Job Opportunity for Senior Programme Manager – Climate and Energy at British High Commission in New Delhi

Main purpose of job:

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a fast paced and dynamic team in a critical decade for global action on the energy transition needed to move away from fossil fuels and towards clean growth.

The purpose of the the Senior Programme Manager – Climate and Energy role is to deliver the UK Government’s bilateral objectives with India through programme delivery on key areas of energy and climate. You will be based in the Climate and Energy Team, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, at the British High Commission, New Delhi. You will be working on issues at the top of the British and Indian governments’ priority lists as our two countries work together to deliver the 2030 Roadmap for India-UK future relations. 

This is a central role in the team, coordinating the delivery of FCDO’s technical assistance programmes in India on climate and energy through a range of implementers. 

Firstly, the main purpose of the job is to provide programme management expertise and oversight to support the delivery of large, varied and innovative technical assistance programming on energy and climate. The job will include: programme management and coordination oversight to drive overall delivery and ensure integrity and coherence of energy and climate programming; financial management of the overall programme; support for Monitoring, Reporting, Evaluation and Learning (MREL); communication of progress and impact to internal and external stakeholders in the UK and India. You will need strong programme management skills.

Secondly, the post holder will have to ensure effective coordination across the team, work closely with energy and climate colleagues across the India Network, and link effectively with other UK government departments at Post and in the UK. The job entails supporting the broader UK effort on energy and climate and you will need excellent coordination and collaboration skills to shape this work. . 

Thirdly, support the  Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) to plan, track progress on implementation of programmes and budgets and coordinate with the wider colleagues across FCDO to keep abreast of the budgetary information and other programme guidelines. You will support the team with other programme management elements such as coordinating meetings with the programme delivery partners and assist with visits. 

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

Reporting to the Head of Energy Sector Reforms, you will:

Strategy : 

• Develop a coherent implementation strategy for the UK’s technical assistance (TA) programmes on energy and climate, aligned with the delivery of the UK’s overall energy and climate objectives. 

• Working closely with the team’s policy leads and delivery partners, ensure that the programme delivers a coherent set of interventions (with appropriate interfaces) that lead to results and outcomes in line with the programme design and the overall UK strategy for energy and climate in India. 

• Build appropriate links with other areas of technical assistance (e.g. Infrastructure, Urban, Capital, Finance). Ensure complementarity of the team’s activity with programmes managed by other teams and UK Government Departments.

• Build relationships with key stakeholders and delivery partners in the energy and low carbon sector, including relevant Government Ministries in the UK and India, think tanks, industry associations and NGOs. 

Programme management :

• The Senior Programme Manager reports to the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) and will work with Policy Leads, for effective co-ordination of the team’s technical assistance programmes including oversight of any risks and issues arising, including by maintaining an up to date risk register and developing strategies for risk mitigation.

• Ensure that programme delivery is in line with UK principles, standards and guidance – ensuring all compliance activities are undertaken. This includes implementation of the programme in line with FCDO systems and processes. Leading on Due Diligence Assessments and ensuring Value for Money is demonstrated. 

•Working with policy leads provide quality assurance to ensure the delivery of new projects/ work packages is to the required standard, on time and within budget, in accordance with the programme plan and programme governance arrangements. 

• Ensure timely and well managed procurement of services to deliver the technical assistance programme in line with FCDO systems and guidance. 

• Working with policy leads, ensure high quality stakeholder management and communications with all delivery partners to drive delivery and ensure appropriate flow of information and advice.

• Ensure that the team is consistently practicing sound financial management using appropriate tools and practices. Ensure that delivery partners are meeting expected standards on delivering Value for Money. 

• Coordinate Monitoring, Reporting, Evaluation and Learning (MREL) functions for the team. 

• Ensure that learning is fed back into the programme to inform course correction and adaptive programming, and outcomes are properly captured. Regularly review partner reporting, in co-ordination with Policy leads. Critically appraise progress, troubleshooting programme issues and escalating delivery risks as appropriate. Lead the production of annual reviews and project completion reviews to quality standards and agreed deadline. 

Financial Management 

• Manage the programme’s budget, monitoring expenditure and costs against delivered and realised benefits as the programme progresses. 

• Ensure timely and accurate allocation and forecasting of the TA programme budget and financial management in line with FCDO PrOF (Programme Operating Framework) benchmarks and quality standards. 

Communication: 

• Co-ordinate proactive progress reporting on programme progress, emerging risks and lessons learned, for the SRO, relevant Programme Boards and Teams in the British High Commission and in London. 

• Deliver proactive and timely communication of results to internal customers and external stakeholders, including drafting impact stories and other communications products matched to audience, diplomatic telegrams, letters etc. 

Events and Visits:

• Coordinate and support successful delivery of high-level visits of UK delegations to India and Indian delegations to the UK.

• Provide input and assistance to other teams as well as the regional network on issues and projects relevant to areas of your subject matter expertise.

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

The British High Commission is committed to providing learning and development opportunities through courses and on-the-job training. 

Language requirements: 

Language: English, Hindi

Level of language required: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience  Essentials on Arrival:

Post graduate degree and at least seven years of experience of programme and financial management of large programmes including in the international development field. 

Other skills: 

• Strong analytical skills to review and analyse complex financial information and data analysis (e.g., PowerPoint, excel) are a    pre-requisite;

• Financial management of large and multi-year government programmes;

• Keen desire to learn about new & emerging energy and climate sector priorities;

• Demonstrated strong written, presentation, and communications skills in English and ability to synthesize and present information effectively and tailored to different and senior audiences;

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work across teams and across cultures; 

• Ability to work autonomously and proactively; and

• Flexible and adaptable in delivering tasks and responsibilities as assigned for effective team delivery. 

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience  Desirable qualifications, skills and experience: 

•    Any programme management course and/or qualifications; 

•    Experience of working in the field of climate and energy; 

•    Experience of working with private sector delivery partners; and 

•    Experience of delivering high profile delegation visits and events. 

Required behaviours  Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together

Application deadline  9 December 2022

Grade  Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

Type of Position  Fixed Term, Full-time

Working hours per week  40

Duration of Post  24 months

Region  South Asia & Afghanistan

Country/Territory  India

Location (City)  New Delhi

Type of Post  British High Commission

Number of vacancies  1

Salary Currency  INR

Salary  INR 110,484 per month plus 12% provident fund and 6% Special Allowance

Start Date  1 March 2023

Other benefits and conditions of employment  For BHC candidates, the Local BHC Terms & Conditions will apply.

For other than BHC candidates, Basic Salary will be INR 110,484 per month together with a 12% provident fund and 6% Special Allowance

Additionally the BHC offers a great benefits package that includes annual domiciliary medical cover, plus a Group Hospitalisation Scheme with INR 500,000 floater cover for your immediate family.

No relocation or any other related costs or assistance will be provided.

Please note – BHC does not deduct tax at source and employees are required to ensure that any requirements of local income-tax law are complied with in full. Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg. some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.    

The BHC is recognised as a good employer, with a robust, fair and transparent performance management & appraisal system linked to increments and staff bonuses. We have a 5-day working week, plus annual leave, public holidays, maternity leave provision, special leave, paid sick leave provision; ample development opportunities, travel opportunities, a good organisational culture, and excellent work/life balance. 

Around half of our work forces are women.  We treat people with respect and equality and have a policy of zero tolerance for any form of discrimination, bullying, or harassment. 

This is a good opportunity to be part of a strong, diverse team, working in the biggest network that FCO has anywhere across the globe.  We are aiming to make it the best.