Prosperity Officer, Grade

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

**This is a temporary position for 6.5 months.**

**Main purpose of the job**:
The British High Commission Colombo is looking for an enthusiastic person to provide maternity cover for an important, diverse and exciting Prosperity Officer role.

The successful applicant will provide high-quality policy analysis across a diverse prosperity portfolio with a focus on economic reporting, the trade and investment environment, health and other relevant global issues (e.g. science and innovation); providing advice to the High Commission on the implications for UK priorities and how the UK government should respond. This will involve engagement with government bodies, organising events, maintaining contacts with the UK and Sri Lankan institutions.

You will work alongside the wider Prosperity network to maximise opportunities, including colleagues from geographical and programme departments in London and other UK government Prosperity departments in the South Asia region.

You will also be expected to work with the Head of Team to research and support projects and programmes to help support High Commission Prosperity objectives.

The successful applicant will be joining an evolving Prosperity team, working in an inclusive and supportive High Commission environment. They will work closely with the Head of Prosperity to help define the team’s ongoing priorities. This will require flexibility in approach to tackle a broad range of prosperity challenges and opportunities.

The role will provide access to senior decision-makers in the UK and Sri Lankan Governments, and will require high levels of autonomy, fluency in English and Sinhala and quality decision-making.

**Roles and responsibilities**:
**Economic reporting**
- Provide analysis on the implications for UK government objectives of major economic and prosperity developments in Sri Lanka. Engage with the South Asia economic team, other economists in the FCDO and other key government departments (e.g. Treasury) to identify areas/topics for economic reporting and collaboration on regional issues.

**Political Economy**
- Maintain a wide network of contacts with economic and commercial institutions/interests to develop an in-depth understanding of the economic and regulatory situation in Sri Lanka, including the links between politics, good governance and economic development. And alongside other government departments use this to help inform HMG policy, producing regular reporting and analysis on economic issues.

**Commercial Diplomacy**
- Through economic reporting help support the Trade team identify potential areas of growth, risks and challenges for UK businesses.

**Policy**
- Respond to emerging prosperity priorities from the UK Government (e.g. Health/C19), and with the Head of the Prosperity section, work out how the High Commission should respond.

**Projects**
- Working with the Head of Prosperity and other programme teams to research the potential for prosperity project work and support the design and development of centrally funded programmes; aligning to UK Government priorities and ensuring value for money.

**Press and Public Affairs (Communications)**
- Maximise public diplomacy opportunities, working closely with the Communications team and Second Secretary Influence, in all core areas by helping draft press releases; speeches; intranet articles etc. Deal with general correspondence on prosperity issues.

**Other**
- Ad-hoc briefings, meetings and projects depending on London and High Commission priorities. All staff working at the High Commission are expected to take on broader corporate objectives that help create an inclusive and effectively run working environment.

**Learning and development opportunities**:
Essential qualifications, skills and experience

**Language requirements**:
Necessary Language: Sinhala and English

Level of language required: fluent

Desirable: Tamil

**Essential on arrival**:

- Bachelor’s degree;
- proven ability to interpret economic data;
- an understanding of Sri Lankan history, culture and politics;
- good research and analytical skills;
- excellent spoken and written English & Sinhala;
- good interpersonal and people skills;
- a self-starter, able to work with the minimum of supervision;
- flexible, resilient under pressure and decisive with a proven track record of delivering results;
- personal drive and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience
- Masters degree**;**:

- experience working with Government of Sri Lanka;
- experience working with diplomatic missions or multilateral institutions;
- experience of working in an international context e.g. multilateral/UK/WB;
- project management skills.
- Required behaviours- Seeing the Big Picture, Delivering at Pace, Leadership, Working TogetherApplication deadline Application deadline - day Application deadline - month Application deadline - year