Prosperity Fund Programme Advisor (Global Future Cities)

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. Job Category : Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Policy & Political roles) Job Subcategory : Economic and Prosperity Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities) Background and main purpose of job: This is a great opportunity to deliver a key component of the £1.2bn cross-government Prosperity Fund. New and innovative, the Fund represents a step change in HMG’s approach to promoting economic development and prosperity overseas. The Future Cities Programme is recruiting a Programme Advisor to oversee, assess and monitor programme activity in the Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to ensure intended outcomes and impacts are achieved, and the programme continues to offer value for money. The cross-government Prosperity Fund (PF) was established under the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) with the primary aim of supporting growth in recipient countries and thereby reducing poverty. As such, it represents a key component of the prosperity pillar of the UK Aid Strategy. But the Fund uniquely focuses on promoting growth in ODA-eligible middle income countries, which are home to around 60% of the world’s poor and where the development challenges remain significant, but at the same time are important business partners and drivers of prosperity. By delivering high impact, strategic multi-year programmes, across high opportunity countries, regions and sectors, the Fund will help create opportunities for international business, including UK companies. As the UK leaves the EU, an even more outward-looking global Britain investing and trading with the fastest growing markets will become increasingly important. Around 25 multi-year programmes have so far been endorsed by the Ministerial Board. These cover trade, anti-corruption, infrastructure, business environment, health, future cities, education, financial services, energy and outward investment. For more information, see the Prosperity Fund Annual Report 2018/19 The successful candidate will build relationships and work closely with delivery partners, the central government and stakeholders in Ho Chi Minh City, businesses, civil society, Non-Governmental-Organisations (NGOs) and other external stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of the programme. The successful candidate will work with the Head of Prosperity Fund at the British Embassy in the Vietnam and will coordinate with other posts in the region and government colleagues in the UK to ensure the programme delivers inclusive economic growth, to achieve UK policy objectives and to ensure that the programme complies with OECD rules for ODA. An important aspect of the job will be working with both Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Department of International Trade (DIT) colleagues in the Vietnam and in the UK to unlock the opportunities created by the programmes’ interventions for increased inward trade and investment, particularly for UK companies. The post will be based at the British Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh city, a vibrant, international organisation, committed to diversity and staff development. This is a challenging and exciting opportunity to play an influential role in a high-profile and strategic British development initiatives in the Vietnam, which aims to have a positive impact on economic development and trade, as well as strengthening the relationship between the UK and the Vietnam. Roles and responsibilities / what the jobholder will be expected to achieve: Background: As part of the Prosperity Fund, we plan to invest in a circa £80m multi-year Prosperity Fund programme on Global Future Cities. The programme will support inclusive and sustainable urban economic growth and increase global prosperity, including for the UK, through targeted interventions on transportation, urban planning and urban resilience in ten countries worldwide (Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam). Future Cities programme is in line with smart infrastructure strategy in Vietnam and the wider economic development strategy. It is also in the top priority of development projects in next 3 years. The role: The Global Future Cities Prosperity Fund programme has successfully completed a period of scoping activity to support a strong inception and delivery phase, including the commissioning of technical studies to identify priorities and outreach with stakeholders, including government partners. This made up Stage I of programme delivery. The inception phase is being conducted and expected to complete in January 2020. The Implementation phase is expected to last until March 2022. We are looking for a pro-active, engaged individual with a passion for delivering development impacts. The job holder will have two main responsibilities around programme implementation (70%) and administration (30%): Programme advisor role (70%)

Using technical expertise and operational leadership to effectively deliver the PF Global Future Cities programme in the Ho Chi Minh cities identified. Provide technical knowledge, urban planning and infrastructure development expertise alongside delivery partners to maximise high-quality implementation and outcomes of the programme.
Build wide stakeholder networks in the Ho Chi Minh City (for Future Cities) and Vietnam and in the UK to enable programme implementation and ensure that the programme is de-conflicted with other UK Government programmes and similar development work in the country. This involves close coordination Global Infrastructure Programme lead in Hanoi and Programme managers in global and regional networks to drive consistency, deliver efficiencies and increase impact through realisation of synergies.
Plan and implement workshops and other activities, including with government and wider stakeholders to achieve specific programme outcomes and influence sustainable and inclusive infrastructure development in the Vietnam.
Facilitate delivery activities, e.g. inward visits by technical advisors and government engagement, and provide reporting of these activities to concerned stakeholders.
Conduct analysis and research on relevant policy developments in the Future Cities space, using this knowledge to shape programme delivery, e.g. analysis of UK priorities and local context and policy shifts.
Act as representative for the PF Global Future Cities programme to the Ho Chi Minh City working collaboratively with delivery partner(s) and government officials to identify capability gaps, develop technical assistance and then contributing towards implementation of these capacity and capability building activities.
Take lead on UK government’s infrastructure policy in Vietnam and work closely with Global Infrastructure programme lead in Vietnam to increase the synergy between two programmes. This includes reflecting Vietnam government interests to HMG officers within the British Embassy in Hanoi and British Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh city and to relevant HMG officers in the region and in London. Understand the broader UK offer and ensure effective communication of these goals with key stakeholders.
Support partnerships between relevant international organisations and local stakeholders/implementers to drive the development of the programme.
Support a cohesive set of British Embassy in Hanoi and British Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh city objectives under the Country Business Plan by working closely with the Head of Prosperity Fund and policy, programme and commercial colleagues at Post ensure fully coordinated implementation with the other parts of the prosperity programme, relevant to wider British Embassy in Hanoi and British Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh city diplomatic work.
Collaborate with Department of International Trade colleagues and other relevant cross-government stakeholders in the region and in London to unlock opportunities for increased inward trade and investment, particularly for UK firms, and track UK response to the opportunities.

Programme manager role (30%)

Manage successful roll out of externally procured contractors with international consultancy. Ensure good value for money and monitor implementer compliance (e.g. SLAs). The role will provide strong management of implementing partners ensuring they are performing well, finances are correctly administered and the programme’s benefits are realised. This will include ensuring the programme continues to offer value for money and are well-managed throughout the various delivery stages.
Ensure that programme activity is run effectively, working alongside delivery partners to ensure key milestones are met and that risks are mitigated appropriately. Feed-into centralised reporting systems, including internal programme reporting, both to wider HMG and into the PF Monitoring and Reporting platform.
Support the process of quality assurance, approval of programme outputs.
Provide specialist technical advice to the programme team, including on Monitoring, Reporting, Evaluation and Learning (MREL), working with the programme team to monitor and evaluate programme effectiveness.
Maintain a strong network with programmes colleagues in the UK and other partner countries, adapting the programme on the basis of lessons learnt and opportunities arising from potential synergies with other country programmes. (This may involve international and regional travel).
Deploy British Embassy in Hanoi and British Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh city’s diplomatic levers to support the programme’s primary aim of reducing poverty and deepen the Embassy’s engagement in the infrastructure sector, closely coordinating with Post programme, policy and commercial colleagues.
Increase visibility of the programme through effectively planning and implementing comms strategies.

Underpinning Requirements

Ensure the programme complies with the International Development Act, including the International Development (Gender Equality) Act 2014; meets the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC)’s criteria; is untied; meets UK government transparency commitments on ODA spend; and complies with UK Government audit requirements.
Support the Prosperity Fund’s policy and guidance on gender equality, women’s economic empowerment and inclusive growth.

This will be an ideal job for a flexible, motivated self-starter who has strong programme management and stakeholder engagement skills. A successful applicant would need to demonstrate a combination of urbanisation and economic development subject knowledge, with an ability to use self-directed study to learn further about these areas as the programme develops. Applicants will also need to show project management experience and strong communication skills to work in a team and influence others. Essential qualifications, skills and experience

Graduate with a university degree relevant to the job and at least 5 years of experience in a relevant field.
Experience of delivering complex programmes
Experience of managing delivery partners
Understanding of ODA/International development
Demonstrate expertise in relevant areas like urbanisation, infrastructure planning and city development.
At least 3 years’ experience in programme management ideally in a development context.
A flexible and creative problem-solver, able to come up with innovative solutions to complex challenges.
Excellent communication and influencing skills including in giving presentations to external audiences, including senior stakeholders.
Team player driven by values.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

Additional technical qualifications relating to future cities or programme management
Regional knowledge and network with relevant stakeholders
Experience of dealing with governments
Experience of working with international delivery partners and governments
Experience/knowledge of UK ODA programmes

Required competencies Seeing the Big Picture, Leading and Communicating, Collaborating and Partnering, Achieving Commercial Outcomes Application deadline : 5 January 2020 Grade : C4 (L) Type of Position : Fixed Term, Full-time Working hours per week : 35 Duration of Post : 12 months Region : Asia Pacific Country/Territory : Vietnam Location (City) : Ho Chi Minh City Type of Post : British Consulate General Number of vacancies : 1 Starting yearly salary (VND) : 615,552,748 Start Date : 10 February 2020 Other benefits and conditions of employment We place a strong emphasis on learning and development. You will be encouraged to undertake developmental training and get involved in corporate activities. You will have access to existing and new Project & Programme Management L&D as well as wider job-relevant L&D and support for your own personal development. You will also be able to attend leadership and soft skill training together with colleagues at British Embassy in Hanoi and British Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh city. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is committed to developing its staff. There will be opportunities for formal training alongside collaborating with a wide range of colleagues delivering on-the-job learning:

Working in a diplomatic mission;
Understanding how UK international development assistance is managed / implemented;
Understanding effective programme management; and
Application of gender priorities to infrastructure projects.

The British Consulate-General offers a competitive remuneration package including salary, leave entitlement, flexible working patterns, medical package for staff and dependants, and opportunities for learning and development. Employment offers are subject to the successful clearance of pre-employment checks. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy Hanoi is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law. Additional information All applications must be received before 23:55 on the day of the deadline indicated above. Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. We regret to advise that we will only be contacting short-listed candidates. Applicants called for an interview will be assessed on the core competencies listed above. The successful candidate should be able to start as soon as possible subject to successful security clearance. Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Local Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.