View Vacancy – Science and Innovation Officer, UAE , UK Science and Innovation Network (AO)

The British Embassy has a vacancy for a Science and Innovation Officer UAE with UK Science and Innovation Network (SIN), job grade Administrative Officer (AO) on a fixed-term contract for eighteen (18) months.

The UK Science and Innovation Network (SIN) is the British Government’s organisation for international science diplomacy, using the UK’s excellence in science and innovation to develop partnerships and collaborations that support UK prosperity and help tackle global challenges.  SIN is jointly funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) with more than 130 staff based in over 65 locations worldwide, including the SIN Gulf team, led from Doha.

The six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain) are investing heavily in research capacity as they seek to diversify and build their knowledge-based economies. In addition to British Embassy and wider FCDO/DSIT objectives, the SIN Gulf team has already identified significant opportunities for the UK research base to engage beneficially with Gulf research institutions in priority research sectors and is looking to extend its coverage both in the region, and with UK institutes and businesses. The Science and Innovation Officer in the UAE must work as part of the wider SIN Gulf team, ensuring they continue to promote the UK as the partner of choice for research, development and innovation across the United Arab Emirates, while also providing regional administration support to the wider Gulf team.

This role will support both SIN delivery in the UAE (70%) and SIN regional administration (30%).

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 promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Support the UK relationship with UAE research, development and innovation bodies.
• Support the planning and delivery of programme funded scientific focussed initiatives in the UAE.
• Help to report on UAE trends, policy and funding in the areas of research, science and innovation.
• Support the organisation and write-up of Science & Innovation workshops, conferences, public lectures, receptions and meetings.
• Work with UK partners; UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT), Chancery, British Council and others to deliver wider UK prosperity objectives.
• Support the delivery of SIN Gulf communications to promote the vibrant, creative, and ambitious UK-Gulf science and innovation partnerships to a wide range of target audiences.
• Oversee SIN Gulf’s administrative processes and improve ways of working where necessary including;
• • Track and monitor the regional team’s project and travel budget/expenditure profiles.
  • Track and monitor the team’s progress against reporting requirements and performance indicators, working with the Head of Gulf to ensure projects deliverables are running to agreed timeframes.
  • Support the team to deliver regional or bilateral visits e.g. UK government officials, scientists etc.

Resources managed:

The SIN Gulf team have programme funds of ~£70,000, while SIN led programmes across the region exceed £500,000. Whilst not responsible for expenditure, the jobholder will have a key role in supporting the team’s planned activities, as well as forecasting and tracking spend.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required.

Key behaviours required:

• Working Together – Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources, and support.
• Delivering at Pace –  Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
• Managing a Quality Service – Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise, and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.
• Making Effective Decisions – Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications, and risks of decisions.

• Comfortable working with finances and budgets.
• The ability to work quickly and reliably, with attention to detail and with limited supervision,
• The ability to initiate and maintain a wide range of working relationships.
• The ability to work as part of a larger team.
• Strong communication, interpersonal and representational skills.
• Strong organisational skills.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and verbal.
• Strong IT skills and literacy in Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams).