Programme and Partnerships Manager
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
The British Embassy in Washington DC, representing the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, seeks a proactive Programme & Partnerships Manager to lead a multi-million-pound portfolio across the Americas.
You will develop high-value UK science and technology partnerships, manage complex programmes, and build capability across the network while ensuring alignment with UK objectives and strong risk and financial governance.
Qualifications
- Proactive and solutions focused; drive to improve projects, processes and delivery.
- Translate strategic objectives into practical programmes, partnerships or projects that deliver measurable outcomes.
- Experience managing complex projects, programmes or partnership portfolios with multiple stakeholders.
- Experience building and maintaining relationships with external partners, clients or stakeholders.
- Excellent judgement and prioritisation; able to work autonomously and manage risk.
- Strong relationship building across teams, cultures and international partners.
- Confident communicator; able to present complex information clearly to non-technical audiences.
- Ability to identify capability gaps and support others via guidance or interventions.
Responsibilities
- Partnership development and programme delivery: develop and manage high-value science and technology partnerships across the Americas.
- Translate priorities into impactful, outcome-focused initiatives and guide projects through full lifecycle.
- Ensure initiatives align with UK Government objectives and deliver measurable results.
- Programme Leadership and Capability Building: build capability in programme design, delivery and financial management.
- Provide practical advice to improve project quality and compliance; act as trusted adviser to teams.
- Strategic Collaboration and Opportunity Development: identify opportunities and strengthen cross-regional collaboration.
- Develop cross-regional initiatives by bringing together partners with complementary expertise.
- Contribute to continual improvement of programme management, partnership development and portfolio delivery.
- Learning, Innovation and Continuous Improvement: capture lessons learned and disseminate best practices.
- Identify innovative approaches to improve programme effectiveness, efficiency and impact.
- Promote a culture of learning, experimentation and continuous improvement.
- Programme, risk and financial management: deliver projects on time, within budget and in line with government requirements.
- Provide advice on risk management, due diligence, finance and procurement.
- Monitor portfolio performance and support governance and reporting.
- Embassy Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement: plan visits, events and partnership activities.
- Support governance and administrative functions within the British Embassy in Washington.
Skills
Tools
Job description
Join the UK's Science and Technology Network at the British Embassy in Washington DC and help build international partnerships in the technologies shaping the future.
The Science and Technology Network in the Americas brings together governments, researchers, investors, innovators and industry leaders to strengthen UK collaboration across the United States, Canada and Latin America (the Americas). As Programme & Partnerships Manager, you will play a leading role in delivering a multi-million-dollar portfolio of initiatives advancing international collaboration in some of the world's most important technologies.
Working across artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, biotechnology, fusion energy and space, you will work with leading universities, research funders, government agencies, technology companies, start-ups and investors across the UK and the Americas. You will help develop partnerships, translate ideas into impactful projects, and connect organisations to tackle shared challenges and advance economic growth, security and innovation.
This role supports the UK's broader strategic objectives in science and technology and offers valuable experience in international engagement, diplomacy and cross-government collaboration in one of the fastest-moving and most strategically important areas of international policy.
We’re looking for a proactive, collaborative, and results-oriented professional with experience managing complex programmes, projects or partnership portfolios involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities. You will bring strong organisational and communication skills and a commitment to delivering high-quality, outcome-oriented work.
The US Network offers a unique, career-enhancing opportunity and is committed to fostering a healthy work-life balance and wellbeing through a comprehensive benefits package - including generous leave, competitive insurance options, a top-tier 401(k) programme, and access to world-class learning and development resources.
This advert is for a fixed-term position with a projected end date of 31 March 2030. Possibility of renewal beyond this point is contingent on project funding.
The Programme & Partnerships Manager role is an important position at the heart of the Science & Technology Network's work across the Americas. The successful candidate will have scope to introduce new approaches and ways of working to strengthen project quality, partnership delivery and programme performance. The majority of the role focuses on partnerships and programmes spanning the Americas, with additional responsibilities supporting UK-US science and technology collaboration. Key responsibilities will include:
1. Partnership development and programme delivery
- Work with colleagues to develop and manage high-value science and technology partnerships and projects across the Americas.
- Work with colleagues and external partners to translate strategic priorities into impactful, outcome-focused initiatives.
- Guide projects through the full lifecycle, from identifying opportunities and designing interventions to delivery, evaluation and closure.
- Ensure initiatives are aligned with UK Government’s strategic objectives and deliver measurable results.
- Build capability across the Americas Science & Technology Network in programme design, delivery and financial management.
- Provide practical advice and support to improve project quality, delivery confidence and compliance.
- Act as a trusted adviser to teams delivering complex or high-value projects and partnerships.
- Work with Programme & Partnerships Managers across the global Science & Technology Network to identify emerging opportunities and strengthen collaboration.
- Develop cross-regional initiatives by bringing together partners with complementary expertise and interests.
- Contribute to the continual improvement of programme management, partnership development and portfolio delivery.
- Capture and disseminate lessons learned, best practice and successful delivery models across the Americas and wider global network.
- Identify innovative approaches that improve programme effectiveness, efficiency and impact.
- Promote a culture of learning, experimentation and continuous improvement.
- Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget and in line with relevant government requirements.
- Provide advice and support on risk management, due diligence, finance and procurement.
- Monitor portfolio performance, identify emerging risks and opportunities, and contribute to programme reporting, forecasting and governance.
- Support the planning and delivery of visits, events, workshops and partnership activities.
- Contribute to programme governance, operational coordination and administrative functions within the British Embassy in Washington.
- No direct line management of staff.
- Shared responsibility for oversight of a programme portfolio valued at approximately £10 million annually.
- The post-holder will have access to advanced programme management training and peer-to-peer learning alongside FCDO’s core learning offer through the College.
- Proactive and solutions focused, with a drive to improve projects, processes and delivery.
- Demonstrated ability to translate strategic objectives into practical programmes, partnerships or projects that deliver measurable outcomes.
- Experience managing complex projects, programmes or partnership portfolios involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
- Experience building and maintaining relationships with external partners, clients or stakeholders.
- Excellent judgement and prioritisation, able to work autonomously and manage risk effectively.
- Strong relationship building skills, working across teams, cultures and international partners.
- Confident communicator, able to present complex information clearly to non-technical audiences.
- Ability to identify capability gaps and support others, through advice, interventions or signposting.
- Legal status to live and work in the US in your own right, from time of application.
- Qualifications in programme management, financial management, risk management, and/or monitoring and evaluation.
- Experience in working in science and technology or for a similar medium/large organisation.
- Experience working on bilateral and multilateral projects with international networks and partners.
- Proficiency with project management software such as Microsoft Excel and Power BI. Experience using AI tools e.g. CoPilot to improve project delivery.
All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work.
You must have the right to live and work in the US in order to take up this role, whether in your own right or as a dependant, and be able to demonstrate that when required. If you are not a US citizen, dual US citizen or US Permanent Resident, it is your responsibility check your eligibility to work for a foreign government in the United States, and specifically to work in this role at this location and provide proof of your eligibility via an Employment Authorisation Document or other relevant document when required.
The UK Government does not routinely sponsor work visas; the job advertisement will state clearly whether sponsorship is available.
This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
You may refer to our website for additional information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-the-usa.
While many jobs in the US Network are able to offer flexibility in terms of working hours, core business hours are 09:30 to 15:00 (in the local time zone) Monday through Friday. All working hours are position-specific and subject to change at any time, without notice. If you have any questions, please address them with the Hiring Manager.
This is a full-time role (40 hours per week) requiring regular on-site attendance. Although flexible working may be available from time to time, it is subject to business requirements and approval by the Line Manager. Please note that occasional travel may also be required.
The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communicating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).
The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance.
The deadline for applications is 23:55 EDT on 11 October 2026.
Changing and Improving, Communicating and Influencing, Managing a Quality Service
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time
40
Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories
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