View Vacancy – Good Governance Fund Project Officer (GEO21.499)

The British Embassy in Tbilisi is part of a worldwide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and we are now looking for a Good Governance Fund Project Officer.

The primary purpose of this position is to manage the delivery of governance and economic development technical assistance projects in Georgia. These projects are financed through the UK Government’s Good Governance Fund (GGF). This is a fixed-term position until 31/03/2022, with a possibility of extension. 

The job-holder will be the embassy’s primary point of contact for project implementers, and will work with them to ensure delivery is in line with objectives and work-plans, ensuring compliance with guidance on value for money and gender and inclusion. At present, financial management is not a key component of the job, but may be in future, so would be considered an advantage. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

This will be a key position within the Programmes Team in the British Embassy. The Team covers Good Governance Fund (GGF) and Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) work in Georgia. This job will focus on GGF; there is another Project Officer who focusses on CSSF work. You will be line managed by the Head of Programmes, who is also based in Tbilisi. 

This fixed-term appointment falls in the last period of the current phase of the GGF, which has been operational in Georgia since 2015. This job will therefore cover the delivery and finalisation of four existing projects (three on governance and one economic) but will also cover planning work for the next phase. 

• Lead on liaison with project implementers to ensure that project activity is delivered on time and within budget and provide advice to project implementers on financial and reporting requirements;
• Work with the Country Programme Manager in London to ensure high-quality project monitoring and evaluation, including working with logical frameworks;
• Work with the Country Programme Manager and the Head of Programmes to ensure risks are being identified, mitigated and managed across the programme, and escalated when necessary;
• Draft project event communications for use on social media and review press releases produced by implementing partners. Provide regular project success stories for internal communications;
• Support on event coordination, including producing speaking notes and briefing for senior colleagues, such as the Ambassador or Deputy Head of Mission; 
• Draft text for quarterly narrative reports and produce regular governance and economic project updates for embassy and London colleagues; 
• Attend and contribute to monthly programme and project meetings with implementing partners and colleagues in London, providing political and contextual updates on the situation in Georgia and how developments might impact project delivery;
• With a view to next financial year, work with the Head of Programmes, existing and potential new implementing partners to scope and develop a new set of projects, liaising with London and colleagues in the embassy to ensure alignment with embassy policy and objectives;
• Assist the Head of Programmes with programme management duties as required, and provide resilience to the team by acting as Head of GGF Georgia in her absence;
• Contribute to the embassy’s wider corporate management requirements, for example, by participating in committees or in scholarship or recruitment work. 

• Full professional proficiency in English and Georgian, including excellent writing skills (written and spoken, minimum of C1 level for CEFR framework*);
• Bachelors degree or above, ideally in politics, public policy, international development, international relations, economics or a related field;
• At least three years’ experience in project or programme management in a development context, within an international non-governmental organisation, international financial institution, or donor organisation;
• At least three years’ experience working on governance (preferred) or economic policy issues in Georgia and an in-depth understanding of the Georgian political and economic environment;
• Good organisational and management skills, and a positive, motivated mindset, capable of proactively identifying risks and problems and working individually and within a team to manage them;
• Ability to build successful working relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders in Georgia and beyond;
• IT skills, including use of MS Word, Excel and Outlook.