View Vacancy – KL – Programme & Policy Officer, Global Issues and Bilateral Diplomacy, EO

Main purpose of job:

The Global Issues and Bilateral Diplomacy Teams within the British High Commission (BHC) Kuala Lumpur focus on understanding global/domestic issues through the Malaysia prism, seeking to build relationships and influence policy in line with UK objectives through advocacy and targeted programme activity. 

The jobholder will provide effective programme management and admin support to both the Global Issues and Bilateral Diplomacy Teams, with focus on climate and sustainability, health, education and bilateral security cooperation. There will be some policy and research components as part of the role.

Day to day, the main purpose of this job is:

• To develop, implement and effectively manage UK-supported projects in Malaysia, on climate, health, education and bilateral security cooperation e.g cyber security, counter terrorism, modern slavery.
• These projects work towards our goal of achieving a modern partnership between UK and Malaysia, working together in pursuit of share prosperity and security, and supporting Malaysia’s development. Projects managed will include both UK Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) and non-ODA projects.
• Provide support for climate policy research, analysis and communications.
• Provide support for the administration of short-term projects in the above thematic areas, including finance and reporting tasks – in line with the FCDO Programme Operating Framework, and other corporate policies, rules and guidance.
• The jobholder will work closely with programme/policy leads within the British High Commission (BHC), external implementing partners, and Malaysian stakeholders to ensure effective delivery of projects that have real impact for the UK and Malaysia.

The post will be based at the British High Commission in Malaysia, a vibrant, international organisation, committed to diversity and staff development, and also expected to visit project sites in Malaysian states where necessary.

This is an exciting opportunity to play an influential role with exposure to high-profile and strategic British development initiatives in Malaysia, which aims to have a positive impact on accelerating climate and sustainable development, as well as strengthening the relationship between the UK and Malaysia.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?

Policy Research/Reporting and Project Design

• Build an understanding of UK policy priorities in Malaysia and spot opportunities for project interventions, with focus on climate issues, eg. climate economics, governance, energy transition, green finance, resilience and adaptation, nature and biodiversity.
• To deliver UK priorities and enable ambitious multi-stakeholder Malaysian climate action, aligned to UK’s International Development Strategy, UK-Malaysia Climate Partnership and UK-ASEAN Dialogue Partnership.
• Work collaboratively with climate programme/policy leads to design projects, in line with the UK FCDO Programme Operating Framework and other legal and audit requirements.
• Support policy research requirements, including information gathering, basic data analysis and data visualisation. Producing usable drafts for policy leads, summarising discussions and keeping records.

Programme Management

Manage and deliver projects with oversight from policy leads in Global Issues and Bilateral Diplomacy Teams (covering climate and social development partnerships eg. health, education and bilateral security cooperation).

Project Delivery:

• Organising inward and outward visits, liaising with key London-based stakeholders, putting together programmes, and managing logistics.
• Building and maintaining relationships with key external stakeholders in Malaysia in particular relevant Malaysian ministries/institutions and the NGO/CSO community.
• Work with teams across BHC including the Communications Team to promote UK project work in Malaysia.
• Supporting project leads with wider thematic engagements and representing the BHC; attending relevant conferences, government meetings and workshops.
• Support the implementation in-county of regionally and globally managed projects.

Project Finance and Administration:

• Manage tendering processes and contracts for external project implementers.
• Manage project finances using accounting tools to provide accurate forecasts of spend (with training provided).
• Keep abreast of FCDO programme spend rules and guidance to ensure spending compliance – such that component-level risk registers and results frameworks are in place and value for money is optimised.

Project Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Meet regular project reporting requirements.
• Attend project related activity and events.
• Demonstrate projects are achieving value for money.
• Support bidding processes for future funding.

Missionwide Programme Delivery/Corporate

• The jobholder will work alongside other programme managers in the British High Commission who focus on political/institutional reform and economic partnerships to manage the governance and oversight of programme delivery in line with FCDO best practise.
• The jobholder will be expected to cover outside their portfolio, and to assist / mentor / upskill other staff on programming processes.
• Within this framework the jobholder will have the opportunity to develop their own specialism and policy focus.
• Job holder will also need to take on corporate objectives, support the organisation of team activities and inward/outward visits.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure): 
Programme funding is reviewed each year.

• Graduate with university degree relevant to the job.
• Experience in programme/project management and project financial management and administrative tasks.
• Ability to do independent research on the key thematic areas, with proven capabilities for basic analysis, report writing and presenting data.
• Strong knowledge in IT applications and Microsoft Office, including spreadsheets, graphs, and use of infographics for reporting.
• Evidence of self-motivation, professionalism and the ability to work under minimal supervision.
• Personal drive and ability to work both independently and across different teams.
• Excellent organisational, interpersonal and communication skills. Confidence to express ideas clearly and concisely.
• Evidence of adaptability and ability to prioritise against competing, challenging tasking.
• Flexibility and resilience under pressure.
• Fluent written and spoken English and Bahasa Malaysia.

Language requirements: 

Language:  English, Bahasa Malaysia

Level of language required: Fluent written and spoken