Head of Programme Delivery, Financial Services

British Embassy Beijing
Beijing - China
S: RMB 38,354

In November 2015, the UK Government announced a £1.3bn Prosperity Fund over the next five (5) years to promote the economic reform and development needed for growth in partner countries. Priorities will include improving the business climate, competitiveness and operation of markets, energy, and financial sector reform. As well as contributing to a reduction in poverty in recipient countries, we expect these reforms to create opportunities for international business including UK companies.

A key strand of the UK Government's Prosperity Fund strategy in China is centred on supporting financial sector reform. UK financial services firms, including the wider legal and accountancy service firms, are world leaders in their field with vast experience, knowledge, and commercial resources that are highly prized by the Chinese market and government. In this Golden Era for the UK-China relationship, we are in a unique position to lever UK expertise to help influence Chinese policy and support the government to develop a robust, sustainable, and open financial services market. Particular areas of focus will include providing greater access to international financial expertise and to support liberalisation of highly controlled financial sectors, including capital markets, banking, and insurance.

The Head of Programme Delivery, Financial Services will play a lead role in shaping this programme, which, subject to UK Ministerial approval, could be up to £20 million over four years, and delivering its outputs. Together with your team, you will be responsible for overseeing procurement and strategic contract management of this multi-year, multi-million pound programme. You will also be responsible for persuading external stakeholders (UK and Chinese private sector, Chinese government, think tanks, and academics) to engage with and support this programme of activity to ensure delivery of high quality events, reports, and policy recommendations. As such, you will need to be able to demonstrate strong communicating, collaborating, and influencing skills, particularly with external stakeholders, and ideally with international stakeholders.

At the same time, you will have to work closely with both the Embassy's Economics team and Department for International Trade's (DIT) Financial Services team to ensure that the multi-year programme helps shape cross-Embassy policy and commercial priorities to deliver long term enhancement of the UK-China financial services relationship. This includes ensuring the programme effectively supports the annual Chancellor-led Economic and Financial Dialogue and that UK engagement with the Chinese government remains coordinated and consistent. You will need to demonstrate strong communication, effective decision making, and strategic thinking skills.

You will have experience of developing and leading on project and programme work with multiple stakeholders. You will also have experience of working in the financial sector with in-depth knowledge across different market sectors including capital markets, FinTech, banking, and insurance industries. This programme will also likely include policy focus on issues such as transparency, accountability and anti-corruption, and legal and regulatory reform including market access.

This position is advertised on a fixed-term basis until 31 December 2017. Subject to confirmation of future funding, it is expected that the position could be extended.


Roles and Responsibilities:
• Strategy: Design and oversee the strategic development and direction of the Financial Services Prosperity Fund programme. This will require close co-ordination with a range of policy and commercial leads across the Embassy and wider China network, as well as a strong working relationship with key Whitehall Departments.
• Delivery, Procurement, and Oversight: With 2 x C4(L) team members, ensure delivery of transition year funding (approximately £300k), quality procurement of subsequent three year programme, and oversight of external implementers to deliver high impact outcomes in support of the broad policy agenda. Provide support and leadership to your team, working with the Programme Secretariat to identify training opportunities and development needs.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Manage and develop external relationships with the Chinese system as well as relevant international stakeholders to ensure effective design and delivery of the programme. This will include government departments, research institutes, consultants, other Embassies, and international organisations.



Essential qualifications and experience:
• Programme management experience, including designing new projects, setting specific outputs, outcomes, and indicators, monitoring and evaluating of project expenditure, identifying risks and project outcomes;
• Experience working with external stakeholders in both commercial sectors and government institutions;
• Understanding of different priorities between central and local government;
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience working in the financial sector or on financial services issues;
• Strong interpersonal skills to engage with different teams;
• University degree or equivalent

Required competencies:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Leading and Communicating
- Delivering at Pace


We offer a competitive package, which includes basic salary, good leave entitlement, and insurance plan, etc. The gross starting salary (before all deductions) for this position is RMB 38,354/ month for Chinese Nationals and an abated monthly salary of RMB 48,428/ month for British Nationals and spouses/ partners (all nationalities) of diplomats who are 'W' (diplomatic) visa holders and meet passport criteria.

We also offer excellent development opportunities and a 22-day annual leave entitlement in pro rata. Conditioned working hours is 35 hours/ week from Monday to Friday and flexible working can be arranged upon personal needs. For more details on our Total Rewards Package, please visit http://www.gov.uk/government/world/china.

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy Beijing is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Chinese employment law.

All applications must be received before 11:55PM (China Standard Time) on 30 June 2017.

Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. We regret to advise that we will only be contacting short-listed candidates. Applicants called for an interview will be assessed on the required competencies listed above.

The British Embassy is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.

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