Blue Planet Fund Regional Programme Officer,

This role acts as the overall lead for the UK government on oceans policy and programmes across the Pacific. Its main purpose is to lead the day-to-day oversight, engagement, delivery, and coordination of programmes and projects under the Blue Planet Fund (BPF) programme across the Pacific and contribute to the design of other BPF programmes that will deliver in the region. You will ensure that these align with the regional priorities as set out in the Blue Pacific 2050 Strategy. This role will also ensure the BPF supports ocean and nature commitments made by countries in the Pacific region. You will provide policy advice and support on oceans issues to British High Commissions across the Pacific and will require close collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders, including Governments, regional and multi-lateral organisations, programme teams in the UK, UK government departments, non-government organisations (NGO), and the private sector, to maximise the impact of the BPF programme in the region.

This is a great opportunity for a highly motivated self-starter with strong project management skills, international development and/or marine programmes or policy experience, and stakeholder management skills. We are looking for a someone with a ‘can do’ approach to help to design, oversee and implement projects under the BPF delivering in the Pacific region.

Reporting to the Pacific Climate Counsellor in the British High Commission in Suva and to the International Sustainable Blue Finance team in London, you will enjoy a good level of autonomy and decision-making. You will also be able to access professional development opportunities, including scope to work on the wider BPF programme and other High Commission priorities, including UK advocacy work on the marine environment across the region. The role will also support the delivery of all BPF programmes in the region. You will also support the Pacific Climate, Nature, and Energy team’s wider work including Ministerial visits to the region and preparations for COPs (including the upcoming BBNJ COP1). You will also represent the UK at regional oceans-focused events.

You will need excellent communication and presentation skills (both written and verbal), and the ability to deliver high quality work. You will need to assess and prioritise your own workload within given timeframes to meet project schedules. This role will also require good international development, political and policy skills to ensure successful HMG BPF delivery, cooperation and collaboration between delivery partners, and results for recipients.

Main duties include:

1. Programme Coordination and Delivery – 70%

• • Supporting on the day-to-day relationships with Blue Planet Fund programme delivery partners and country governments receiving support through the BPF, ensuring join up across the programmes and other donor programmes
  • Coordinating Defra (UK’s Ministry for environment) and FCDO (UK’s Ministry for foreign affairs) Blue Planet Fund programme activities in the Pacific, including but not limited to our commitments on large and small scale marine protected areas, to ensure complementary and joined up delivery
  • Providing advice and support to UK BPF teams on the delivery and design of BPF programmes in the Pacific
  • Ensuring BPF programming is harmonised with other in-country and regional donors and their ocean programmes, including liaising with other donors, multilaterals, and diplomatic missions to ensure programme activity does not duplicate other work. This may include support for donor coordination and harmonisation
  • Regular reporting to UK-based teams and regional Boards, including consulting and aligning on UK government priorities and liaising with UK government departments to identify and follow-up on opportunities arising from programme activities
  • Supporting communication activities in the region to ensure uptake of key lessons from BPF projects and to promote and raise the profile of the UK and the BPF across the Pacific
  • Providing advice and guidance to British High Commission staff across the Oceania region on all aspects of BPF programme activity, including reporting to the Pacific Regional Board

2. Blue Planet Fund policy and wider leadership on sustainable ocean management – 30%

• • Deliver wider mission critical work as required as part of the team at the British High Commission including as overall oceans lead 
  • Drafting briefings, reports and presentations on the Pacific marine environment as required  
  • Representing the UK at meetings across the Pacific to influence and communicate UK marine priorities  
  • Participate in self-development to continually improve performance/systems and undertake development activities that are identified 

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will be expected to carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required. These responsibilities may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the BPF and the organization.

• Degree qualification or equivalent experience
• Experience of building a network and managing effective relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, such as government officials, delivery partners and local and community groups
• Understanding of marine environment, biodiversity conservation, fisheries management, and marine pollution
• Ability to effectively as part of a team which is dispersed across the region and in the UK
• Ability to work on own initiative and organize own workload without supervision working to tight and often changing timescales

• Training and/or experience in project management
• Previous experience in similar role in project/programme management in public sector or with bilateral/multilateral organizations
• Experience/knowledge of the region (politics, socio-economic situation)
• Experience drafting briefing papers, reports and presentations
• Experience of organizing events/conferences/ workshops
• Ability to analyze and interpret complex information and recommend appropriate actions.

Staff recruited locally by the High Commission are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Fiji employment law.

The British High Commission promotes family-friendly flexible working opportunities where operational and security needs allow. We do not discriminate; people of all backgrounds are welcome.

We offer challenging and interesting work. We provide opportunities to staff to change jobs and apply for promotion through internal recruitment process. We support staff in developing for future careers within and outside of the network by providing a wide range of learning and development opportunities to develop skills and knowledge

The How We Work Statement (below) sets out the ambition we share across the FCDO for how we lead and behave towards each other, how we make decisions, and how we get the job done.

• We put respect and kindness first. We are inclusive, we get to know each other, and value our diversity and the contribution we each bring. We are fair, act with integrity, and tackle inequality and unacceptable behaviour. We work together and take responsibility to solve problems.
• We draw on the expertise, insight and diverse perspectives of people across the FCDO, HMG, and beyond. We use the best available data and evidence. We are open to challenge and take a sustainable, long-term approach. We are transparent about the rationale for decisions and smart about taking and managing risks.
• We are agile and alert to emerging opportunities. We encourage learning, innovation and use of data and digital. We are all clear on what we are expected to deliver and support each other in doing so. We look to reduce duplication and unnecessary process. We are committed to transforming both the FCDO and the way HMG delivers international policy.

Learning and development opportunities:

We are committed to ensuring all staff have relevant developmental training opportunities. 

Working patterns:

Core Office hours are:

• 08:00 – 16:15 Monday to Thursday
• 08:00 – 13:00 Friday

However, we operate flexible working.