British High Commission in South Africa Jobs - Programme and Finance Manager Vacancies

British High Commission in South Africa Jobs - Programme and Finance Manager Vacancies

Main purpose of job:

The global science network is a unique component of the UK’s overseas footprint with 152 officers in 67 locations around the world providing science, technology, and innovation (ST&I) expertise. Our global science network in Africa comprises 20 people in 4 locations.

The network develops bilateral and regional ST&I relationships for UK advantage, impact, and influence. The network is composed of the Science and Innovation Network (SIN) and Research and Innovation Hubs (Hubs). The Global Science Department (GSD) sits within the Research and Evidence Directorate (RED) under Charlotte Watts as the FCDO’s Chief Scientific Advisor.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a fast paced and dynamic regional team, the RED Southern Africa Research and Innovation Hub (SARIH) and lead the team’s project and financial management. SARIH supports data driven development and diplomacy by providing rigorous evidence, analysis and learning to drive evidence-based policy and improve the effectiveness of FCDO programmes across Southern Africa, and promotes and amplifies UK and international research partnerships across the region to tackle pressing global issues.

SARIH also supports the development and implementation of ambitious strategic science, tech and innovation (ST&I) partnerships across priority Southern African countries, notably in South Africa.

You will work on important global topics including climate change and biodiversity, women and girls, and global health. You will work collaboratively with four other regional teams based around the world to service the programme and finance needs of FCDO’s country offices.

Based in the British High Commission, Pretoria, the post holder will ensure best practice and compliance with FCDO's Programme Operating Framework (PrOF) are applied across the management of portfolio, programmes, and projects.

At a portfolio level, the post holder will be responsible for the SARIH portfolio management including collating timely and accurate management information for the team leader and senior management, monitoring budget and expenditure information (including travel and training), and reporting and communicating on key results and impacts.

The post holder will working closely with other programme managers across the Global Science Department to ensure coordination and best practice when implementing FCDO data and transparency requirements.

At a project level, the post holder will work closely with SARIH’s technical advisers to contribute to the successful delivery of the required outcomes of projects through your inputs into project design, procurement, requisitioning, establishment of appropriate governance and assurance, monitoring progress and evaluating results, reviewing invoices and processing payments, and monitoring and managing risks.

The post holder will also proactively manage communications with delivery partners to ensure that key programme and finance governance rules and principles are communicated appropriately.

Roles and responsibilities:

We all have a responsibility to embrace the changes of the FCDO as it transforms, building the culture we want to see and delivering our cultural statement in how we lead and behave towards others; how we make decisions and how we get the job done is everyone’s responsibility.

Reporting to the Southern Africa Research and Innovation Hub (SARIH) you will be responsible and accountable for:

Programme and risk management

Work with FCDO technical leads and advisers to ensure the successful delivery of around £500,000 distributed across multiple small and medium-sized research projects under the Evidence Fund for SARIH ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget, in accordance

with the project plan and the PrOF.

Lead on due diligence assessments of partners including scoping, fieldwork and reporting.

Regularly review partner reporting, alongside the FCDO technical lead. Critically appraise progress, troubleshooting project issues, maintaining and monitoring risk registers and inputting into annual reviews and dissemination activities.

Build and maintain effective working relationships with SARIH programme partners/ suppliers, key donors and stakeholders in various locations in UK and overseas offices.

Work collectively with programme managers across the Global Science Department to support delivery of Departmental objectives, share lessons and best practice, problem solve, and flex to provide cross-cutting programme management support

Coordinate proactive reporting on SARIH projects, including progress and financial reporting, emerging risks and lessons learned, for the team.

Actively manage the various channels and folders for SARIH on Microsoft Teams, ensuring key documents and materials are filed and made accessible.

Financial management

Manage the team’s budget, monitoring expenditure and costs against delivered and realised benefits/outputs throughout the project lifecycle.

Ensure all requisitions, purchase orders and receipting/payment of invoices meet FCDO’s financial rules, and are linked to agreed project milestones and/or partner or supplier reporting obligations.

Ensure budgets are accurately recorded, forecast, and profiled throughout the life of projects and payments actively managed in line with FCDO PrOF benchmarks and quality standards.

Ensure that the team and delivery partners are consistently practising sound financial management, delivering Value for Money.

Managing the team’s non-pay budget (travel and training), forecasting and monitoring spend throughout the financial year.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

No direct line management of staff.

Monitoring SARIH non-pay budget and expenditure, including travel and training.

Financial management of around £500,000/year funding for SARIH Evidence Fund projects.

Potential to provide programme and finance management for large value GSD programmes (up to £20m) depending on the needs of GSD.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

Strong project and financial management experience, including experience of portfolio financial management.

Strong IT skills including a thorough understanding of Microsoft 365 software products, particularly Excel.

A proactive approach and a focus on continuous improvement of self and service, with an appetite to work with others to simplify processes and improve efficiency.

Strong organisational and time management skills; excellent attention to detail.

Adaptability to flex across portfolios in delivering tasks and responsibilities for effective team delivery.

The resilience to manage multiple projects concurrently, with the ability to support project monitoring and evaluate project delivery to tight deadlines.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

Qualification in programme/project management, including financial management, risk management, and monitoring and evaluation.

Experience in working on science, technology, research and innovation in the area of project and finance management

Experience working on regional projects and with partners outside South Africa.

How to Apply

For more information and job application details, see; British High Commission in South Africa Jobs - Programme and Finance Manager Vacancies

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