Main purpose of job:

The Projects and Public Diplomacy Officer will support the design, planning, and delivery of project and public diplomacy activities aligned to the Embassy’s Country Business Plan and UK priorities in Panama.
The role combines project delivery, event and stakeholder management, and communications support, contributing to the Embassy’s strategic objectives by strengthening people to people links, promoting UK values and reputation, and supporting policy outcomes through effective public diplomacy.
The postholder will operate with guidance from senior colleagues, using judgement within established frameworks, and will be expected to manage their own workload, deliver to deadlines, and work collaboratively across teams and with external partners. 

Roles and responsibilities:
    

Project delivery (approx. 40%)

• As Programme Responsible Officer (PRO), working closely with policy leads support the design, delivery and monitoring of a small portfolio of projects in support of Embassy goals –  to include public diplomacy and soft power activities (e.g. cultural, education, sport or alumni engagement projects), in line with FCDO programme rules and proportionality.
• Act as day to day project officer for assigned activities, including maintaining basic project documentation, taking forward financial transactions such as requisitioning, tracking milestones, budgets and risks, and escalating issues as required.
• Support contract or grant management processes, including administration, due diligence checks and routine reporting, under the supervision of a Senior Responsible Officer (SRO).
• Contribute to short internal reporting and lessons learned notes to inform future projects.
• Secretariat/lead for the Embassy’s Programme Board
• Horizon scanning for new funding opportunities and support policy officers in bidding processes.

Public diplomacy and soft power delivery & comms (approx. 40%)

• Support delivery of the Embassy’s Soft Power Strategy, helping to translate strategic themes (e.g. culture, education, sport, values) into practical engagement activity.
• Help plan and deliver public diplomacy events, campaigns and visits, to include logistics, briefs, guest lists and follow up.
• Build and maintain working level relationships with delivery partners such as NGOs, cultural organisations, education providers, alumni networks and implementing partners, under senior guidance.
• Provide input to creative ideas and delivery plans that help reach priority audiences identified by Post.
• Work with Embassy comms colleagues to ensure impact is maximised through creative, eye-catching social media content and contributing to its production.

Cross-embassy support (approx. 20%)

• Work collaboratively across Embassy teams, contributing to a positive team culture and supporting wider corporate or operational tasks when required.
• Actively engage with learning and development opportunities relevant to role.

Resources managed: 

• The role will manage small administrative or project budgets, tracking spends and processing routine financial actions in line with guidance. Budgets tbc.

Learning and development opportunities:

• There are ample opportunities for learning and development both role-specific and more broadly as required. Formal project management training on the FCDO’s Programme Operating Framework (PRoF) will be available.

Essential on arrival:

The role requires practical knowledge of public diplomacy and project delivery processes, sufficient to support delivery of small scale activities and events under established frameworks and guidance.

The jobholder will require:

• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills to draft short briefs, summaries and basic communications content.
• Interpersonal skills to work constructively with colleagues and external partners.
• Attention to detail, particularly in logistics, record keeping and documentation.
• To be comfortable managing budgets and dealing with figures.

The postholder must understand:

• Basic programme and project delivery concepts (planning, timelines, monitoring budgets, risk awareness);
• Capacity to work collaboratively with both internal teams and external stakeholders to ensure delivery standards

The post does not require deep technical or policy expertise, nor responsibility for setting strategy, but does require the ability to apply guidance consistently and confidently in day to day delivery.

Language requirements: Proficient (C1) in Spanish and English