Governance Advisor and Deputy Head of Programmes (MDA25.115)

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.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Programme Roles)

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Programme Roles)

The British Embassy in Chisinau is part of a worldwide network, representing British political, defence, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking to recruit a Governance Advisor and Deputy Head of Programmes to the Embassy Programme Team.

The primary purpose of this role is to provide timely, high quality analysis on important governance issues in Moldova to inform diplomatic engagement and strengthen programmes. Providing high quality governance advisory inputs into the design, development, management and monitoring of governance projects in the areas such as public sector reform, electoral integrity and democratic governance. These projects are financed through the UK's Government's Good Governance Fund (GGF). This is a fixed-term position currently until 31 March 2027 subject to review.

An awareness, and willingness to invest in understanding wider Governance and Social Development issues, such as anti-corruption, rule of law and political developments in Moldova is required. Flexibility to support colleagues across the Embassy on wider tasks is also required.

The Job holder will play a key role in shaping the design and implementation of the successor programme to the GGF to be operational from 1st January 2026. Governance will be at the heart of this.

As Deputy Head of Programmes the role will require close engagement with Project Officers responsible for the operational running of over 25 active interventions and representational duties.

The Embassy blends policy and programming and so the job holder will contribute to policy analysis and development. This could involve delivering weekly briefings with London colleagues, preparing reports, collecting data and evidence for use in Diplomatic reporting, drafting Political Economy Analysis. Supporting the Ambassador chaired Taskforce Groups that bring together cross-UK government actors, programmes and advisors.

The job holder will provide high quality technical expertise and professional advice to bring a social development lens to the design of British Embassy Chisinau's strategies, plans, policies, and programmes. This includes identifying and analysing key concepts, and the evidence base on social protection policies and programmes to support outcomes including poverty reduction, education, productivity, employment, women's empowerment, reduction of Gender Based Violence, resilience to crises, and social inclusion.

This position sits within the Programmes Team in the British Embassy. The team leads the Good Governance Fund (GGF) and the Integrated Security Fund (ISF) work in Moldova and well as supporting on other funds. This advisory role contributes governance advice directly to the Ambassador, across programme and policy teams and with colleagues on the Moldova Desk based in the UK and other regional advisors. You will be line managed by the Head of Programmes based in Moldova with regular engagement from the Development Director.

This fixed-term appointment comes during a position of transition for the GGF, which has been operational in Moldova since 2015. You will cover the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of new and existing projects.

The successful candidate will be expected to:

1. Lead on governance analysis and advice: leading governance advice within the British Embassy, including leading on applied political economy analysis, advice on programmes in the embassy portfolio with an emphasis on (but not limited to) democratic governance and public sector reform. Ability to provide timely analytical, policy and programme direction and support across these areas, working with HMG, national and international actors to pursue Embassy objectives.
2. Support the Business Case design of a new multi-year multi-million pound regional Development Fund to start from January 2025 with a strong focus on supporting Governance reforms in Moldova, Armenia and Georgia.
3. Support the Ambassador chaired Election Task Force that brings together all HMG actors to support the electoral integrity of Moldova's Parliamentary elections.
4. Assist the Head of Programmes with programme management duties as required including during periods of annual leave when you will lead the Programme Team. Contribute to the embassy's wider corporate objectives, for example, by participating in committees, crisis response, learning & development, UK scholarship programmes or recruitment.
5. Support delivery of the UK's bilateral objectives through supporting the effective design and implementation of programmes and policies in line with the Country Business Plan. Lead on high quality political analysis and reporting feeding in relevant subject matter expert experience gained from deeper knowledge of thematic areas linked to projects. Support evidenced based policy making.

To ensure a successful application it is important that you explain how you demonstrate these competencies, including through your experience. You are strongly advised to read the technical competency framework before completing the technical questions in this application:

1. Core competency: Applied Governance and Political Economy Analysis
2. Specialist competency: Accountable and Inclusive Politics
3. Specialist competency: Public Sector Governance and Service Delivery

See the following link of FCDO's Governance Cadre at 'Practitioner' level:

Accreditation to the FCDO Governance Cadre will be part of the application process. As an accredited member of the cadre, you will receive further Learning and Development support to strengthen your technical advisory competencies.

1. Proficient user in English and Romanian (C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages*);
2. Minimum three years' experience in a Governance advisory role demonstrating an in-depth understanding of the Moldovan political and economic environment, governance analysis and applied political economy analysis.
3. Minimum three years' experience of managing Governance projects and programme management in a development context, within an international non-governmental organisation, international financial institution, donor organisation or company. Detailed understanding of Theories of Change and adaptive programming.
4. Strong organisational and team management skills, capable of proactively identifying risks and problems and working individually and within a team to manage them.

1. Proficient user in Russian (C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages*);
2. Bachelor's degree or above in politics, public policy, international development, international relations, economics or a related field.
3. Experience working on public administration reform, democratic governance, anti-corruption, energy security or public-private dialogue between the business community and government.
4. Ability to build successful working relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders in Moldova, London and the region.

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

4 May 2025

Senior Executive Officer (SEO)

Full-time, Temporary

35

Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia

Republic of Moldova

Chisinau

British Embassy

1

MDL

52.319

monthly

16 June 2025

This is a full-time fixed term contract until 31/03/2027. The Embassy's pay and benefits package is in compliance with local labour law. The gross monthly salary for this position is MDL 52.319. The annual leave entitlement is 24 working days per calendar year and the Embassy also enjoys 14 Moldovan/UK public holidays per year.

The successful candidate will be subject to a reference check, security clearance and satisfactory completion of a probationary period of three months.

Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) have a strong Learning and Development (L&D) culture supporting a 70:20:10 learning posture (70% on-the-job informal learning, 20% informal learning from others, 10% formal learning).

The successful Job Holder will receive an induction plan with a suite of mandatory e-learning courses and have access to job-related training, enabling the successful Job Holder to become comfortable and effective in the role as quickly as possible.

All applicants must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Republic of Moldova and be prepared to ensure that right remains the scope of the contract.

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in Chisinau are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law.

The British Embassy does not sponsor for work permits.

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

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.

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

FCO does not pay for travel related expense incurred in interviews (including Security Check) or accept any financial risk, including cancelation or reschedule costs. The FCO will not meet the costs connected with relocation if offered a position.

*Please note for more information on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment levels please click on the following link.

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.