Portfolio Manager – British Embassy
Job Description
| POSITION | Portfolio Manager |
| SALARY | HEO (B1/C4) US$ 33,561 gross annually |
| DURATION | 2 Year Fixed Term |
| REFERENCE NO | SUD2104 |
| Deadline | 02/01/2022 |
About the FCDO’s development work in Sudan
FCDO pursues our national interests and projects the UK as a force for good in the world. We promote the interests of British citizens, safeguard the UK’s security, defend our values, reduce poverty and tackle global challenges with our international partners.
We place emphasis on how we lead and behave towards each other, how we make decisions and how we get the job done to deliver our cultural statement:
We put respect and kindness first. We are inclusive, we get to know each other, and value our diversity and the contribution we each bring. We are fair, act with integrity, and tackle inequality and unacceptable behaviour. We work together and take responsibility to solve problems.
We draw on the expertise, insight and diverse perspectives of people across the FCDO, HMG, and beyond. We use the best available data and evidence. We are open to challenge and take a long-term approach. We are transparent about the rationale for decisions and smart about taking and managing risks.
We are agile and alert to emerging opportunities. We encourage learning, innovation and use of data and digital. We are all clear on what we are expected to deliver and support each other in doing so. We look to reduce duplication and unnecessary process. We are committed to transforming both the FCDO and the way HMG delivers international policy.
The Team
The British Embassy in Khartoum is a dynamic, collaborative and fast-paced working environment. The UK is recognised and valued in Sudan for its leadership across the mix of humanitarian, political, conflict, economic and social challenges. We have a sizeable portfolio of programmes that support our wider objectives in these areas, with a total budget of approx. £60m this year. The Portfolio Manager will be part of the Operational Excellence (OpEx) Team that sits at the heart of our programme delivery.
Purpose of Job
The Portfolio Manager will play a leading role in supporting the Embassy to embed best practice on key aspects of programme delivery and management ranging from finance, risk, commercial, monitoring, learning and evidence. Together with the OpEx Team Leader and the Deputy Development Director you will be responsible for the oversight of our UK aid programme portfolio, providing a critical service across all four policy and programme teams to ensure that our programes deliver real-life impact and results for the Government of Sudan and the Sudanese people. This will support broader delivery of our Country Plan.
This is a new role within the team. You will need to take a dynamic and proactive approach to engaging with internal staff as well as external stakeholders in order to deliver on your responsibilities.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities
You will be responsible for:
- You will draw on FCDO’s data systems to provide high quality, timely and relevant information about our programme portfolio and delivery against our wider country plan. This will support senior decision-making about the allocation and management of resources and provide assurance that we are adhering to organisational policy and procedures. You will support the Development Director and Deputy Development Director to design and implement robust systems of portfolio management. OpEx is the secretariat for the Country Board and Portfolio Board and as such you will organise meetings, prepare papers, take minutes and track implementation of actions. You will lead on the management of corporate commissions and returns, tracking the requests, collating inputs and ensuring deadlines are met.
- You will work with programme managers and advisers across the Embassy to support them to deliver high quality programmes that draw on best practice programme management approaches from across FCDO’s global network. You will lead on specific strands of the programme capability plan, as well as ensuring that the plan is on track, and supporting other leads within the team and elsewhere across the Embassy to deliver on their elements. Working closely with the Senior Programme Managers and OpEx Team Leader you will support the establishment of a Programme Management Forum to share lessons and strengthen the peer support network within the Embassy.
- and strengthening their adherance to our control framework. You will consult with staff across the Embassy to understand the challenges they face with their partners and work with the OpEx team leader to design and deliver a series of regular programme partner engagement sessions. In addition you will provide targeted demand-driven support to particular programmes/partners, for example supporting on due diligence assessments, spot checks or annual reviews.
- You will work closely with the Results Adviser to identify priority portfolio assurance monitoring needs, providing steers to the cross-portfolio independent monitoring programme, liaise with the supplier delivering the programme and review relevant deliverables and reports to ensure issues and recommendations are taken up and addressed by programme teams or the Embassy more widely.
- You will work with the senior leadership team to support the broader range of Embassy Committees and Boards, or ad hoc special events/projects, as required. You will be expected to support on senior official or Ministerial visits, potentially leading on the programme or briefing for such events. You may also be required to support the Development Director on donor coordination activity related to the Sudan Partnership Forum.
The post holder will need to be flexible and adaptable to a rapidly changing context and shifting demands on the Embassy and OpEx Team, work collaboratively and at pace to sustain a focus on delivery.
Requirements
Three essential and/or three desirable skills that you will assess candidates against:
Essential:
- Programme management experience.
- Strong communication and influencing skills, including producing written briefing and reports for senior staff.
Desirable:
- Experience of working on results / monitoring.
- Prior experience of working in a diverse international organisation.
Civil Service Behaviours or Competencies
List the three Civil Service behaviours (from the Success Profiles Framework) or Civil Service Competencies (from the Civil Service Competency Framework) that you wish to assess.
- Communicating & Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
About British Embassy
British Embassy Khartoum
The British Embassy in Sudan maintains and develops relations between the UK and Sudan.
Our work covers a range of issues including:
- supporting a comprehensive and sustainable peace agreement
- working towards an inclusive peace with justice in Darfur
- supporting national and regional stability
- backing human rights
- encouraging the development of democratic and accountable government
- reducing poverty levels
British Embassy Brussels
We maintain and develop relations between the UK and Belgium.
British Embassy Washington
The British Embassy Washington maintains and develops relations between the UK and the United States.
We deal with a wide range of political, commercial, security and economic questions of interest to the UK and the US. Our consular team in Washington provides consular assistance to British nationals in the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.
The ambassador is responsible for the direction and work of the embassy and its consulates. Their tasks are to present UK policies to the American government and to Americans, to report and explain American policies and views to their own government in London, and to support UK interests. They are also responsible for press and cultural relations and for consular services. They are based at the British Embassy in Washington but travels regularly throughout the United States.
British consulates champion trade and investment between the UK and US. They also keep the ambassador aware of political, economic and other developments in their consular districts. The consuls are also responsible for providing consular services to British nationals in their consular districts.
Is there a UK embassy in every country?
Britain does not have Embassies in any of the Commonwealth countries. British interests in these countries are represented by High Commissioners, not Ambassadors, working in High Commissions, not Embassies.
Important – HOW TO APPLY
- Candidates must complete the application form and send it to [email protected] with a copy of their most recent CV.
- Download application form (ODT, 121KB)
- Please quote the following reference number when applying “SUD2104”. Failure to do so may result in your application not being viewed.
- Closing date of applications is midnight on 02 January 2022. Applications shown as being received after this time will not be accepted.
- Feedback will only be given to candidates who reached the interview stage.
- Failure to follow the outlined procedure may result in the application not being considered
- While we thank all applicants for your interest, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.
- Applicants must be legally authorised to live and work in Sudan.
- 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.
Sudan British Embassy is committed to equal opportunities in its staffing policy and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation or disability. Selection will be on merit. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
For jobs from British Embassy visit: British Embassy Jobs Page
