The British Embassy in Bucharest is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is seeking to recruit a Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Project Manager.

Main purpose of the role:

Manage the 2026 – 2029 Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking (MSHT) UK-Romania programme, alongside providing policy support and direction on MSHT. 

This programme is the second phase of funding in Romania. The previous programmes ended in 2026 and worked with British and Romanian organisations to support Romania in preventing human trafficking, providing holistic support to survivors, and building capability and understanding in the UK and Romania of the threats of modern slavery and human trafficking and approaches to addressing them. 

The job holder will be responsible for managing UK Government funded programmes to ensure effective delivery and value for money. The responsible officer would play a key function in bringing on new project partners, helping refine projects and working closely with the UK Home Office to deliver on priorities. 

Additionally, the job holder will help develop understanding of the political and policy environment in Romania, support delivery of the UK- Romania Joint Action Plan on countering trafficking and delivery of UK policy objectives in Romania. 

The role will report to the Second Secretary Political at the British Embassy in Bucharest and the Home Office Modern Slavery Fund programme team in the UK. 

Roles and Responsibilities:

Programme design and strategy

• Support design and development of a new programme, in line with Romanian and UK strategic priorities,  including  running a grant competition to select individual projects.
• Coordinate with UK Home Office and wider Embassy teams (e.g. National Crime Agency, HM Revenue and Customs and Crown Prosecution Service) to ensure policy input to programme design and coordination with other projects.
• Support the Human Rights Policy lead in liaising with Romanian authorities and civil society to build understanding of what support and assistance they require to support human trafficking policies.
• Build and share understanding of other embassy and international organisation interventions on anti-human trafficking and ensure donor coordination with UK government activity.
• Build and maintain a strong network of Civil Society Organisations/NGOs/INGOs and delivery partners/implementers contacts working on human trafficking or related areas.
  

Programme management

• Oversee delivery of the programme, monitoring progress, and leading on financial management in line with UK Government guidelines, including providing responses to routine enquiries about project finances and data
• Scrutinise quarterly project reports to track programme results, ensuring results frameworks are up to date and fit for purpose. Working with partners to support effective delivery of funding.
• Manage project risks, work with delivery partners to maintain high standards of safeguarding, and actively highlight risks and put in place mitigation as appropriate.
• Ensure effective coordination between modern slavery projects and wider UK government projects.
• Promote ongoing monitoring, evaluation and learning of the programme, including through independent annual reviews.
• Prepare relevant documentation for and contribute to BE Bucharest’s Country Programme Board and the UK Home Office Modern Slavery Fund Programme Board.
• Implement and manage project changes and interventions to deliver against emerging priorities and the Country Plan.
• Keep wider UK government and Embassy teams including the Joint Serious Organised Crime Platform (e.g. National Crime Agency, HM Revenue and Customs and Crown Prosecution Service) regularly informed about the programme.
  

Policy Delivery:

• Support on diplomatic briefing for senior UK government officials and Ministers on modern slavery.
• Assist with organisation of inward and outward visits by Romanian and UK Ministers and officials relating to modern slavery.
• Collaborate with Press and Public Affairs colleagues to effectively publicise project activity and demonstrate tangible results.
• Develop a wide range of political contacts and use them effectively to provide insight into delivery of UK government objectives to tackle trafficking in and from Romania
• Provide advice to UK Home Office and Embassy on colleagues on how to deliver on the 2023 UK-Romania Joint Action Plan to tackle human trafficking.
• Identify strategic opportunities for UK policy and political engagement on the issue of human trafficking.
• Contribute to the delivery of the Embassy’s public diplomacy strategy via public events and speechwriting and supporting visits. 
  

• Strong communication skills, including written and spoken fluency in English and Romanian and ability to adapt communication style to different situations (minimum C1 level of CEFR*)
• A relevant University degree (Masters degree or equivalent)
• Programme/grant management experience
• Basic budgetary skills and able to work within limited resources
• Strong organisational and time management skills
• Excellent IT skills including Microsoft Office applications such as Excel, PowerPoint
• Good knowledge and understanding of work planning, risks anticipation, goal setting within area of responsibility
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and deadlines, and work well with others in a fast-paced environment with limited supervision