Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online Application form including the employment and educational details, experience-based segment and the behaviours and technical/ professional skills-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.

This position is till March 2027.

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, Economy and Trade; Governance and Inclusion.

BHC Islamabad is looking to recruit a suitably qualified Programme Officer (EO) as a programme funded position (PFP) for a period of approx.18 months who can start as soon as possible. 

This EO role sits within the Governance & Inclusion Group (GIG) in BHC Islamabad (BHCI). It is a top performing unit, that offers an attractive and rewarding work environment, and which delivers programme results and provides policy and technical input across the UK mission in Pakistan and to a wide range of external stakeholders. GIG strives to work together in a positive team environment, making development and career progression a priority and providing flexibility to deliver results at pace on high-profile priorities while maintaining work-life balance.

GIG has just transitioned into an enabler role and has a £91m portfolio. It leads policy & programmes at the federal and sub-national levels relating to governance/effective institutions (e.g., public sector management; risk governance); human rights (e.g., freedom of religion and belief; minority rights; children’s rights; child protection; inclusion; gender & disability as well as civic space and media freedom. 

Within GIG, this position will sit under Inclusion team and will be funded through its £46.9m programme Aawaz II. This programme works with government and local communities to promote the rights of children, women, youth, religious minorities, people with disabilities and the transgender community to strengthen control over their own development. The programme has evolved over time with a sharper focus on child protection, gender-based violence, early and child marriages, and intolerance against religious minorities. The programme works with the government for institutional and legal reforms and with the communities for behaviour change and referral pathways to state services. The programme operates in three of the four provinces of Pakistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh. Programme will be ended by March 2027.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Governance & Inclusion Group. They will particularly lead on day-to-day programme and financial management.

The role will start ASAP and is open to Country Based Staff on promotion and level transfer who demonstrate the required competencies and experience. 

The position is a key programme support role. The successful candidate will support HEO Programme Responsible Owner (PRO) in effective programme delivery and will support oversight and report on all programme management aspects for Aawaz II and will also contribute to programme management, finance and risk management across GIG. 

This is a challenging but rewarding role which requires the ability to work at pace and agility 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 to Pakistan, the region and the UK communities in Pakistan.

GIG 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 pleasant, inclusive and rewarding work environment where every member can achieve their best and it will be important to demonstrate these qualities in this role.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?

The job holder will be required to demonstrate strong project management skills, excellent knowledge of the FCDO Programme Operating Framework (PrOF) be self-starting, sensitive to the complex politics of the region, pragmatic and with a strong ability to work independently to oversee and manage deadlines under pressure. The successful candidate will engage across the programme cycle on Aawaz II programme and work closely as part of a team, with the SRO, PRO and other programme staff to support delivery.  

Prior experience of managing programme delivery cycle, proven expertise on financial and risk management and sound stakeholder management is desirable but not essential. Key responsibilities include managing the programme cycle, financial, commercial and risk management.

Main Responsibilities and Objectives:

The purpose of the role is to provide support in managing the Aawaz II programme using the PrOF guidance on programme management.  The Programme Officer will work in an integrated team and support the SRO/PRO to successfully deliver the Aawaz II programme.  As EO, the job holder will be accountable for supporting the delivery of programme outcomes within agreed time, cost and quality constraints. The role combines programme management and relationship management responsibilities.

Objectives of the role are:
Programme Cycle Management

•    Provide support to the programme team in the delivery of Aawaz II programme through all stages of the programme cycle. 
•    Apply PrOF rules and controls at each stage of the cycle, including data entry and analysis to inform planning and decision making. 
•    Solve routine problems using the PrOF rules and experience; seeks guidance and escalates more complex issues.

Managing Risks and Issues

• Apply knowledge and experience of the risk management framework, categories and tools to the programme. Ensuring the risk register is regularly updated and respective mitigation strategies are discussed and agreed with stakeholders.
• Identify and assess risks and exposures in delivery chains, including fraud, fiduciary and safeguarding risks; apply appropriate mitigation and escalation measures until assurance is established.

Financial management
•    Apply financial management PrOF rules and controls, monitor costs and ensure all expenditure represents VFM and is spent for the purpose intended.
•    Provide accurate financial information, ensuring credible budgets and forecasts; engage partners to ensure budgeting, forecasting and expenditure matches progress and milestones.

Commercial
•    Manage delivery partner performance and monitor agreement obligations; manage amendments and exit plans to manage commercial risks and maintain VFM.

Monitor, learn, adapt 
•    Understand how the programme will be monitored and support monitoring and formal reviews of performance. Understand the results chain and apply knowledge of data collection to assist in the assessment of delivery. 

Engage others
•    Work with key internal and external stakeholders, seek their inputs to manage and address programme needs.
•    Ensure management information is managed effectively to inform accountability, communications and transparency commitments.
•    Work effectively as a team member.
Understand the vision and rationale for the programme and how it contributes to FCDO’s strategic objectives.

Any other objectives outlined by PRO/SRO of the Aawaz II programme.

•    Good understating of commercial, financial and risk management skills and systems.
•    Excellent oral and written communication skills.
•    Ability to prioritise workload and respond flexibly as new priorities arise.
•    Ability to learn quickly and take on stretching responsibilities, standing in for Senior Programme Managers when needed.