View Vacancy – Policy and Programme Officer – EO (06/24 GBE)

The High Commission’s Policy and Programme Officer will provide significant support to senior leadership in the Mission (the High Commissioner, Deputy High Commissioner and Head of Policy and Programmes), underpinning a crucial cross-cutting role across the diplomacy and development functions of BHC Gaborone.  The PPO also carries a crucial role in the delivery of the Country Business Plan. They will have substantial responsibility to support delivery of the UK’s bilateral objectives through supporting the effective management of programmes and policies in line with the Country Business Plan as well as contributing to high quality political analysis and reporting. The role will require a self-starter, a solid team player with good analytical and programme management skills, and the ability to multi-task effectively and meet tight deadlines on occasions.  The jobholder will have opportunities to engage on a wide range of issues in addition to their formal job description, including contributing to wider representational, corporate and operational work.

Political and Economic Analysis, Reporting and Stakeholder Management – 50%  
 
Work jointly with the Head of Policy and Programmes to build relationships with a range of key actors in the UK and Botswana including government ministries, parliament, academia, civil society, NGOs and the media;  

• Develop an in-depth understanding of the UK’s economic and growth priorities and approach, and how our work in Botswana can support these both domestically and regionally;
• Contribute to high quality reporting and analysis on the internal social, political, economic and wider development issues in Botswana drawing on a wide range of information and interlocutors;
• Undertake regular horizon scanning to identify potential risks to HMG policy and opportunities for innovative ways for HMG to add additional value.
• Represent the BHC at a wide range of external meetings and events, presenting the UK position and producing timely meeting reports afterwards.
  
  Strategic Communications 25%
  
• Lead on development of a comms strategy for the High Commission
  Produce targeted communications products (social media and press) with support and inputs from the rest of the Policy Team to further UK objectives in Botswana
• Work with BHC colleagues to deliver events that promote UK values and contribute to the delivery of policy objectives.
• Lead on the organisation of inward and outwards visits between Botswana and the UK for Ministers, senior officials and Parliamentarians, providing direct support to the Deputy High Commissioner.
  
  Programme Management 25%
• Provide ongoing support to Policy and Programme Team with project management across the project cycle, including with design, delivery and review of the High Commission’s project priorities.
• As Programme Board Secretariat, act as coordination point for preparation of relevant Board proposal papers, concept notes, agendas, recording meeting minutes, maintaining sight of programme spend and managing ad hoc approvals.
• Work with implementing partners to provide communications support – leveraging on project outcomes to translate them into impactful communications outputs.

• BA in Political science/international relations or equivalent
• Experience in Political Analysis
• Minimum 3 years experience in Programme/Project Management
• Excellent analytical skills
• Strong drafting and impactful communications
• Understanding of UK interests and strategic objectives
• Working in multi-cultural environments
• Working knowledge of the use of Microsoft office tools like Excel, Word and Outlook.
• Good organisational skills and time management
• Excellent spoken and written English