Education Sector Director

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)
The British Embassy in Cairo is looking to recruit an Education Sector
Director , job grade G7.
The successful candidate will join the Department for Business and Trade's
Africa network. This role will provide crucial leadership and expertise to
enable the expansion.
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the Trade Promotion and
Negotiation organisation for the UK. We promote UK businesses overseas and
attract foreign investment to our shores. We have ‎3,000 staff across the globe
in over ‎100 countries. DBT Africa is one of the nine DBT global networks and
is led by John Humphrey, HM Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Africa. The Africa
Region is exciting and energising and UK firms have a strong presence here,
making the UK the the largest investor on the continent. With some of the
strongest growing economies in the world and booming population growth, there
are numerous more opportunities for UK firms; from tech start-ups in the West
to infrastructure in the East. The DBT Africa network's role is to promote
these opportunities and position the UK as the continent's number one trading
partner and investor.
This is a great opportunity to take a leadership role, operating with a high
level of autonomy, shaping our work in Africa in a very important sector for
the Continent. The UK offer includes world-class capability in education, at
school and higher levels, in curriculum development, vocational education, in
partnership approaches to deliver major education projects, and in edtech. UK
institutions are ready to partner to help to deliver even better quality in
education in Africa. Africa's needs in education are huge and the Continent is
in need of reliable partners like the UK who can deliver sustainable
solutions.
Your job will be to work independently with senior level African buyers and
key UK companies. You will help UK firms to create new, and expand existing
business, and build up investments in Africa. This includes identifying the
very best opportunities in Africa and the right strategies and markets
together with UK companies, informing, challenging and helping UK companies at
board level to create plans that support new effective market entry, and
successful engagements with major projects. You will guide DIT country teams
to understand the UK offer, and help them to evaluate projects in terms of
their best alignment to deliver outcomes that match UK interests, and to work
effectively in support of UK business interests in their countries. You will
leading DIT's work with the key UK businesses in education in Africa. You will
develop a strong understanding of the current state of education development
in Africa, the greatest opportunities for the UK, identifying new projects on
the horizon as well as driving existing projects forward. You will learn to
understand the key barriers to UK trade and investment, and ensure that our
work in this area is prioritised effectively, and that adequate action is
taken to resolve these barriers. You will engage UK companies early on when
opportunities start to arise in Africa. You will liaise with key buyers,
increase their understanding of UK expertise, and help key buyers to engage
with UK companies. You will create and lead a small number of very high
quality events that reflect the unique quality of the UK offer in education,
and that advance our interests with key buyers.
The successful candidate will have or further develop, expert knowledge of
national and federal education reform programmes in our priority markets, and
identify where commercial solutions could deliver the desired outcomes in
areas such as curriculum reform, assessments, teacher training and skills for
employability and to create partnerships based on sustainable growth in our
trade. This will require strategic thinking, drive, leadership and an ability
to understand and link up different tools and approaches, creativity and
problem solving in work with stakeholders to ensure the right outcomes are
achieved, together with sales and delivery skills in working with key buyers.
The jobholder will join a dynamic team of experts from the private sector,
committed to support UK business interests and Africa's economic growth. This
is an exciting time to join DIT Africa, as we deliver on our ambition to be
Africa's trade and investment partner of choice.
Duties and responsibilities:
* You will lead and deliver DBT Africa 's work in the education sector.
* You will create and deliver a sector plan focussed on outcomes and with clear priorities, goals, milestones and deliverables. You will create greater awareness in the UK, organise focussed sector events, and provide an evidence based view of the key areas for UK business engagement. You will create a pipeline of key projects and opportunities, and ensure there is appropriate and strong support for UK companies in making progress on these projects. You will lead a pan-Africa virtual sector team working in the sector. You will work together with UK stakeholders to advance your interests.
* You will lead this work, securing outcomes through the wider DBT Africa team across the continent, providing them with direction, helping to upskill them, and ensuring a consistent high standard of delivery and service.
* You will lead a strong programme of relationship management with major UK companies in the sector. You will lead accounts at Africa CEO level, working with senior leaders to understand their strategy, priorities and objectives, and market access concerns, delivering additional support for them that matches their needs, helping to realise the best possible opportunities in Africa. You will deploy support across the full range of DBT and HMG interests (trade policy, market access, export and business support, planning and strategy development, and new investments). You will also create your own relationships with buyer Governments, and your role will include some occasional travel when conditions permit to African countries.
* You will support the development of Trans National Education partnerships between African and UK higher education institutions, helping to improve the accessibility of quality tertiary education to local populations, and to drive economic growth through ensuring talent development matches the economy's needs.
* You will use your own experience of business to role model and secure better services for UK business among the DBT Africa family. You will have autonomy to drive forward our work in this key sector, helping country teams in DBT Africa to find new opportunities, develop new deals, resolve problems, and win projects.
The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be
flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required. The job description may
be reviewed to meet changes in business needs.
Key Behaviours:
* 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.
* Working Together - Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.
* Managing a Quality Service - Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.
* Making Effective Decisions - Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.
Essential qualifications, skills and experience
* Fluent communication skills in English both written and spoken. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication.
* Undergraduate degree or other relevant professional qualification relevant to education.
* Knowledge of education services projects, having worked in the private sector to develop education projects, with at least ten years of experience working in education, preferably in Africa.
* At least ‎5 years' experience in leading teams at a senior level within a private sector business, operating with autonomy to deliver success and project impact.
* Experience of working with government departments in Africa at a senior level to secure progress on education projects.
* At least ‎5 years of leading the development of new areas of business in Africa for international companies, education institutions, or at one of Africa's most successful private sector firms.
* Proven track record of cross-team collaboration.
* A positive, resilient, flexible and adaptable "can-do" attitude that can see a way through challenges.
Desirable qualifications, skills and experience
* Knowledge of the UK, a keen interest in trade and development.
Required behaviours
Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Leadership, Working
Together
Application deadline Application deadline - day Application deadline - month
Application deadline - year
‎21 May ‎2023
Grade
Grade ‎7 (G7)
Type of Position
Fixed Term, Full-time
Working hours per week
‎36
Duration of Post
‎12 months
Region
Middle East & North Africa
Country/Territory
Egypt
Location (City)
Cairo
Type of Post
British Embassy
Number of vacancies
‎1
Salary Currency
USD
Salary
‎3,684
Start Date Start Date - day Start Date - month Start Date - year
‎30 July ‎2023
Other benefits and conditions of employment
Eligibility:
Applicants must have the right to live and work in Egypt.
Remuneration:
The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration
package for this role, including a non-negotiable gross salary of USD
‎3,684 per month subject to insurance and tax as per the usual regulations
based on a ‎36 hours per week.
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.
We offer a competitive package including medical benefits, performance related
bonus, recreational facilities, opportunities for job related training &
development, etc. This is for a full-time employment, on a fixed-term basis
for one (‎1) year, subject to a ‎3-month probationary period.
There are no other allowances payable as part of this package. No
accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this
position.
You will be expected to undertake occasional travel to the UK and across
Africa.
The British Embassy is committed to helping staff develop in their careers
through formal and informal training and coaching. A healthy and active
Learning & Development committee supports staff in their goals. In addition,
we have access to the substantial amount of resources that the Embassy and UK
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's International Academy provides.
You will have access to the full suite of DBT and FCDO learning and
development opportunities including the FCO's Diplomatic Academy, training in
the UK, and will be encouraged to join DBT's trade profession. We also provide
regular in-house learning opportunities and are committed to supporting
further academic opportunities. Our staff who demonstrate great leadership
potential are encouraged to apply for the FCO's pan-African Emerging
Leadership Programme.
Additional information
How to apply:
Interested candidates must include ‎1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) ‎2) a
motivation essay, in the relevant sections of the online application form,
stating how you meet the requirements of the role; and ‎3) 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 before ‎23:55 (local time) on ‎21
May ‎2023.
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 job 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.
Personal data collected will be treated in strictest confidence under the
terms of the UK Data Protection Act and used for recruitment purposes only.

The British Embassy Cairo is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to
inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staffs recruited
locally by the British Embassy are subject to Terms and Conditions of service
according to local Egypt 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.