Main purpose of job:

The Green Cities and Infrastructure Centre of Expertise (GCI COE) is looking for a Higher Executive Officer (HEO) Programme Manager to help deliver the UK’s Green Cities and Infrastructure Programme (GCIP). 

GCIP is the main delivery mechanism of the GCI COE, established by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and is part of the FCDO’s Economic Development and Partnerships approach – the UK’s economic and development offer to partner countries. GCIP provides comprehensive technical assistance offers to developing countries on low-carbon infrastructure and climate-smart urban development. In Vietnam, GCIP will build from previous UK Government projects, including the Global Infrastructure Programme and the Prosperity Fund Global Future Cities Programme, as well as from short-term technical assistance funded by GCI and delivered by different UK government agencies including the UK’s Infrastructure and Projects Authority, Crossrail International, and Connected Places Catapult. GCIP helps to deliver the UK in Vietnam Network’s target on mobilising critical sources of finance to support Viet Nam’s net zero and sustainable economic development ambition through the British Investment Partnerships toolkit, alongside harnessing opportunities for green UK investment and expertise-sharing through partnerships.

This new position will be included in the Climate Team and located in the British Consulate General HCMC. The post holder will work closely with development, political, infrastructure leads, and other trade colleagues in the British Embassies/ British Consulate Generals in Vietnam and Indonesia to help lead the design and implementation of the GCIP in both countries. The role will include: shaping the overarching strategy in line with the UK Government’s International Development White Paper ; ensuring high quality, value for money delivery of GCIP projects primarily in Vietnam and Indonesia though also potentially other countries in the region such as Cambodia and Laos; identifying opportunities for new programme interventions; establishing themselves as the main point of contact in the region on programme management with GCIP partners and maintaining a strong stakeholder network and coordinating engagement; and contributing to smooth programme and budget management and reporting.  

It is critical that the post-holder demonstrates strong stakeholder management skills. As part of this role, you will need to maintain good working relationships with colleagues of the UK in Vietnam Network and other FCDO offices, organisations under the UK Centres of Expertise and other HMG departments as well as the GCIP programme team led by the international consultancy firm PwC   and effective collaborative relations with officials. Whilst being an effective team player, you will be able to plan ahead and take independent action and undertake in-depth fact finding and analysis where issues require more perceptive judgements in identifying the best approach or solution from a range of options. 

The post is funded under GCIP.  Should FCDO withdraw funding to the programme, the position will end after any required notice period.

The post-holder will have substantial responsibility and the opportunity to influence the design and delivery of a high-profile political priority. The role combines diplomacy and international development delivery, including on the UK’s International Climate Finance commitments.

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

We all have a responsibility to embrace the changes of the FCDO as it transforms, building the culture we want to see and delivering our cultural statement in how we lead and behave towards others; how we make decisions and how we get the job done is everyone’s responsibility.

In this role you will also be responsible for:

GCIP Stakeholder Engagement (30%)

Engaging and managing relationships with relevant ministries and offices to lead the design and implementation of the programme. Support the Resilient Cities and Infrastructure team (UK-based) to develop deeper climate collaboration with Vietnam and Indonesia   at national, state and local level. Responsibilities include:

• Prompt strategic, regular communications with key stakeholders in the UK, Vietnam and Indonesia and other regional stakeholders to facilitate best practice sharing where appropriate.  This may require regular involvement in providing complex information, negotiating changes, securing agreement to proposed actions and providing advice to senior grades on the effects of policy or operational changes.
• Publicly represent UK in Vietnam Network (British Consulate General and British Embassy) and the UK Government as a credible interlocutor in climate related engagements as necessary.
• Ensure proactive coordination on requests   around UK engagement on cities, transport and sustainable infrastructure programmes and initiatives supported by other donor agencies, identifying opportunities for multilateral cooperation where possible.
• Proactively seek cross-team collaboration opportunities amongst the UK in Vietnam Network to continue supporting a mainstreamed approach in bilateral programmes.

Project Delivery (60%)

• Overseeing where necessary direct programme/project delivery in the region of the Green Cities and Infrastructure Programme (GCIP) in line with the FCDO Programme Operating Framework   .
• Working at pace, ensuring GCIP delivers quality outputs and outcomes on time.
• Ensuring PwC led GCIP Team and other delivery partners meet their milestones and reporting is high quality and on time, demonstrating the impact of the GCIP.
• Managing financial aspects of the GCIP: budget forecasting, monitoring and budget allocation of individual projects and the overall programme.
• Managing risks and mitigations by actively monitoring and escalating when necessary, using judgement to provide options and recommendations on solutions.
• Working closely with teams in the UK in Vietnam Network and with other programme managers across other Centres of Expertise to enhance join up   and impact to ensure programmes do not work in silo but benefit from lessons learned.
• Ensuring FCDO approaches to monitoring and evaluation are applied by PwC to ensure the necessary framework is in place across all projects   and providing a challenge function so that monitoring and evaluation is sufficiently captured.
• Work with partners and Comms & Press Affairs colleagues to develop effective communications inputs.
• Remain flexible and open to engage on new areas as and when they arise.

Corporate Objectives (10%)

• Play an active part in the wider corporate business of the UK in Vietnam Network, including on supporting the GCI programme linkages to broader climate and Economic Development and Partnerships work.

• Strong understanding of and experience with Programme Cycle Management.
• Programme management experience in green growth, transport, urban development, construction or related fields.
• Ability to organise and prioritise own work and deal with several matters simultaneously avoiding backlogs of work.
• Ability to take responsibility for quality of work, and to identify and resolve issues.
• Computer literate and familiar with basic features and use of simple spreadsheets.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English. Able to create clear and accurate first drafts of project documentation, correspondence, and notes of meetings.
• Able to listen well and communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.