Eo - Programme Officer, Infrastructure & Urban

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

**Main purpose of job**:
The post is to join the UK team in India with a chance to work in a high priority country that is the central to our Indo-Pacific ambition. The team is also looking to rationalise its portfolio in light of the UK-India Roadmap 2030 (signed off by Prime Ministers Johnson and Modi in 2021). This sets out a partnership focusing on re-energised trade, investment and technological collaboration that improves the lives and livelihoods of citizens of both countries; enhanced defence and security cooperation that brings a more secure Indian Ocean Region and Indo-Pacific and India-UK leadership in climate, clean energy and health that acts as a global force for good. Infrastructure and sustainable urbanisation are identified in the Roadmap as key areas of cooperation to achieve these strategic goals, reflecting their importance to India’s development and scope for mutually beneficial partnership.
India is also a priority country under the British Investment Partnerships (BIP) initiative, as announced by the Foreign Secretary. A strengthened partnership with India to deliver higher quality, reliable and clean investment, particularly in infrastructure, both domestically and in third countries, will be at the heart of the UK-India economic and development partnership.
These priorities shape our Country Business Plan, and are pursued by a large UK in India team encompassing staff from FCDO, Dept of Trade, BEIS, British Council, UK Research & Innovation, Deputy high commissions, Home Office and Scottish Government. Uniquely in India, the FCDO deploys capital investments in its development cooperation programmes and BII has a large portfolio here, with a commitment to invest £1bn to tackle climate change by 2026.

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

Reporting to the Portfolio Manager, post holder will be working on:
**1. Programme management**:

- Assist and support the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) on delegated programmes, 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.
- Ensure timely and well managed procurement of services to deliver the technical assisstance programme in line with FCDO systems and guidance.
- Working with the SRO, 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, Evalution and Learning (MREL) functions for the team.
- Regularly review partner reporting, in co-ordination with the SRO. 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.

**2. 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.

**3. 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 zero drafting impact stories and other communications products matched to audience, diplomatic telegrams, letters etc.

**4. 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 assist the portfolio manager in ensuring robust financial and corporate management for team related Travel and Leraning & Development allocations.
- Limited periodic EA support to the Development Director might be required.

**5. Corporate Returns**:

- Assist the Portfolio Manager in managing timely and good quality team returns on periodic corporate reporting.
- Assist the team to maintain good record of important relationships of key stakeholders