Career Opportunities at British Government

Roles and responsibilities:

• Responsible for strengthening and broadening bilateral science and innovation collaboration between the UK and Ghana, with a regional watching brief over West Africa. To promote collaboration, diplomacy, people to people links and inform UK policy development in science and innovation. You will:
• Develop high quality and sustainable UK/Ghana science and innovation partnerships that focus on UK and Ghanaian priorities, including developing and maintaining a network of senior level contacts across the UK and Ghana research landscape;
• Act as focal point for delivering UK Government science and innovation strategy; manage information on science and innovation work and lead on science briefing and reporting for Ghana.
• Develop and expand the UK relationship with Ghanaian research, innovation and funding bodies;
• Work closely with the Research and Evidence regional research hub and FCDO communications specialists to leverage and amplify the UK’s research investment and partnerships, promoting evidence-based policy making and the development of Ghana’s research landscape and partnerships.
• Support wider UK prosperity objectives, including higher education and linkages in the digital sector. Spot and work with Department for International Trade to match opportunities to UK firms
• Provide support to senior UK Government officials and the UK research base regarding the Ghana science and innovation environment; supporting VIP visits;
• Identify opportunities, develop and manage bilateral projects (these might be regional in nature) in order to increase collaboration opportunities for the UK science base;
• Support efforts to promote visibility and HMG coherence on science technology and innovation. This includes  convening and  supporting cross-mission meetings of science-focused specialists.
• Support and facilitate UK, global and Ghanaian science partners in delivering objectives on Open Science; Science and Media; and other cross cutting priorities
• Support UK science and innovation projects and programmes through monitoring, advice, networking and communication.
• Resources managed (staff and expenditure):
• You may be required to manage small projects, these are unlikely to have a budget of more than £50,000.
• Essential qualifications, skills and experience  
• Degree in a scientific/technological discipline or significant (5 years) work experience in a science/innovation role;
• Be able to work quickly and reliably with attention to detail and with limited supervision;
• Excellent written and spoken English;
• Strong IT computer skills including MS Word and Excel;
• Good presentation, interpersonal and representational skills,
• Good communications skills – amplifying and landing targeted messages to key stakeholders;
• The ability to initiate , maintain and exploit a wide range of working relationships;
• Strong organisational skills and project management experience;
• The ability to deliver results under pressure;
• Project management experience.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience  

• Policy development
• Experience of working with Ghanaian scientific research organisations and/or an understanding of research funding in Ghana;
• An understanding of the UK science and innovation landscape;
• Experience of working with UK research organisations.

Required behaviours  

• Seeing the Big Picture, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together

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Roles and Responsibilities: 

• You will plan, prioritise and effectively deliver sustainable outcomes, in collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams, on fast-paced workstreams, through strong personal impact and credibility, sound scientific knowledge, diplomacy and partnership working.
• You will be the National Lead, overseeing engagement and delivery in Ghana. As the principal point of contact, you will work in partnership with national stakeholders including the Chief Veterinary Officer, Ghana Veterinary Services, University of Ghana, and international agencies such WOAH and FAO’s Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), to help assess and understand priorities, and match need with available UK technical expertise.
• You will, within your area of technical expertise, directly contribute to the delivery of key project outcomes for example through training, workshops and mentoring. 
• You will keep abreast of national developments and strategic priorities as they relate to animal production and animal disease and provide the resident UK team with timely, relevant information.
• You will create, maintain and facilitate professional scientific networks. 
• You will ensure Defra is represented at meetings relevant to the strategic and operational delivery of the project in Ghana.
• You will help to define and refine a bespoke package of technical assistance, including workshops delivered by visiting scientists and oversight of sub-contracts delivered in partnership with APHA, Cefas, and VMD.
• You will provide regular monitoring reports to the Global Animal Health ODA Programme Management Office in Defra, London.
• You will regularly report back to the BHC’s One HMG (His Majesty’s Government) Board on programme activities and progress.
• You will have an understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

• Line management of one Grade HEO, with capacity to expand as the project develops.
• Direct management budget not exceeding £100,000 per annum.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience  

• Recognised practitioner with proven track record and postgraduate qualifications in biomedical sciences, environmental health, One Health, ecology, epidemiology or veterinary science.   
• At least 3 years’ experience of working in animal health systems in developing countries and demonstrable experience in at least two of the following areas: vaccinology, diagnostics, surveillance, emergency preparedness and response, and One Health.
• Understanding of the animal health landscape in West Africa, with detailed understanding of livestock production and health in Ghana.
• Politically adept and understand how reform happens, and how to work in a political space.
• Understanding of global animal health / global health security architecture including the International Health Regulations (2005), international bodies such as WOAH, FAO, World Health Organisation (WHO), UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and regional bodies such as Africa CDC, AU-IBAR (African Union – InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources) and WAHO.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including ability to communicate confidently, concisely and persuasively, and build and exploit communication opportunities to secure project objectives.
• Experience of partnership working - linking with staff across varied organisational functions to address inter-dependencies and to ensure alignment. 
• Strong Project Management skills and at least 2 years’ experience of working in technical assistance projects.
• Experience of using Microsoft Office packages (Word, Excel and PowerPoint). 
• A positive, resilient, flexible and adaptable ‘can-do’ attitude that sees ways through challenges.
• A demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards and a diverse workplace.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience  

• Training and development experience.
• Experience of participation in research and development projects. 
• Line management experience.
• Demonstrate commitment to own Continuous Professional Development (CPD). 

Required behaviours  

• Seeing the Big Picture, Leadership, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together