/International development
- Experience of dealing with governments
- At least 3 years’ experience in programme management ideally in a development context.
- A flexible and creative problem-solver, able to come up with innovative solutions to complex challenges.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills including in giving presentations to external audiences, including senior stakeholders.
- Team player driven by values.
- Additional technical qualifications relating to future cities or programme management
- Regional knowledge and network with relevant stakeholders
- Experience of working with international delivery partners and governments
- Demonstrate expertise in relevant areas like urbanisation, infrastructure planning and city development.
- Experience/knowledge of UK ODA programmes
- Knowledge of economic reforms policy and practice/climate change
This will be an ideal job for a flexible, motivated individual who has strong programme management and stakeholder relationship management skills, ideally combined with urbanisation and economic development subject knowledge and the passion to use self-directed study to learn further about these areas as the programme develops. Applicants will also need to demonstrate project management and stakeholder relationship management experience and strong communication skills to work in a team and influence others.
The British Embassy offers a competitive remuneration package, including salary (to be abated for those not liable to tax), benefits, a leave entitlement, Health Insurance and full training. The British Embassy Bangkok encourages all staff to develop their capabilities, through both formal training (courses) and informal (job-shadowing, coaching, on-the-job training etc). The majority of our formal L&D opportunities are drawn from FCO resources. All staff are encouraged to share their skills and experience with colleagues, through informal training (‘lunch & learn’) or coaching/mentoring. All staff are eligible for 5 L&D days a year.
Full time role (36 hours/week). Flexible working may be available (Embassy core hours are 1000-1600 Mon-Thurs and 1000-1300 Friday). Remote working occasionally is also possible.
This is a full time position. The post holder should be prepared to work flexibly e.g. starting early or late with occasional remote working (agreed by line manager). Occasional travel to London, Singapore or elsewhere within the SE Asian region is likely so willingness to travel is also a requirement.
In crisis/emergency situations work as required to support the Embassy response (sometimes on a shift pattern working unsociable hours).
In late 2019 the Embassy will move from the current premises on Wireless Rd to new accommodation in the Sathorn area.
Embassy Vision and Values:
VISION: What do we want to build?
A better, safer, more prosperous world for Britons and Thais alike.
MISSION: How will we achieve this?
By championing UK values and delivering tangible benefits to individuals, businesses and society: through quality service, effective partnerships and local expertise.
VALUES: that underpin our work:
- Courage: In our approach to our work: supporting innovation, creativity and taking calculated risks in solving problems; encouraging challenge and welcoming diverse perspectives; honesty in acknowledging and learning from mistakes.
- Ambition: In the challenge we set ourselves: Striving to be excellent in the quality of service we deliver; inspiring our teams, colleagues, customers and stakeholders; passionate about our purpose.
- Generosity: Of spirit: kindness in our daily actions and conversations; openness to differing cultures, ideas and opinions; understanding of differing styles and honest mistakes to build a culture of support.
Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment and security checks. Staff who are locally recruited by the British Embassy are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law.
No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. You must have or be able to obtain work authorisation in Thailand in order to apply. Any costs related to obtaining or renewing permits and visas are the responsibility of the successful applicant.
Please note that your application must be submitted before 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.
Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. We regret to advise that we will only be contacting short-listed candidates. Applicants called for an interview will be assessed on the core competencies listed above.
The successful candidate should be able to start as soon as possible. Start date indicated above is subject to change.
Reminder for existing Embassy staff who will be interested to apply:
Along with the completed online application form, candidates should upload their last two years End of Year Appraisals if applicable. If applicants have been employed for less than twelve months, they will need to provide permission from their Head of Section to apply and should attach this to their application.
Guidance on completing competency based application forms and sitting Interviews can be found on the BE Website and also on the Civil Service Learning portal, Virtual Ashridge portal and Goodpractice.net (both accessed through the CSL). Staff are strongly advised to refer to these.
We recommend all applicants to understand the Civil Service competences before applying for any role and in preparation for interviews. For more information, you can visit our website - https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-embassy-bangkok/about/recruitment.
Please check your application centre regularly for any update on your application
This opportunity is closed to applications.
