Main Purpose of Job:

This is an exciting opportunity to join the UK Mission to ASEAN (UKMis ASEAN), providing maternity leave cover for seven months.

In August 2021 the UK became the first new ASEAN Dialogue Partner for 25 years and in August 2022 we agreed the first ASEAN-UK Plan of Action, setting out how the UK and ASEAN will collaborate over the next five years. We are now in delivering a range of new ASEAN-UK development programmes which will help to deliver the commitments in the Plan of Action and bolster UK development assistance in the region.

As ASEAN Programme Officer, you will play a critical part in managing and delivering two of our programmes in particular – ASEAN-UK Women, Peace and Security Programme (WPS) and ASEAN-UK Economic Integration Programme (EIP). You will be responsible for supporting on all aspects of programme delivery – including managing the programme finances, liaising with implementing partners, organising programme governance and supporting monitoring and evaluation.

You will be the ‘Programme Responsible Officer’ (PRO) for the WPS programme, which means you will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the programme, liaising with our implementing partners, and reporting directly to the Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) and Head of Development. For the EIP programme, you will support the EIP PRO as required to ensure smooth running of all three pillars of the programme, which cover financial services, regulatory reform and trade.

This is a great opportunity for a candidate with experience of programme management, especially in the international development sector, looking to build more skills and experience in a fast-paced and supportive environment. There will be opportunities for learning and development, with support provided throughout from a range of programme and subject specialists. 

We are also looking to recruit people who can work flexibly across the wider mission, to cover gaps, gain new experience, and stretch into new areas of responsibility as required.

The FCDO’s organisational culture

How we approach our work is important. The How We Work Statement (below) sets out the ambition we share across the FCDO for how we lead and behave towards each other, how we make decisions, and how we get the job done. Some aspects may be particularly relevant to this role.

• We put respect and kindness first. We are inclusive, we get to know each other, and value our diversity and the contribution we each bring. We are fair, act with integrity, and tackle inequality and unacceptable behaviour. We work together and take responsibility to solve problems.
• We draw on the expertise, insight and diverse perspectives of people across the FCDO, HMG, and beyond. We use the best available data and evidence. We are open to challenge and take a sustainable, long-term approach. We are transparent about the rationale for decisions and smart about taking and managing risks.
• We are agile and alert to emerging opportunities. We encourage learning, innovation and use of data and digital. We are all clear on what we are expected to deliver and support each other in doing so. We look to reduce duplication and unnecessary process. We are committed to transforming both the FCDO and the way HMG delivers international policy.

What the Jobholder will be Expected to Achieve:

• Programme management. Work with technical experts in the region to support all aspects of programme management including programme governance, monitoring and evaluation, risk management and programme reporting. Ensure that programme activities all comply with UK programme management rules.
• Financial Management. Programme budget management using FCDO financial systems and tools. This will include forecasting; review of project activity-based budgets and monitoring spend; review and payment of invoices; spot checks on delivery partners as necessary; responding to financial commissions.
• Procurement and Contract Management. Work with commercial colleagues and the relevant programme responsible officer (PRO) to support any necessary procurement processes, for example to secure programme implementing partners. Support the PRO to set up and manage contracts with external suppliers.
• Stakeholder Management. Build strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. This will include policy leads and technical experts in the UK Government, programme implementing partners, programme beneficiaries, and counterparts in the ASEAN Secretariat.
• Communications. Draft communications materials about ASEAN programming as required. Support the UK Mission to ASEAN and colleagues in the region to present and communicate our programme activity to external counterparts.
• Support wider FCDO programme delivery in the region where required. You will provide programme management advice to teams across the region and work closely with both regional and country technical advisors.
• Work with the FCDO Indo-Pacific Regional Department to capture and disseminate learning and best practice from programming, raising the profile of our work and supporting the improvement of programming across the region.

The exact coverage of the role will need to respond to the requirements on the team at the time of commencement and you should be open to change and flexibility.

Resources Managed (staff and expenditure): No line management responsibilities currently envisaged

• Strong oral and written communication skills in English
• Programme and financial management skills, with experience of applying these in the international development sector
• Experience of working with commercial suppliers and managing commercial contracts
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to juggle competing priorities, including the ability to manage multiple projects concurrently
• Strong ability to build relationships, collaborate with partners across government and external stakeholders
• A proactive approach and a focus on continuous improvement, with an appetite to work with others to simplify processes and improve efficiency