Sector Director – Education

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)
The Department of International Trade at the British Embassy in Cairo has a
vacancy for a Sector Director - Education, job grade Grade ‎7 (G7).
The UK Department for International Trade (DIT) is the UK Government's
Department for promoting free trade and open market access, UK exports and
investment. In Africa, DIT supports the development of strong, prosperous and
peaceful African nations, through trade and investment partnerships delivering
mutual benefit for the UK and Africa. DIT brings together trade policy,
promotion, and finance expertise to break down barriers to trade and
investment in markets across the world, and to help businesses succeed.
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 DIT 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 DIT 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 DIT 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 use your own experience of business to role model and secure better services for UK business among the DIT Africa family. You will have autonomy to drive forward our work in this key sector, helping country teams in DIT Africa to find new opportunities, develop new deals, resolve problems, and win projects.
* 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.
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, and working knowledge of Arabic. 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 (‎10) years of experience working on education, preferably in Africa.
* At least ‎5 years' experience in leading teams at a senior level within a private sector business, or an educational institution, 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, educational institution, 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 sustainable development.
Required behaviours
Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Leadership, Working
Together
Application deadline Application deadline - day Application deadline - month
Application deadline - year
‎9 October ‎2022
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
‎3,415
Start Date Start Date - day Start Date - month Start Date - year
‎1 December ‎2022
Other benefits and conditions of employment
Eligibility:
Applicants must have the legal 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
‎3,415 per month subject to insurance and tax as per the usual regulations
based on a ‎36 hours per week. However, 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. There are no other allowances payable as part of this
package. No accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection
with this position.
The role is for a full-time employment, on a fixed term basis for one (‎1)
year, subject to three (‎3) months ' probationary period.
The British Embassy is committed to helping staff develop in their careers
through formal and informal training and coaching. You will have access to the
full suite of DIT and FCO learning and development opportunities including the
FCO's Diplomatic Academy, training in the UK, and will be encouraged to join
DIT'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.
You will be expected to undertake occasional travel to the UK and across
Africa.
Additional information
How to apply:
Interested candidates must include ‎1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) ‎2) a
covering letter/ motivation essay 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.
Your application must also include examples of when you have demonstrated
the required behaviours in the behaviour and technical/skills section of the
online application form._
The closing date for applications is ‎23:55 (Egypt Local Time) ‎09 October
‎2022.
Please note that incomplete applications or applications received after the
stated deadline will not be taken into consideration.
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.