View Vacancy – OPT – Programme Manager (HEO)

The British Consulate General in Jerusalem (BCGJ) is a sovereign post which leads UK engagement with the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), in support of HMG objectives. BCGJ is a close-knit office with a strong culture of collaborative working and supportive relationships in a politically challenging context.

The Consulate General has an opportunity for a Programme Manager, job grade Higher Executive Officer (HEO) to work within its UK’s Integrated Security Fund (UKISF) OPTs & Israel programme team. The UKISF is a unique cross-government fund that provides development and security support to countries at risk of conflict or instability. The Fund supports and delivers security, defence, peacekeeping, peacebuilding and stability activity in over 60 countries using both Official Development Assistance (ODA) and non-ODA funding. The objectives of the team are to: increase capacity to protect rights and resilience and increase capacity for political processes and conflict resolution and to build confidence in a sustainable settlement.

We are looking for a dynamic, self-motivated individual with strong communication and coordination skills who is willing to take on a challenge and is not shy to voice their opinions as well as to listen to the views of others. They must be a constructive team player, willing to build strong relationships with colleagues in London, and the British Embassy Tel Aviv (BETA). This is an exciting role, delivering politically challenging and contentious programming making the work high risk but incredibly rewarding.

This job offers a great opportunity to develop skills in programme and project management across a range of complex conflict related thematic areas. The role requires good judgement, risk management, attention to detail, and the ability to work with a multinational and cross UK government team, and the ability to work with diverse stakeholders.

The Programme Manager will report to the Deputy Head of Team, and they will work closely with other team members to help deliver our collective goals. The post holder may be required to flex and support other parts of the team’s work if needed. 

Duties and responsibilities:

Programme Management

• Act as the programme responsible officer (PRO) for complex and high-risk projects, ensuring projects are designed, delivered, have robust M&E to ensure achievement of tangible results and policy outcomes, projects are compliant, conflict and gender sensitive, demonstrate value for money and finances are diligently managed.
• Take sole responsibility for management of all procurement and financial management of projects who you act as PRO for and later mentor other UKISF programme staff to support them in excellence of programme management.
• Understand and keep up to date with compliance requirements of the UK Integrated Security Fund Operating Framework to ensure projects are delivered by partners to agreed standards and schedules.
• Ensure the portfolio is compliant with the International Development Gender Equality Act (2014) by demonstrating consideration for gender equality throughout CSSF programmes, and supporting CSSF ambitions to achieve the UK’s Women, Peace and Security objectives.
• Provide input into corporate and other returns about the ISF team’s projects, reporting progress back to the relevant Boards and providing advice on the strategic direction of the programmes underpinned by solid analysis, data and research.

Briefing/ communications

• Lead timely, rapid and accurate input to high level briefings (e.g Ministers and Parliament) and explain external (contextual) challenges to the programme and how it responds to them.
• Lead and proactively driving internal and external communications opportunities for the whole of the UKISF programme team, motivating colleagues in the team to work collaboratively with the BCGJ and BETA Communications Team to ensure appropriate media coverage of the team’s project work and associated policy work.
• Act as BCGJ’s key relationship manager your project partners, managing underperformance and ensuring robust delivery.

Policy engagement/ representation

• Provide advice on areas which are under early consideration for new funding, weighing up and balancing factors to produce informed analysis to develop new specific interventions as needed to fulfil emerging policy objectives. This will involve researching, organising and analysing data as well as building relationships across the donor community, using judgement where issues are complex or conflicting and making decisions to aid efficient and effective delivery.

Corporate Objective

• There will also be opportunities to contribute to wider BCGJ priorities, which may include inputting into the country business plan, leading VIP visits, Crisis Management work, participation in one of BCGJ’s committees (e.g. Greening, Learning and Development etc). Contributing here also helps to build engagement and networking across BCGJ teams.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Consulate’s emergency planning and any other response to a crisis affecting UK Citizens.

Key behaviours required for the job:

• 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.
• Making Effective Decisions – Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.
• Managing a Quality Service – Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.

The following technical competency from the Programme Delivery Capability Framework will be required for the successful jobholder to engage effectively with stakeholders:

• Managing the programme cycle (and value for money): This competence is about understanding the tasks and obligations at each stage of the DFID programme cycle, and applying them directly, or through others depending on role, to support delivery.

• Excellent communication skills in English and Arabic both written and spoken. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely.
• At least two (2) years of experience in programme management with international organisations (UN agencies, International NGOs or diplomatic missions etc) or working with civil society organisations of NGOs delivering for international organisations or donors.
• Experience managing all aspects of the project cycle for complex and sensitive projects.
• Risk management of high-risk programmes in a way that aligns with the requirements of FCDO’s PrOF rules and relevant UK legislation (e.g. counter-terrorism act, gender equality act).
• Ability to manage workload and deliver at pace whilst maintaining quality and attention to detail
• Good working proficiency in Microsoft software, including excel.