The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.

Job Category   : UK Mission

Job Subcategory   : Development and Humanitarian

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)  

Main purpose of job:

The main purpose of this role is to support the successful delivery of British Embassy Kinshasa infrastructure programmes in the DRC. You will also lead infrastructure engagement with IFIs and provide advice and support to the British Embassy Kinshasa on major DRC based infrastructure projects. 

Infrastructure systems form the backbone of every society, providing essential services that include energy, water, waste management, transport and telecommunications. Infrastructure can also create harmful social and environmental impacts, increase vulnerability to natural disasters and leave an unsustainable burden of debt. Investment in infrastructure is at an all-time high globally, thus decisions being made now will lock-in patterns of development for future generations. Although for the most part these investments are motivated by the desire to increase economic productivity and employment infrastructure either directly or indirectly influences the attainment of all of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 72% of the targets.

Roles and responsibilities 

Programme (55%)   

·       Provide technical oversight and lead technical advice into the design, delivery, monitoring, evaluation and learning of FCDO infrastructure and urban projects and programmes. In the British Embassy Kinshasa this includes our humanitarian, education and Green Cities programme. Ensuring adherence to agreed engineering standards, cods of practice etc

·       Support delivery of the British Embassy Kinshasa programmes through providing programme management support.       

Policy (15%)    

·       Position the UK at the forefront of infrastructure and urban policy engagement through developing policy, contributing to advocacy strategies for UK infrastructure and urban development policy objectives in the DRC.

·       Support institutional, legal and regulatory reform to build a more enabling environment for sustainably focused infrastructure projects and development of appropriate infrastructure financing models.

·       Engage effectively with senior officials and directly with Ministers as necessary    

·       Develop close engagement with infrastructure and urban policy and research teams (in the UK and DRC) to ensure that the policy work in this role is informing and learning in the UK.

·       Writing briefings and supporting visits to DRC and in the UK.

Relationships and networks (15%)

·       Establish constructive relationships with key individuals and organisations, including representing FCDO with relevant partners and in relevant forums (e.g. donor coordination, country teams etc). This will include within the British Embassy, with the DRC government including at senior levels, with the private sector, civil society, research organisations, academia, international bilateral and multilateral aid agencies and foundations, in-country, at headquarters, regionally and/or internationally – as needed.

·       Interpretation in and organisation of meetings, writing meeting records in English and translation as needed.

People and building capability (15%)

·       Maintain cutting edge understanding of and application of evidence and work to build the capability of others.   

·       Support FCDO’s wider infrastructure and urban and other objectives. This might entail support to another country programme such as contributing to an annual review, developing an evidence product or the design and delivery of training for other cadre members or HMG officials.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience  

·       At least 2 years' experience working on infrastructure projects/advising on projects.

·       Ability to think and work strategically with a range of partners, including DRC government, UK government counterparts and other development partners, including devising long-term strategies encompassing short term tangible achievements.

·       Understanding opportunities and challenges in mobilising private finance for sustainable infrastructure.

·       Proactive and self-starting approach to your work.

·       The ability to form and strengthen internal and external networks to deliver against UK development and wider objectives.

·       Exceptional personal and professional resilience including a recognition that progress will face set-backs and require continual prioritisation.

·       Ability to communicate technical concepts to a range of audiences and engage in high level policy dialogue.

·       The resilience to manage multiple projects concurrently, with the ability to research, benchmark, scope, design, implement and evaluate project delivery to tight deadlines.

·       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.

·       Experience running/working on an infrastructure programme.

·       Programme management expertise.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience  

·       Previous experience of working in partnership with IFIs.

·       Understanding of UK infrastructure offer.

·       Previous experience working with the DRC government and/or DRC provincial authorities particularly on infrastructure programmes.

Required behaviours  

Communicating and Influencing, Seeing the Big Picture

Application deadline  

8 January 2025

Grade  

Senior Executive Officer (SEO)

Type of Position  

Fixed Term

Working hours per week  

36

Duration of Post  

24 months

Region  

Africa

Country/Territory  

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Location (City)  

Kinshasa

Type of Post  

British Embassy

Number of vacancies  

1

Salary  

USD $3460.38 per month plus allowances (subject to change) of over $1200 a month, health insurance and contribution to pension

Type of Salary  

monthly

Start Date  

3 March 2025

Other benefits and conditions of employment  

·       You will benefit from access to a range of FCDO training and development opportunities including those within the infrastructure cadre.

·       We are willing to consider candidates who will have flexible working requests. However, the role will require travel outside of Kinshasa and work outside normal working hours – at times

Additional information  

The British Embassy will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position 

Employees recruited locally by the British Embassy in Kinshasa are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Democratic Republic of Congo

All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit 

The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to. 

1.Obtain the relevant permit 

2.Pay the fees for the permit 

3.Make arrangements to relocate 

4.Meet the costs to relocation 

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. 

Information about the Civil Service Success Profiles can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles 

Please note: Job grade AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5 

Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates 

Please log into your profile on the application system on a regular basis to review the status of your application 

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate 

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.