KWT - Head of Programmes (HEO)

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)
The British Embassy in Kuwait is seeking a highly motivated and
enthusiastic individual for the position of Head of Programmes, job grade
Higher Executive Officer (HEO).
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced programme manager to manage
the United Kingdom 's Gulf Strategy Fund (GSF) in Kuwait. The GSF supports the
delivery of the UK's Gulf Strategy. British embassies in Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC) countries are provided with funding allocations to deliver
projects in the region that support implementation of the Gulf Strategy and
the embassies' country business plans (CBP).
The Programme Manager is responsible for managing and coordinating all aspects
of the GSF programme in Kuwait. This means both ensuring strategic alignment
of the programme as a whole with UK strategic priorities and overseeing the
delivery of individual projects. Working closely with the Senior Leadership
Team, colleagues across the Embassy, and a number of different government
departments, the jobholder will drive project development, promote best
practice in project management, ensure proper financial management, liaise
with the GSF Programme Team in the UK, and act as secretariat to the Programme
Board.
Roles and responsibilities:
Programme Management
* Provide high quality programme management for the GSF in Kuwait, ensuring strategic alignment with UK priorities and the Embassy 's country business plan;
* Act as the Secretariat to the Programme Board; prepare papers for Board meetings; provide advice to the Board and support the chair of the Board; ensure accurate records are kept of decisions taken by the Board and monitor follow-up actions;
* Ensure effective programme governance and risk management, project monitoring, and evaluation mechanisms, in support of the Programme Board;
* Work closely with teams across the mission, from a range of UK government departments, and with external project implementers to ensure that funded activity is well designed and linked to strategic policy objectives
* Engage project teams and implementers to ensure funded activity proceeds as planned, adapting as necessary to changes in the external context; is monitored robustly (including progress indicators and targets, financial planning and monitoring, and narrative reporting); delivers impact on time and to agreed budgets; and is effectively evaluated
* Work closely with the GSF Team in London and project leads at post to deliver all necessary Programme documentation and reporting to deadlines;
* Advise project leads and external implementers on public communications and narratives (in consultation with the Communications Team and in line with government communications guidance);
* Coordinate and keep up to date and consistent the Post's Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) and other human rights assessments relevant to GSF projects;
* Act as the main point of contact for queries, information, and updates on the Programme, Represent the programme internally and externally.
* Manage, motivate, and develop Programme Officers. Supervise and support them in managing relationships with stakeholders and maintaining accurate financial forecasts and budgets.
Financial management
* Manage and monitor the programme budget; maintain accurate records on project allocations, monthly and quarterly spend, and forecast spend; support the Programme Board and project leads to achieve targets;
* Provide financial reporting to Senior Management on a regular basis;
* Manage financial and administrative actions relating to projects using FCDO financial systems, including updating supplier payment details, raising requisitions and purchase orders, receipting goods and services, and requesting payment of invoices.
Monitoring and evaluation
* Review activities across the Programme against objectives on a regular basis and plan for future activities and funding;
* Develop a monitoring and evaluation plan against clear objectives agreed with project leads, in order to advise the Programme Board on progress and risks;
* Ensure project leads are aware of reporting deadlines and produce accurate and timely quarterly and annual reports; track delivery of project activities against agreed timelines;
* Lead on analysis of the impact that projects across the programme are having on relevant policy objectives, working in partnership with embassy policy and thematic leads;
* Regular reporting of project and programme level progress to the Programme Board and wider teams.
Promoting best practice and learning and development on project
management
* Develop and promote strong understanding of and compliance with the FCDO Programme Management Framework and guidelines, procurement processes, FCDO internal audit requirements and UK National Audit Office (NAO) requirements; provide advice on compliance of the programme.
* Promote best practice in project management across the mission; provide guidance to policy leads working on the thematic areas of the programme and support them in developing their project management skills.
Resources Managed
* ‎2 x Project Officers, grade EO
The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be
flexible and to take on other duties, projects, and ad hoc tasks as required.
This may, for example, include work on programmes, policy initiatives,
campaigns or operational delivery in support of the Embassy 's Political,
Economic, and Central Support teams. The jobholder will also be expected to
play a full role in the Embassy's contingency planning and any crisis
response.
Key behaviours required for the job:
* Seeing the Bigger Picture - Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider Civil Service priorities and ensure work is in the national interest.
* Leadership - Show pride and passion for public service. Create and engage others in delivering a shared vision. Value difference, diversity and inclusion, ensuring fairness and opportunity for all.
* Making Effective Decisions - Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.
* Working Together - Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.
* Delivering at Pace - Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
* Communicating and Influencing - Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others.
Eligibility:
If you are selected for this position, we will be able to employ you as long
as you:
* Are legally resident in Kuwait (Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country); and
* Complete and successfully pass all local and UK security checks, including professional background checks.
Essential qualifications, skills and experience
* Demonstrated experience in project management, delivery and evaluation, and experience managing large budgets.
* Ability to drive delivery of outcomes and overcome obstacles, especially when working with and through others.
* Flexible, resilient, decisive, and calm under pressure, with a proven track record of delivering results to a high standard within tight deadlines whilst maintaining attention to detail.
* Excellent organisational ability, with proven ability to manage, plan, and prioritise tasks and workload, and a proactive approach to problem solving.
* Excellent relationship development and management skills, capable of operating at all organisational levels; experience of developing a strong professional network and building influence with multiple stakeholders in public and private sectors.
* Excellent command of spoken and written English; able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication.
* Strong IT skills using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook and internet-based applications.
* Holds at least a bachelor's degree.
Desirable qualifications, skills and experience
* Experience working in politically-sensitive programming and with senior stakeholders, preferably within the FCDO overseas network or another UK government department.
* Experience working in external communications, campaigns, or other relevant field.
* Experience of working with government and other official authorities in Kuwait.
Required behaviours
Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace,
Leadership, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
Application deadline Application deadline - day Application deadline - month
Application deadline - year
‎30 July ‎2023
Grade
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Type of Position
Full-time, Permanent
Working hours per week
‎35.5
Region
Middle East & North Africa
Country/Territory
Kuwait
Location (City)
Kuwait
Type of Post
British Embassy
Number of vacancies
‎1
Salary Currency
KWD
Salary
‎1520.400
Start Date Start Date - day Start Date - month Start Date - year
‎1 October ‎2023
Other benefits and conditions of employment
The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration
package for this role, including a non-negotiable gross salary of KWD
‎1520.400 per month. The package includes a good level of medical insurance,
a return flight fare to your home country for non-Kuwaitis every two years,
relevant social security payments for Kuwaiti nationals, and an engaging
working environment. Leave entitlement is ‎30 days per year (on pro rata basis)
plus ‎14 public holidays.
There are no other allowances payable as part of this package. No
accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this
position.
This position is for a full-time employment, on permanent contract, subject
to a ‎3-month probationary period.
Conditioned working hours are ‎38 hours gross per week (this is made up of ‎35.5
hours net per week and a daily ‎30-minute lunch break). The normal working
hours are ‎07:30 - ‎15:30 from Sunday to Wednesday and ‎07:30 - ‎13:30 on
Thursday. Due to the nature of the work, the jobholder should be flexible in
their approach to hours worked as these will be dictated by operational needs
and may involve working out-of-hours (evening / weekend).
The Embassy has an active Continuous Professional Development Committee, and
the whole of Post is committed to providing the time and resources for staff
to develop professionally. The ‎70/‎20/‎10 learning, and development model is
applied in a flexible manner, with both internal and formal opportunities
readily available. There will likely be an expectation of undertaking training
specific to crisis response/management in ‎2023.
Additional information
How to apply:
Interested candidates must include
* an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV)
* motivation essay, in the relevant sections of the online application form, stating how you meet the requirements of the role; and
* examples, in the relevant sections of the online application form, of how you meet the key behaviours and skills required.
Applications that do not include this information will not be considered.
Closing date of receiving applications is on ‎30 July ‎2023 by ‎23:55 hrs
(local time).
Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.
Process:
The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take
around two-three months. The security clearance process includes checks
available in country and with UK, dependant on the security level required for
the role and the candidates profile and UK footprint. You may experience some
delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign, and we are working hard to
minimise any disruption.
Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful at interview may be placed on a
'reserve list'. If during the reserve period of six (‎6) months the same or a
largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second
or subsequent candidate.
The start date mentioned in the advert is a tentative start date and the
successful candidate will be required to undergo security-vetting procedures.
Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable
clearances and reference checks.
The British Embassy Kuwait is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated
to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited
locally by the British Embassy are subject to Terms and Conditions of service
according to local Kuwaiti employment law.
Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country
Based 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.