View Vacancy – Private Office & Strategy Officer, Grade-EO, Kathmandu

Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment, educational details, behavioural and technical / professional skills questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the application forms only with all the required details and the shortlisting is not basis CV / cover letter. Forms that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage

Main purpose of job:

The Strategy Officer supports the Private Office and Strategy Team Leader as part of  the British Embassy, Kathmandu (BEK). The job holder works closely with the Team Leader and teams to deliver professional, co-ordinated cross cutting private office and strategy work at the heart of the British Embassy. This involves co-ordinating and networking with various teams and the Embassy network to support, facilitate, collate, analyse, draft strategic pieces of documents swiftly to a high standard. 

Writing briefings, core scripts, minutes and drafting key commissions for both internal and external stakeholders including HQ London team at high pace is a core part of the job. The role will also lead responses to general enquiries coordinating accurate inputs from various teams in Nepal and UK ensuring accountability, and UK’s transparency commitments. This includes managing and maintaining accurate and polished written responses to central commissions. The Strategy Officer will support the team to organise, and manage the Business Country Planning process, its assessments, reporting processes, and dissemination workshops/meetings with a range of external and internal stakeholders. 

The job holder will act as the Secretariat of the Embassy’s Country Board and co-ordinate the Embassy’s various governance board secretariats to develop a forward looking agenda for critical decision making. A key role of the job is to lead the Embassy’s knowledge management, develop and strengthen best practice management tools and guidance relating to development and diplomacy areas. The job will involve advice supporting strategic planning and engagements with Embassy’s stakeholders (internal/external) and the government to strengthen UK-Nepal bilateral relations. 

Other work includes facilitation of key events, workshops, developing agendas led by the Strategy team. The job holder will manage other core business and administration e.g. support the delivery of high level visits, briefing inputs and visit administration (in/out). The job holder will provide agile, timely and flexible support at high pace and undertake deputised work.  

We reserve the right to review, revise or amend the roles and responsibilities from time to time reflecting the changing needs of business.

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

The post holder with support the Team Leader to manage and facilitate the British Embassy’s Private Office and Strategy Team deliverables to an excellent standard in a high paced environment. He/she will undertake, but not be limited to, the following main duties:

• Co-ordinate, analyse, monitor, and produce high quality written briefs, other strategic pieces of core scripts, information requests, enquiries, and reports in liaison with other teams and the UK HQ ensuring they are of good quality, accurate, and meet key deadlines.
• Support the preparation and co-ordination of BEK country planning process, consolidation of inputs from teams on strategic documents from HQ or partners, coordinate and manage strategic engagements, other high-level meetings/workshops/events in consultation with the Team Leader, BEK cross teams and London.
• Prepare presentations, core scripts and other communication products in co-ordination with teams.
• Support the team leader to manage external engagements with development partners and government agencies to deliver leadership vision and influencing objectives.
• Build and maintain operational relationships within the Embassy contacts in Nepal, including liaison with HQ teams.
• Facilitate and draft other briefing requests and seek inputs from teams to central commissions and compliance returns working closely with other teams and HQ.
• Manage and support administration of high-level visits ensuring they meet visit objectives in coordination with the core teams led by the strategy team.
• Lead and manage team’s supplier negotiations and contact arrangements e.g. with government, supply chains, service providers, translators etc for team business needs following procurement, finance and value for money (VFM) best practices.
• Organise specific field visit plans and handle its administration working closely with programme teams/UK and BEK stakeholders, prepare field brief packs.
• Act as a focal point for general enquires managed by the team to a good standard ensuring quality and timeliness.
• Facilitate engagement with UK teams sharing Nepal best practices, co-ordinate inputs and analysis of core documents.
• Support the team in co-ordinating and preparing for UK-Nepal bilateral relations meetings and conferences, assist in preparation of letters and documentations.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of Embassy’s systems to generate efficient knowledge management whilst maintaining accurate repository of core documents for business planning. Advise teams as needed.
• Support other aspects of the team activities, away days, co-ordination of other strategic pieces of work, dialogues and workshops.
• Undertake delegated ad-hoc assignments in the team/office as required.
• Provide cover for team members.

Shared objectives:

• Contribute to cross-Embassy activities and groups, including crisis preparedness.
• Work collaboratively with other BEK teams in delivering mission objectives.
• Providing private office and strategy team core expertise when required.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure): 
Line management: Provide guidance and work closely with the Residence Manager, Executive Assistants and other members in the team. Work across other BEK teams. 
Expenditure: manage team’s procurement, contracting and payments as per FCDO best practice. 

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):
Training and development opportunities will be made available to the candidate relevant to the job description and work areas. The job holder will be inducted to the Embassy’s teams and mission objectives.
    
Working patterns:
We encourage staff to work flexibly where compatible within organisation’s standard policy and guidance. A minimum requirement to work for 36 hours a week. At times, the nature of this role may require working beyond normal hours for which time off in lieu is offered.

Any other information (or specific local Post requirements):
The British Embassy is an equal opportunity employer. This job is open to both internal and external candidates who are encouraged to apply.  

Essential on arrival:

• Education qualification: minimum bachelor’s degree (development studies, international relations, and any other relevant field related to this job description)
• Experience qualification: 3-4 years of experience in similar role with demonstrated evidence
• Strong management, strategic and contextual understanding
• Ability to work quickly at pace, reliably, with limited supervision
• Excellent written and oral English skills with an eye for detail including good report writing
• Experience of managing a quality service at pace at similar organisations and role
• A self-starter who can hit the ground running and quickly adapt to the role
• Ability to analyse and deliver polished quality briefs at high pace
• Resilient and efficient approach to work
• Enthusiast, positive person who can work across teams with ease
• Confidence to network with internal and external stakeholders
• Agile and flexible

Language requirements:

• Language: English and Nepali (some communication may require translations)
• Level of language required: Fluent/Excellent level in reading, writing, spoken English & Nepali