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 role is part of the Pakistan Network’s Strategic Engagement and Understanding section (SEU), an ‘enabling’ team of approx. 20 UKB & CBS that sits at the heart of the Pakistan Network.  SEU comprises the Political Cluster (with team members in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi), VIP Visits Cluster, and Private Office & Secretariat Cluster.

As the Secretariat and Coordination Officer, sitting within the Private Office & Secretariat Cluster of SEU, you will drive forward effective coordination of policy across the UKinPakistan network. You will be responsible for running the internal governance of the mission and ensuring that high-level coordination meetings are planned effectively, that papers are commissioned and prepared, a forward plan of work is maintained, and that decisions and actions are recorded and completed. 

You will work closely with the Political Cluster of the Strategic Engagement and Understanding group, and the rest of the Private Office, to ensure that long-range policy insight and situational awareness are translated directly into the network’s high-level decisions. You will report directly to the High Commissioner’s Private Secretary.  You will work closely with the Data, Evidence and Portfolio Assurance team to embed data-driven decision-making into the Network’s strategy and planning. You will deliver this ambition through running high-quality Board meetings, coordinating the agendas, the papers and the briefings. You will also have responsibility for other cross mission coordination meetings, such as the Pakistan Steering Group.

The role offers a unique opportunity to bridge both the corporate and policy work of the Pakistan Network. You will benefit from a close working relationship with the senior leadership of the Mission, including the High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner, who both take a close interest in the work of this role work.

We are looking for a candidate seeking to develop their policy and delivery skills in a corporate strategy setting. The post will suit someone who is able to to work with a range of corporate and policy colleagues to bring together information, working with a keen eye for detail. The post-holder should also be able to step back from the detail to identify and recommend solutions that meet a range of competing needs.

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 / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve:

This is permanent role open to CBS HEOs on level transfer or EOs on promotion. In this role you will also be responsible for:

• Ensuring decisions across policy, programme, people and corporate issues within the UKinPak network are taken by the right people, at the right level, at the right time. Making sure that internal governance structures/systems are transparent, allow for broad based participation, are responsive, support cross mission working and ensure effective working between the Secretariat, Private Office and the wider mission.
• Managing the Pakistan Board, including coordination of papers and the agenda, briefing and maintaining the Action Log. You will support effective functioning of other internal coordination meetings such as the fortnightly Pakistan Steering Group, and the fortnightly Running Board.
• Management of the Country Business Plan (and other cross-mission commissions), ensuring it evolves and adapts to changing circumstances and leading the development of new policy as needed. You will provide strategic advice to the Pak Board on delivery of the CBP, coordinating input from across the network, particularly DEPA and SEU.
• Overseeing the engagement planning and logging meetings for the High Commissioner, the Deputy High Commissioner, the Political Counsellor and the Development Director, working together with the wider Private Office and SEU Political Cluster.
• Working with Afghanistan & Pakistan Department (APD), improving the management of corporate processes. The postholder will also take a lead on ad-hoc policy projects and commissions, including cross-cutting briefing requests.

Language requirements: 
Language: English
Level of language required: High-level of written and spoken English.

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

• Formal in-house and external training.
• Coaching, mentoring and job shadowing.
• Structured learning on the job, including stretching objectives and work

Working patterns:
If the job is suitable for flexible working patterns, please provide details: This job is not suitable for working from home or remote work.  Some variation in hours, time off in lieu, etc can be agreed subject to Line Manager approval.

Essential:

• Excellent interpersonal skills: an ability to gain the confidence of senior leaders and staff from different teams across the network and different grades and an inclusive team player;
• Strong judgement, able to make recommendations based on a good understanding of the breadth of the High Commission’s work and priorities and accumulated knowledge of the Leadership team’s views and perspectives;
• Excellent organisational skills and flexibility: the ability to keep several balls in the air at once.