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Project Support Officer

The British Council builds connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language.

We work in two ways – directly with individuals to transform their lives, and with governments and partners to make a bigger difference for the longer term, creating benefit for millions of people all over the world. We help young people to gain the skills, confidence and connections they are looking for to realise their potential and to participate in strong and inclusive communities. We support them to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications. Our work in arts and culture stimulates creative expression and exchange and nurtures creative enterprise. We connect the best of the UK with the world and the best of the world with the UK.

These connections lead to an understanding of each other’s strengths and of the challenges and values that we share. This builds trust between people in the UK and other nations which endures even when official relations may be strained. We work on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2019-20 we connected with 80 million people directly and with 791 million overall, including online and through our broadcasts and publications.

About us:
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. We do this by making a positive contribution to the UK and the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust.

We work with over 100 countries across the world in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Each year we reach over 20 million people face-to-face and more than 500 million people online, via broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934, we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body.

Role Purpose

The Project Support Officer will support the technical and compliance core team deliver objectives of the EU for Civil Society in Libya project. This includes effective management of risk, compliance and financial controls, planning, monitoring and financial analysis, and general support to the Project Managers, Business Support Services and Country Director Libya, with information and assurance.

The Project Support Officer will support the core team to adhere to EU Pillar-Assessed Contribution Agreement (PACA) and British Council standards for project, contract and financial management and client liaison.

The successful candidate will report to the Senior Project Manager (based overseas) and will work closely with the compliance and project management team, as well as the Team Leader, consultants, partners, and project support staff.

Main opportunities/challenges for this role:

The project has three result areas: 

1) The institutional, organizational, and technical capacities of CSOs are identified and strengthened through a needs-based approach.
2) Appropriate infrastructural capacity is in place to support CSO initiatives, increase civic engagement, facilitate knowledge-sharing, and raise public awareness of CSO initiatives and successes.
3) Cooperation between CSOs and engagement of CSOs in local governance is reinforced through the implementation of concrete initiatives at the community level.

The Project Support Officer will support the compliance and project management team led by the Senior Project Manager adhere to EU Pillar-Assessed Contribution Agreement (PACA) and British Council standards for project, contract and financial management and client liaison. 

Main Accountabilities:

The Project Support Officer is accountable to the Senior Project Manager and the successful support to compliance and project management ensuring the following: 

Programme Management and support
•    Provides logistical support to the organisation and delivery of internal and external activities/events, to ensure they run smoothly and efficiently.
•    Managing SharePoint sites, archiving, and filing systems compliantly and in with Data Protection guidance
•    Taking Meeting Minutes, organising and co-ordinating staff meetings, events, and diaries
•    Ensure that the project offices, Resource Centres, and CSO’s are properly resourced in terms of equipment, furniture, and supplies
•    Ensure that contracts, events, and supplier procurement and management are done on time and efficiently.
•    Support with reporting as per British Council and EU requirements
•    Support staff, partners, and CSO’s with travel, logistics and events management: bookings, document preparation, responding to staff and CSO queries

Relationship & Stakeholder Management
•    Proactively communicates and liaises with others to ensure effective coordination and delivery of events, services and activities
•    Proactively communicates and liaises with internal procurement team and external vendors and consultants to follow up on procurement activities and financial tasks.

Managing Self & Others
•    Plans and prioritises own work activities, responding to changing requirements to ensure effective delivery of responsibilities over a daily/weekly time horizon
•    Tasks and coordinates others to complete time-limited, straightforward activities, within established procedures, in order to ensure efficient delivery of services.  Monitors task completion to agreed quality and time standards.

Finance and Resource Management 
•    Ensure that financial systems and processes effectively aid operational programme delivery and are compliant with the EU PACA requirements and BC standards
•    Accountable for the effective operation of all aspects of admin and finance including financial control and management, risk management, financial planning and delivery, and effective file-management and archiving.
•    Cash flow management, reporting and liaison with Contract Finance Manager
•    Liaison with the British Council Service Shared Centre, and MENA Marketplace teams, ensuring queries are answered promptly, and project forecast expectations are met.
•    Ensuring that all financial operations are compliant with accounting and audit principles.
•    Managing procurements of services and goods, in line with British Council & EU PACA requirements (vendor set up, purchase order raising, invoicing, and payment)
•    Ensure any inventory lists are up to date

About You (essential requirements for the role):

•    University degree in public administration, accounting, social sciences, or relevant study
•    One year of work experience in project or event management or equivalent
•    High level of proficiency in English & Arabic languages

Desirable requirements:

•    Relevant work experience in event management or project management
•    Relevant work experience in finance or accounting
•    Previous experience working in client funded projects (EU, FCDO, or other development agencies)

Further Information

•    Number of positions: 1
•    Location: Tripoli – Libya
•    Contract type: 6 Months (Renewable)
•    Deadline to receive applications: 24 April 2022
•    Salary: 2,061.00 LYD
•    Other requirements:  This role is open to candidates who have the right to work in Libya

Please note that all applications should be submitted in English only.
If you are interested in the post and feel that you are suitable for the role, then we would really like to hear from you. Please apply by 24 April 2022 (23:59 Gulf Standard Time).  

A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.

Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement

The British Council is committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment.  We want to address under representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability.  All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident Employer Status. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with.

We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989.

Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed; these will include qualification checks, reference checks, identity & criminal record checks in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

If you have any problems with your application please email askhr@britishcouncil.org

Please note: Applications to this role can only be considered when made through the Apply section of our careers website. Our ‘ASK HR’ email is only to be used in case of a technical issue encountered when applying through the careers website. Emails with supporting statements and CV/Resumes sent to this email address will not be reviewed and will be deleted.