SEO - Senior Programme Manager and Chief of Operations, Governance and Stability Block at the British High Commission (BHC) Nigeria

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Executive Officer (SEO) - Senior Programme Manager and Chief of Operations, Governance and Stability Block

Location: Abuja
Job Category: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Programme Roles)
Type of Position: Fixed Term
Start Date: 1 February 2023
End Date: 31 January 2025
Duration of Post: 24 months
Type of Post: British High Commission
Grade: Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Working hours per week: 38

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

• We are looking for an experienced programme and policy manager who is ready for a challenging next role, delivering one of FCDO Nigeria’s flagship programmes, and helping us to achieve best practice in programme management.

Key responsibilities are:
Overall responsibility for the programme management of ongoing programmes under the Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL) umbrella programme, and the setup of the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRING) and Nigeria Governance and Climate Change Programme (NGCP)  programmes:

• Working with Grade 6 team leaders, Senior Responsible Owners, programme staff and advisers to oversee programme quality across the portfolio, including leading the effective design, contracting and mobilisation of the proposed programmes.
• Develop effective relationships with partners, promoting common practice in agreements, and building partner capability in FCDO’s finance, compliance and delivery standards; sound and innovative M&E; setting high standards of due diligence and risk management and mitigation throughout the delivery chain; quality & timely annual reviews; timely receipt, scrutiny and follow-up of annual audited accounts; and continuous adaptation to changes in the political, security and climate situation.
• Single point of contact with the Intergrated Service Delivery Unit (ISDU) on finance – representing the block on finance. Single point of contact with the IDSU on PM issues that cut across sub-teams (e.g. statement of assurance coordination but teams would go direct on asset management where only one prog closing)
• Role model best practice in risk management, ensure high standards of financial management and forecasting, compliance with counter terrorism legislation, monitoring and reporting aid diversion, safeguarding, value for money, audits, and asset management.

Line management or counter-signing responsibilities (TBC) for the programme management team and Cross office support and mentoring on programme delivery:

• Either line manage or objective lead/countersign for an agreed number of deputy programme managers, programme officers and programme assistants.
• Support the continual professional development of the programme management team. Proactively identify training needs and opportunities for training and act as role model and mentor to support new colleagues to develop.
• Provide direction and guidance to programme managers across FCDO Nigeria in relation to FCDO’s policy on programme delivery, apply and share lessons on emerging programme management best practice, including developing better processes and tools to help the team effectively manage workloads and objectives.
• Be an active member of FCDO Nigeria’s Programme Delivery Leadership Team and help improve programme delivery standards in FCDO Nigeria with up to 10% of time.
• Act as a focal point for HMG departments that comprise the block (FCDO, Home Office International Operations (HOIO), NCA, CSSF Migration Fund & Home Office International Directorate). Foster good relationship management between the various departments. Create and maintain an effective operating framework for the block on strategy
• Help shape and role model the Block culture being inclusive, supportive, and results focused.
• Support policy development, drafting of submissions, corporate returns, liaison with other BHC staff as required.
• Lead on team meetings and other team structures – ensuring they function effectively and are structured in a way to help the team deliver
• QA and provide input to submissions, reports Due Diligence Assessment (DDA) and sections of Business Cases (BC)and Annual Reviews resulting in DDAs, reports, BCs and Annual Reviews (AR) completed in line with agreed timelines and to good quality with positive feedback received

Maintain an effective operating framework for the block on strategy, policy, HR, internal comms, external comms, programmes and influencing:

• Accountable for the functioning of the process and supporting team leaders by ensuring accountability for their compliance and delivery.
• Responsible to SRO for ensuring high quality comms across the block (including non FCDO) departments) and act as objective lead for Comms contacts within the block.
• Act as Chief of Operations and support the SRO to effectively resource team providing oversight on recruitment and induction of new staff to the team.
• Lead on parliamentary engagement – single point of contract for NU on PQs, briefs etc. Ensures the interface with technical staff and process works.
• Develop, create and engage with communications system/approach for the block. Update core script for the block and serve as point of contact for comms issues.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

• The team currently has an approximate budget of £13m a year. You will be responsible for mentoring programme staff on the effective management of that budget and working with the SRO(s) on its effective delivery.
• Line management will be discussed with the successful candidate but will likely mean managing one or two members of staff directly and mentoring a larger group

Essential qualifications, skills and experience
Essential on arrival:

• Candidates should possess relevant qualifications and work experience.
• Proven programme management experience.
• Proven leadership and effective people management skills.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Resilience and ability to work under pressure in a supportive but busy and challenging environment.
• Excellent team player.

Level of language required:

• Fluent

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience:

• Policy experience and skills, with knowledge of Governance, Conflict and Social Development.

Required behaviours:

• Delivering at Pace, Leadership, Developing Self and Others.

Salary
USD3,052.03 Monthly.

Other benefits and conditions of employment:

• Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):
• We are committed to L&D for all staff, and we will work with the post-holder to identify opportunities that suit their professional and personal aspirations as well as those needed to be successful in this role.

Application Closing Date
12th December 2022.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening. 
• Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
• The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a positi.
• The current legacy DFID Terms and Conditions of Employment will apply to all internal locally employed staff on promotion and new entrants subject to local employment labour law.
• All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit. 
• The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to: 
  • Obtain the relevant permit
  • Pay fees for the permit
  • Make arrangements to relocate
  • Meet the costs to relocation
• The British High Commission does not sponsor visas/work permits except where it may be local practice to do so. 
• Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.
• Information about the Civil Service Success Profiles can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles
• Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
• Current employees (CBS) transferring between departments need to obtain a new police clearance/certificate of good conduct to be successfully appointed to the position.  
• Please log into your profile on the application system on a regular basis to review the status of your application.