View Vacancy – Governance Advisor and Deputy Head of Programmes (MDA25.015)

The British Embassy in Chisinau is part of a worldwide network, representing British political, defence, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking to recruit a Governance Advisor and Deputy Head of Programmes to the Embassy Programme Team.

The primary purpose of this role is to provide timely, high-quality analysis on important Governance issues in Moldova to inform policy reporting and strengthen programmes. Providing high quality governance advisory inputs into the design, development, management and monitoring of governance projects in the areas such as public sector reform, electoral integrity and democratic governance. These projects are financed through the UK’s Government’s Good Governance Fund (GGF). This is a fixed-term position currently until 31 March 2026 subject to review.

An awareness, and willingness to invest in understanding wider Governance and Social Development issues, such as anti-corruption, rule of law and political developments in Moldova is required. Flexibility to support colleagues across the Embassy on wider tasks is also required.

The Job holder will play a key role in supporting the development of the successor programme to the GGF to be operational from 1st January 2026. Governance will be at the heart of this.

As Deputy Head of Programmes, the role will require close engagement with Project Officers responsible for the operational running of over 25 active interventions and representational duties.

The Embassy blends policy and programming and so the job holder will contribute to policy analysis and development. This could involve delivering weekly briefings with London colleagues, preparing reports, collecting data and evidence for use in Diplomatic reporting, drafting Political Economy Analysis. Supporting the Ambassador chaired Taskforce Groups that bring together cross-UK government actors, programmes and advisors.

The job holder will provide high quality technical expertise and professional advice to bring a social development lens to the design of British Embassy Chisinau’s strategies, plans, policies, and programmes. This includes identifying and analysing key concepts, and the evidence base on social protection policies and programmes to support outcomes including poverty reduction, education, productivity, employment, women’s empowerment, reduction of Gender Based Violence, resilience to crises, and social inclusion.

Roles and responsibilities

This position sits within the Programmes Team in the British Embassy. The team leads the Good Governance Fund (GGF) and the Integrated Security Fund (ISF) work in Moldova and well as supporting on other funds. This advisory role contributes governance advice directly to the Ambassador, across programme and policy teams and with colleagues on the Moldova Desk based in the UK and other regional advisors. You will be line managed by the Head of Programmes based in Moldova with regular engagement from the Development Director.

This fixed-term appointment comes during a position of transition for the GGF, which has been operational in Moldova since 2015. You will cover the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of new and existing projects.

The successful candidate will be expected to: 

• Lead on governance analysis and advice: leading governance advice within the British Embassy, including leading on applied political economy analysis, advice on programmes in the embassy portfolio with an emphasis on (but not limited to) democratic governance and public sector reform. Ability to provide timely analytical, policy and programme direction and support across these areas, working with HMG, national and international actors to pursue Embassy objectives.
• Support the Business Case design of a new multi-year multi-million-pound regional Development Fund to start from January 2025 with a strong focus on supporting Governance reforms in Moldova, Armenia and Georgia.
• Support the Ambassador chaired Election Task Force that brings together all HMG actors to support the electoral integrity of Moldova’s Parliamentary elections.
• Assist the Head of Programmes with programme management duties as required including during periods of annual leave when you will lead the Programme Team. Contribute to the embassy’s wider corporate objectives, for example, by participating in committees, crisis response, learning & development, UK scholarship programmes or recruitment.
• Support delivery of the UK’s bilateral objectives through supporting the effective design and implementation of programmes and policies in line with the Country Business Plan.  Lead on high quality political analysis and reporting feeding in relevant subject matter expert experience gained from deeper knowledge of thematic areas linked to projects. Support evidenced based policy making.

• Independent user in English and Russian (B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages*);
• Proficient user in Romanian (C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages*);
• Minimum three years’ experience in a Governance advisory role demonstrating an in-depth understanding of the Moldovan political and economic environment, governance analysis and applied political economy analysis;
• Minimum three years’ experience of delivering Governance projects and programme management in a development context, within an international non-governmental organisation, international financial institution, donor organisation or company. Detailed understanding of Theories of Change and adaptive programming;
• Strong  organisational and team management skills, capable of proactively identifying risks and problems and working individually and within a team to manage them.