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 work of the British High Commission (BHC) in Pakistan is focused on six main workstreams – Regional Stability, Threats, Health and education, Climate, Resilience and Humanitarian, Open Societies and Economy and Trade.   BHC Islamabad has an exciting opportunity for a qualified and experienced Deputy Programme Manager to deliver a new FCDO £18.75m ODA programme focused on protecting communities, tackling serious and organised crime including organised immigration crime and countering terror threats.  

The Administration Officer takes responsibility of extending the admin support to the whole programme team. The selected candidate will be required to start in the role as soon as possible. The role is open to Country Based Staff on level transfer who demonstrate the required competencies and experience. 

This AO role sits within the ‘Campaign Goal 2 – Threats to the UK’ pillar, part of five-strong team delivering ProCom and a wider programme team delivering associated programming as part of a coordinated and integrated approach across HMG departments. These Partners across Government include the Home Office and Home Office International Operations, Border Force, the National Crime Agency and the Crown Prosecution Service. The job holder will also work closely with delivery partners and the Government of Pakistan as key stakeholders. 

This is a challenging but rewarding role which requires the ability to work at pace to support and collaborate with teams across the mission.  This is a superb opportunity to hone and develop skills and be engaged in some of the areas that matter most to Pakistan and the UK governments and to communities in Pakistan.

CG2 is likely to be running three related programmes in financial year 2025 /2026 with a total value of up to £8m per annum.  ProCom will be an entirely ODA funded programme, following on from a very successful portfolio of CSSF/ISF programmes that have combined ODA and non-ODA funding.  

CG2 has a positive team environment, energetic and diverse. Supportive line management, respect and career development are at the heart of staff relationships. All team members should strive to create and maintain a happy, rewarding work environment where every member can achieve their best – it will be important to demonstrate these qualities in this role. 

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:

The administrative officer plays a crucial role in ensuring smooth delivery and operational excellence of the programme. The role is expected to provide consistent, high-quality administrative and logistical support across all phases of the programme cycle, while maintaining compliance with governance and financial protocols. This includes close collaboration with Programme Officers, the Head of Section, and cross-functional teams.

Core Responsibilities:

1) Programme Support and Coordination

• Provide end-to-end administrative support across the programme delivery cycle, including coordination of planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting activities.
• Organise and support programme visits, stakeholder meetings, training events, and workshops.
• Manage meeting logistics: scheduling, venue setup, materials preparation, note-taking, and action tracking.

2) Stakeholder Engagement

• Engage proactively with key internal and external stakeholders to coordinate inputs and align administrative processes with programme needs.
• Act as a first point of contact for enquiries and ensure timely escalation or redirection where appropriate.

3) Data and Document Management

• Maintain an up-to-date and well-structured digital database of programme documents in line with FCDO and corporate filing requirements.
• Monitor the team’s use of shared drives to ensure consistency and document integrity.
• Support preparation and collation of documentation for programme boards, audits, and reporting.

4) Logistics and Travel Coordination

• Manage logistical arrangements for official travel including flight bookings, accommodation, ground transport, and travel clearances.
• Support the management of the leave calendar and ensure coordination of team availability during peak periods.

5) Information and Reporting

• Ensure that management information systems are updated accurately to support transparency, accountability, and reporting obligations.
• Track and follow up on actions from team meetings, programme reviews, and stakeholder engagements.

6) Finance and Procurement Support

• Assist in the processing of invoices, purchase orders, and payment tracking in line with financial procedures.
• Maintain trackers for budget utilisation and support financial reporting requirements.
• Liaise with suppliers to ensure timely delivery of goods and services.

7) Team Collaboration and Flexibility

• Demonstrate strong teamwork, supporting colleagues during busy periods and covering gaps as needed.
• Remain flexible to adapt priorities in response to emerging needs or crisis situations.

8) Administrative Excellence

• Uphold high standards of professionalism, confidentiality, and efficiency in all administrative tasks.
• Identify opportunities to streamline administrative processes and improve operational efficiency.
• Demonstrate initiative in troubleshooting logistical or operational issues.

Working patterns:

Embassy hours, Monday-Friday. Some out of hours work may be required on ad hoc basis.  Flexible working will be considered but we cannot guarantee that requests will be met.

Learning and development opportunities:

You will have the opportunity to develop skills and experience throughout the programme management cycle, including through formal in-house learning opportunities and team-wide capability initiatives (e.g., Away Days).

Any other information (or specific local Post requirements):

You must have your line manager’s support before applying. Teams might not be provided with additional resource to cover any gap arising following this move. 

This role is based in Islamabad, Pakistan. 

FCDO Pakistan would like to fill this role as soon as possible. If you would like to find out more about the role, please send your queries to recruitments.pakistaniiodap@fcdo.gov.uk. 

Selection process:
Please note that only those applicants selected for interview will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates should be available for the next stage of the recruitment (interview) process in July / August. The selection method will comprise of Paper Application Review and Interview. Candidates may also be asked to complete a Written Exercise, and/or make a short Presentation. 

Essential on arrival:

• At least 2 years of experience in similar role is needed.
• Experience of taking complicated meeting minutes and drafting actions out of them and follow on them.
• Experience of using the organisational digital platforms and Excel.
• Previous experience of working in a dynamic team in same or similar role.
• Excellent English communications skills both written and spoken.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Comfortable working independently and under pressure.
• Ability to manage competing demands with tact and a problem-solving mindset.
• Proficient in MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams) and digital collaboration tools.

Language Requirements:

• Language: English
• Level of language required: Proficient in written and spoken English