The British Embassy Amman is recruiting a Deputy Head of Programmes (DHoP) at Senior Executive Officer (SEO) grade on a fixed term contract for two years to support delivery of the Integrated Security Fund (ISF) Jordan Programme. The postholder will play a central role in overseeing a complex and dynamic programme of approximately £6–7 million per annum, providing oversight, direction and guidance to the programme team across the full programme cycle. The role will be responsible for developing and maintaining robust governance and monitoring & evaluation arrangements to ensure the programme delivers against objectives set out in the UK National Security Strategy 2025, the UK Strategic Defence Review, and relevant regional and country priorities.

The DHoP acts as the lead for programme governance, risk, finance and performance management, supporting the Head of Programme as Senior Responsible Officer and the Ambassador. The role helps to ensure our high‑risk and operationally complex programme is delivered strategically, with demonstrable value for money, and remains adaptive to a volatile regional context. The postholder will provide day‑to‑day leadership of programme systems, assurance and reporting, line‑manage two HEO-level and one EO‑level Country Based Staff members and deputise for the Head of Programmes during periods of leave or travel, offering strong opportunities for leadership development.

 About the ISF in Jordan

The Integrated Security Fund (ISF) was launched in April 2024.  It has a wide remit, funding programmes and projects in the UK, in addition to those delivered overseas, to tackle some of the most complex national security challenges facing the UK and its partners.  These are identified in the National Security Strategy, with delivery overseen by the National Security Council (NSC). The Fund’s operational principles are integrated delivery, catalytic effect, high-risk appetite, and agility. This involves cross-UK Government working, as well as delivery with partner governments and organisations, across a range of themes and geographies.

The Fund currently uses both Official Development Assistance (ODA) with non-ODA funding, blending these with programmes to deliver coherent effect in some highly challenging contexts. The ISF has a budget of £855m in FY25/26 and agrees overall funding with HMT within wider multi-year Spending Review processes. Funding is delegated to ISF Portfolios, and a small number of standalone programmes.  These allocations are agreed annually by Write Round to National Security Council and other ISF Ministers, concluding with the Prime Minister’s approval.

The UK’s ISF programme in Jordan supports delivery of our shared security and defence objectives.  We work with the Jordanian security forces, wider agencies, Government and civil society to build capability to respond to national, regional and international security challenges.  Our programme aims to build capacity to respond to crises and major incidents, tackle cross-border crime, strengthen cybersecurity and combat online harms.

This opportunity to join our high performing, collaborative and caring team comes at a critical time for security in the region, and will see the jobholder delivering UK Government priorities with one of our most important and trusted security allies in the Middle East, helping maintain a strategic partnership that has lasted for more than a century. 

How We Work

How we approach our work is important.  The How We Work Statement (below) sets out the ambition the British Embassy Amman and the ISF share with the FCDO and other government departments within the National Security community for how we lead and behave towards each other, how we make decisions, and how we get the job done. Some aspects may be particularly relevant to this role.

• 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 the way both individual Departments and HMG deliver international policy.

Duties and responsibilities:

1. Programme Governance and Assurance (30%)

• Drive effective programme governance, supporting senior oversight of results, risk and finance, including preparation of papers and submissions to the Delivery Board, Country Board, Risk Advisory Group and HQ Portfolio Board, ensuring decisions are evidence based and compliant with ISF and FCDO requirements.
• Lead on operating framework compliance, ensuring adherence to FCDO and ISF rules on risk, safeguarding, and fraud.
• Provide quality assurance across all project level documentation, including contracting, results framework, risk registers, and activity-based budgets.

    2. Financial Management and Value for Money (25%)

• Act as the senior lead for financial oversight of our multiyear ODA and non ODA programme (£16-20m over three years), including forecasting, in year spend management, overprogramming and contingency planning.
• Work with Project Managers to ensure strong value for money (VfM) across all projects, using the programme’s VfM framework and “4Es” approach, and holding implementing partners to account for financial and results performance.
• Work closely with Commercial and Finance colleagues and Project Managers to manage contracts, ensuring audit readiness and compliance with FCDO financial controls.

     3. Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) (15%)

• Lead on the development and maintenance of the programme’s MEL system, ensuring that results, assumptions and risks are kept under continuous review and actively inform adaptation.
• Oversee the development and use of the programme’s Framework for Results (F4Rs), MEL Plan and learning products, delivering credible evidence of progress towards outcomes and other lessons.
• Champion a “collaborate, learn and adapt” culture within the team and with implementing partners, ensuring lessons learned are systematically captured and acted upon.

     4. Oversight of Risk and Safeguarding (10%)

• Own the programme level risk framework, maintaining oversight of operational, reputational, political, safeguarding, financial and “do no harm” risks.
• Ensure risks are actively monitored, escalated and mitigated in line with the ISF’s receptive risk appetite, including integration with Embassy wide stability and crisis planning.

     5. Team Leadership and Operations (20%)

• Lead and coordinate the programme management team, including Project Managers and Officers, setting clear objectives and ensuring delivery against a demanding portfolio.
• Oversee programme operations including staffing, work planning, business continuity and internal communications.
• Support capability building within the team, particularly on governance, financial management, risk and results reporting.

 Key behaviours required:

• Making effective decisions: Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.
• Communicating and influencing: Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others.
• Delivering at Pace: Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
• Developing self and others: Focus on continuous learning and development for self, others and the organisation as a whole.

In addition, we are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Integrity
• Honesty
• Objectivity
• Impartiality

 Eligibility:

 If you are selected for this position, we will be able to employ you as long as:

•  You have the right to live and work in Jordan; and
• You receive the appropriate level of security clearance.

• A strong track record in programme and project management, managing results, risk and finances across all phases of the programme cycle, ideally with the UK’s Integrated Security Fund (ISF).
• Knowledge of and experience in strategic and operational financial management and monitoring value for money, ideally with ISF.
• Experience of developing and maintaining Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning products that support adaptive programme management, ideally with ISF.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a team player with willingness to work across different teams and levels of seniority, with internal and external stakeholders to build effective working relationships, and an ability to foster a trusting environment in which team members and stakeholders feel supported, valued and safe to challenge.
• Experience of line managing individuals, and of task managing a team, to achieve shared goals.
• fluency in English, both written and spoken. Able to express ideas and messages relevant to the role clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Strong IT skills and literacy in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).