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.’’

Main purpose of job:

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) pursues UK’s national interests and projects the UK as a force for good in the world. We promote the interests of British citizens, safeguard the UK’s security, defend our values, reduce poverty, and tackle global challenges with our international partners.

The British High Commission in Pakistan has an exciting opportunity for a programme management professional to join the Integrated Security Fund  (ISF) Portfolio Team to minimise and mitigate the risks of conflict and instability in Pakistan and its direct/indirect impacts on UK.

The jobholder will be required to undertaking a review of the available evidence, commission and deliver research (to fill any gaps / validate available evidence), analyse the feedback received in the engagement and consultation sessions and feed it into the design of a future ISF portfolio. The jobholder will remain the lead on designing the new ISF portfolio and writing the business case(s) for the programmes that would form the ISF portfolio bid for SR25, and processing it/them through the approval processes.

The jobholder will need to engage with multiple quarters in the British High Commission, work with Campaign Goal (CG) leads, be able to absorb information from multiple sources and track multiple conversations.

The jobholder needs to have a clear understanding of programme design, good communication skills (both written and verbal skills), and excellent business case writing capabilities.

He / she will need to be able to quickly get up to speed with a wide-ranging set of topics and to confidently engage with experts and senior leadership.

The job holder will work under the direct supervision of ISF Portfolio lead and work closely with the existing ISF programme & portfolio team members to synthesize information from ongoing programmes and to feed it into the design of a future ISF portfolio design.

This position offers a great opportunity to build knowledge in the complex area of political and conflict response programming, and to engage on a diverse set of thematic issues with a wide range of stakeholders. 

This position offers a good opportunity to build relationships with teams across the Mission and with UKG departments.

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 of the Job Holder:

• Develop and follow a structured plan for preparing, submitting, and securing the approval of Business Case(s) of Programme(s) under the future ISF portfolio of Pakistan.
• Identify and engage with the key stakeholders / partner government departments of future ISF Programmes, gathering their views and feeding into the design of ISF Business Case(s).
• Undertaking a review of the available evidence, commission and delivering research (to fill any gaps / validate existing evidence), analyse the feedback received in the engagement and consultation sessions and feed it into the design of future ISF portfolio / Business Case(s).
• Engage with CSSF/ISF Programme Teams to identify the pathways for fitting in any needed follow-up work of existing programmes in the future ISF Portfolio, discuss the potential future scope and clarify their strategic linkages with the ISF priority areas relevant to Pakistan.
• Engage the “Development Portfolio’s” Teams to identify potential synergies between the future ISF Portfolio and the Country “Development Programmes’ portfolio”, clearly articulating the link with IR-Refresh / ISF priorities relevant to Pakistan.
• Ensure that the future ISF portfolio’s business case(s) articulates the potential synergies within the future portfolio (if multiple programme), and with other programmes in the region, and how best could it help with achieving an effective outcome through the integrated approach of thematic and geographic.
• Ensure that the future ISF portfolio’s business case(s) elaborates on the MEL Requirements, Results’ Framework, Programmes Risks, Finances, Delivery Approaches, Management Case, Commercial Case etc.
• Ensure that the future ISF portfolio’s business case(s) clearly elaborates the cross cutting programmatic themes; including gender, VFM, MEL, climate, and conflict sensitivity within the writeup.
• Engage with the BHC and JFU Teams to describe the evolving / consolidated picture of the future ISF portfolio for Pakistan during the design process.
• Support BHC wider engagement with other ISF Teams across the region and with other Directorates during the design process of future ISF portfolio.
• Provide regular reporting on the ISF portfolio design and making presentation to the Portfolio Boards (as required) on the progress, challenges, opportunities etc., ensuring that the Board members are appraised and adequately briefed for making the required decisions on future ISF portfolio for Pakistan.
• Plan for the launch of new projects under the future ISF Portfolio, securing buy-in / support during the pilot / implementation phase through pre-briefing sessions.
• Conceive the resourcing requirements of future programme(s) and assist with adequately resourcing the programme teams to ensure that the programme would take off successful at the beginning of next spending round.
• Demonstrate flexibility to work on any additional responsibilities assigned by the Portfolio Head.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):  None

Language requirements:

Language: English
Level of language required: Proficiency in reading writing and speaking English language.

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):
The FCDO is committed to provide learning and development opportunities to all its employees, including:

• Formal in-house and external training.
• Coaching, mentoring and job shadowing.
• Structured learning on the job, including stretching objectives and work.
• Field visits and attendance to regional or international events.
  

Working patterns:

• Full time employment with flexibly of working home on a case-by-case basis.
• Operating hours are Monday – Thursday 08:00 – 16:15 (with half an hour lunch break) ; Friday 08:00 – 13:00

Any other information (or specific local Post requirements):

As part of the assessment process, should you get shortlisted and invited for interview, you may be asked to submit a 5-minute presentation on a set topic will be required at the interview stage, with topic to be provided in advance. This may be coupled with a written exercise as well, which will be required to be completed on the day of assessment.

Essential on arrival: 

• Master’s degree in management / administration / communication / international affairs.
• At least 5 years of experience in the design of complex conflict response programmes
• Strong collaboration and team building skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Good organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Good oral and written English communication skills (ability to provide briefings, project reporting).
• Strong ability to build relationships, collaborate with partners across government and external stakeholders and work effectively as part of cross organisation team.
• Strong IT skill, working knowledge of MS Office 365.