Senior Portfolio Manager (2 Positions)

Main purpose of job:

British Embassy Ethiopia is looking for two passionate and experienced senior programme managers to work as portfolio managers. The Portfolio Managers will support four of the UK overseas development assistance (ODA) teams: Resilience and Humanitarian Team; Human Capital Development Teams; Political and Governance Team and the Climate, Economy, Trade and Investment team.

The post-holders will have a key role in supporting the implementation of programmes in the bilateral aid portfolio, ensuring full adherence to FCDO’s Programme delivery rules and guidance. Further, the FCDO is and will be going through a number of changes including in its ODA portfolio and as it seeks to achieve its vision 2030. The role holders will play a key role in helping implement these changes such as through business cases and contracting, amendments, mobilisation of some new projects and annual reviews. Further, they will also have oversight and coordination function of the wider package of centrally (by HQ) managed programmes and UK ODA spend in Ethiopia, in the different sectors that their teams work in.

The post-holder will play a significant leadership role supporting and building the capability of staff in the teams that they support and will provide wider programme management leadership and mentoring across the embassy, working closely with the central delivery oversight team, PDEL. Once the successful candidate builds up their experience, they may also be given the opportunity to take ownership of a programme, taking on the programme responsible owner (PRO) role, supported by the team leader, advisers and programme management staff.

Roles and responsibilities:

We are looking for an experienced senior programme manager who is ready for a challenging next role, delivering the British Embassy’s flagship areas of work, and helping us to achieve best practice in programme management. Key responsibilities are:

Overall responsibility for high standard mobilisation, procurement and ongoing implementation of the various programmes and projects.

• Working with Senior Responsible Owners (SROs) and Programme Responsible Owners (PROs), Advisers, and programme managers to oversee high quality delivery of programme across their portfolios, including by defining roles and responsibilities.
• Develop effective relationships with partners, promoting common objectives and accountability through effective management, and building partner capability in FCDO’s compliance and delivery standards.
• Ensure high standards of financial management, monitoring and reporting of aid diversion, safeguarding, value for money, ensuring completion of annual audits and follow up of recommendations.
• Role model best practice in risk mitigation, throughout the delivery chain; compilation of sound and innovative M&E and ensure completion of quality & timely annual reviews and promote continuous adaptation of programmes to changes in the political, security and climate situation.
• Build an understanding of the wide range of centrally managed programmes, UK’s overall ODA spend in the sectors that your teams support and advise on overall programme management implications and considerations for the embassy.
• Drive programme excellence through implementing internal programme delivery rules creatively and effectively in a rapidly changing context. Identify performance issues quickly and put in place remedial plans.

Cross office support and mentoring on programme delivery.

• Work with the Programme Delivery Excellence Lead (PDEL) Team, which is the central delivery oversight team and your respective teams to provide direction and guidance to programme managers across the embassy in relation to FCDO’s policy on programme delivery
• Invest in the continuous improvement of programme delivery and capability building of all staff through various means (on the job learning, mentoring and coaching, training).
• Work with teams to solve challenges, unanticipated issues in delivery, taking an advisory, lead or support position as needed
• Promote continuous lesson learning through sharing of lessons on emerging programme management best practice, including developing better processes and tools to help the team effectively manage workloads and objectives.
• Be an active member of the embassy’s Programme Delivery team and help improve programme delivery standards in the embassy.
• Participate in various corporate priorities to contribute to the broader delivery agendas of the embassy (e.g., supporting of high-level visits to the embassy, be a member of one of the many committees in the embassy, etc.)

Line management responsibility for the programme management team

• Line manage HEO Deputy portfolio managers and countersigning officer for EO programme officers and an AO programme assistant.
• Support the continual professional development of the programme management team. Proactively identify training needs and opportunities for training and act as role model and mentor to support new colleagues to develop.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure) 

• The embassy has around 8 ODA programmes in its portfolio and an approximate annual budget of c. £160m in Financial Year 2025/26. The post holder will have support team leaders in the delivery of these resources.
• The role holder will have a direct line management responsibility of one or two Deputy Portfolio Managers and countersigning officer / quality assurer of a number of programme officers and programme assistants.  You will be responsible for mentoring programme staff on the effective management of that budget and working with the SROs on effective delivery.

• Language requirements: English
• Proven experience of managing complex programmes operating in difficult environments, with programme management experience of at least 5 years.
• Proven leadership and effective people management skills.
• Successful track record of building programme management capacity.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English. Ability to distil complex information and effectively present advice for decision making.
• Resilience and ability to work under pressure in a supportive but busy and challenging environment.
• Excellent team player.