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View Vacancy – FJS – Commonwealth Scholarships Officer, EO

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.

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job Category

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)

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Job Subcategory

Outreach

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Job description (Roles and Responsibilities)

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) provides the UK’s contribution to the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan and provides the main UK government scholarship scheme led by international development objectives.

Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships in the UK have to date supported over 31,000 individuals by extending life-transforming higher education opportunities, rewarding merit, and promoting equity and inclusion, especially among people from underrepresented groups.

The CSC is an arm’s length body of the FCDO. The administration of the programme is carried out on behalf of the Commission by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Secretariat, which is hosted within the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

Scholarships Officers at Post are responsible for delivery of the programme in-country, working closely with the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Secretariat. The duties and responsibilities set out below cover the work required to run the Commonwealth programme effectively at Post. The structure for this delivery will vary based on the size of the programme in each country.

Scholarships Officers are line managed within the High Commission structure, however, they will seek feedback from the Commonwealth Scholarships Secretariat and, where relevant FCDO Scholarships Unit, for their performance management. The Commonwealth Scholarships Secretariat may also, as required, provide feedback to countersigning officers at Post and FCDO Scholarships Unit throughout the year.

Each Scholarships team at Post will also have a dotted line into FCDO Scholarships Unit who have oversight of overall delivery and the performance of Scholarships Officers

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Scholar and Fellow Recruitment

Liaison with the Commonwealth Scholarships Secretariat and promotion of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Application processes. Collaborate with Chevening Officer/Lead on other UK Alumni activities and outreach.
Develop an understanding each of the Commonwealth’s schemes in detail.
Support the Commonwealth Scholarships Secretariat in liaising with national and other nominating agencies in-country to promote Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships and support best practice in recruitment.
Potential involvement in supporting/sitting on interview panels for national and other nominators.

Programme Outreach and Marketing

Generate written and visual content for social and traditional media.
Identify ways to promote Commonwealth, including working with alumni to host information sessions, workshops, attend university fairs and other outreach events. Collaborate with Chevening Officer/ Lead on other UK Alumni activities and outreach.
Monitoring the Commonwealth Scholarships marketing budget, keeping records of promotional material, contacting suppliers for quotations and ensuring assets are produced according to the Commonwealth Scholarships branding guidelines.
Requesting and making use of marketing materials from the Commonwealth Scholarships Secretariat.
Advocate for Commonwealth Scholarships and alumni through internal communications in the High Commission to promote Commonwealth Scholarships.

Alumni Engagement

Update and maintain the database of Commonwealth Alumni, using national level alumni data to engage alumni in relevant activities and opportunities. Report updates to the Commonwealth Scholarships Secretariat.
Establish and develop an effective and engaged national Commonwealth Alumni network, organising a series of events from concept to delivery for Commonwealth Alumni and Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholars (where relevant). Where appropriate, liaise with the Chevening Officer/Lead on Chevening alumni activities and data management to deliver alumni events open for recipients of both the Commonwealth and Chevening programme.
Liaise with Chevening Officer/Lead on Chevening alumni activities and data management. Work with them to ensure the delivery of a joint pre-departure/farewell event and an annual welcome-home event.
Develop and maintain a relationship with the CSC Alumni Association in-country, where it exists. Support the activities of the associations, within reason, such as providing meeting space for Annual General Meetings, inviting association leaders to pre-departure and welcome home events, Commonwealth Day celebrations, and other events as appropriate.
Bid for alumni engagement funding opportunities and manage associated budgets.
Update the Commonwealth Scholarships Secretariat and FCDO Scholarships Unit on alumni engagement work in country on a quarterly basis.

Programme Administration

Manage and respond to deadlines and requests set by the Commonwealth Scholarships Secretariat, such as submitting annual programme, marketing and alumni plans, and country briefings.
Manage the administration of the programme in line with Commission policy.
Respond to enquiries regarding the scheme and acting as point of contact within the High Commission on Scholarships-related marketing activities, application processes and alumni events.
Respond to requests for information or insight from the Commonwealth Scholarships Secretariat and FCDO Scholarships Unit.
Maintain positive relationships with applicants and award recipients before, during and after their awards.
Represent BHC at Chevening & Commonwealth bi-monthly calls.

Partnerships

Seek and develop local partnerships and account-manage existing partnerships including outreach, engagement and data management.
Engage wider Post colleagues to support the development of partnerships.
Work with the Commonwealth Scholarships Secretariat/ FCDO Scholarships Unit’s Partnerships Team to ensure any existing partnerships are managed effectively and in line with policy.

Finance

Ensure all financial issues are dealt with effectively and in line with policy, including ensuring costs are charged to the correct budget and meet policy guidelines.
Engage with the relevant policy teams at Post, including with other scholarships colleagues, to ensure that maximum value is gained from the programme.

General

When required working across the FCDO’s scholarship schemes on cross-cutting areas. Ability to adapt and flex to support changing priorities – including supporting colleagues at times of pressure.
Other Ad Hoc corporate tasks as required.

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Essential qualifications, skills and experience

The successful candidate will have strong interpersonal skills and experience working in an international environment.
Bachelor’s degree in Communications, International Relations, Social Sciences, or related field.
Experience in programme administration, stakeholder coordination, or outreach.
Strong communication skills, with ability to produce written and visual content for marketing and social media.
Proven ability to plan and deliver events and manage alumni or stakeholder networks.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and basic social media/digital content tools.

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Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

Experience of the education sector/working with government
Budget management

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Required behaviours

Changing and Improving, Communicating and Influencing, Making Effective Decisions, Working Together

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Application deadline

19 March 2026

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Type of position

Full-time

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Region

Asia Pacific

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Country/Territory

Fiji

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Location (City)

Suva

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Type of Post

British High Commission

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Number of vacancies

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Salary Currency

FJD

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Salary

FJD 3,552.95 monthly / FJD 42,635.39 annually

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Type of Salary

monthly

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Start Date

27 April 2026

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Other benefits and conditions of employment

This is a 1-year fixed term contract, which may be renewable subject to annual funding approval.

Appointment is subject to a six-month probation period and maintaining Posts security clearance requirements.

Open to Fiji citizens, permanent residents. Interstate applicants will be required to meet their own travel and relocation expenses. No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

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:

Staff across the Oceania network are expected to make appropriate time for all L&D activities guided by 70/20/10 where 70% of learning is on the job, 20% is structured learning i.e. with a coach, and 10% is through formal courses. By planning your development in this way, you will be playing your part to build the learning culture of the FCDO and are embodying our key organisational values of: Taking Responsibility, Working Together and Encouraging Innovation.

Investing in the L&D of our people is critical to FCDO delivering on its priorities and goals, embedding new ways of working, and contributing to wider government reform. L&D helps strengthen team and employee capability, performance, and behaviours. It supports our employee’s engagement, motivation, and their career development. It underpins our ability to learn, innovate and continuously improve.

L&D covers a range of activities, most done in the flow of work – including taking on new tasks, feedback, peer learning and reflection, coaching, networking, shadowing, mentoring, e-learning, research, videos, conferences, and more formal courses.

Working patterns:

Core Office hours are:

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

However, we operate flexible working.

Occasionally, in line with operational duties or travel, we might ask you to work outside normal working hours and would expect flexibility.

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Additional information

Please ensure that your application is authentically written based on your own experiences. If AI tools are used, their usage must only be limited to specific tasks such as ensuring formatting consistency and keyword relevance. The core content, personal narratives, and responses to behaviour and skill-based questions must genuinely reflect your professional journey, experiences, and achievements. We place great importance on originality and individual effort throughout the application process. Any form of plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification.

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.

Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

To ensure a successful application it is important that you explain how you demonstrate these behaviours, including through your experience. You are strongly advised to read the Success Profiles Civil Service Behaviours Framework, which provides detailed guidance on how the behaviours are defined.

Applicants are encouraged to use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format to prepare specific examples of when they have demonstrated these behaviours in their application. Using the STAR format to provide evidence of your skills and experience in your application and at interview helps to give a structure. You briefly describe the situation in which you showed the behaviour, and then explain your task in addressing the situation, what action you took and the result of this.

For inclusivity and diversity, please remove the following personal information when uploading your CV: name, address, email address, age, date of birth, gender and nationality.

The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances.

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Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

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To apply please copy and paste this link: https://fco.tal.net/vx/appcentre-ext/candidate/jobboard/vacancy/1/adv/

To help us track our recruitment effort, please specify on the application form/indicate in your cover letter where (ngotenders.net) you saw this job posting.

View Vacancy – FJS – Commonwealth Scholarships Officer, EO

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