London or East Kilbride.
You will be required to work from this location in line with FCDO policies on Hybrid Working (minimum 60% in the office).
Job Summary
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office pursues our national interests and projects the UK's role in the world. We promote the interests of British citizens, safeguard the UK's security, defend our values, reduce poverty and tackle global challenges with our international partners. We employ more than 17,000 staff in 179 countries and territories, across our diplomatic and development offices worldwide, which consists of 282 officially designated Posts. Our UK-based staff work in King Charles Street, London, Abercrombie House in East Kilbride and in Milton Keynes.
Job Description
The successful candidate will be a Food and Agriculture expert for the FCDO Central Advisory Hub (CAH). They will provide flexible technical advice to the FCDO network to strengthen the breadth and depth of international food and agriculture work. This is a demanding role with visibility across FCDO, with senior interaction.
Food and Agriculture Advisers provide evidence-based expert advice to inform and develop FCDO and wider UK Government (HMG) policy positions, diplomacy, and the design, costing and delivery of FCDO programmes, with a focus on food security and sustainable, inclusive growth.
They work at headquarters, regional and country level in a range of different contexts, including Fragile and Conflict Affected States (FCAS) to build markets and trade opportunities, reduce humanitarian need and address conflict and migration, deliver the climate agenda and protect natural resources through a people centred lens.
Food and Agriculture Advisers also provide cross cutting support within FCDO interdisciplinary teams and collaborate with Other Government Departments (OGDs) to ensure a coherent approach to the UK Government's priorities in food, agriculture and livelihoods internationally.
In the Central Advisory Hub, you will work closely with others to respond to triaged requests from the overseas network to deliver high quality, context specific food and agriculture advice. You will respond to short to medium-term priority requirements for advisory support to maximise their impact. This will include providing specific policy and programming advice, and country-based work to scope out options for FCDO consideration and engagement with policy teams that lack expertise. Where necessary you will be expected to identify and source additional support where needs exceed that possible under the CAH offer. This will include quality control of commissioned work to ensure quality advice is delivered.
Roles And Responsibilities
The exact responsibilities will depend on the specific requirement of the team you will be supporting. Typically, the successful candidate will:
* Provide technical advice and support across a range of food, agriculture and livelihoods issues, including policies, programmes and external relationships at headquarters and internationally.
* Provide leadership on food, agriculture and livelihoods issues, feeding into professional discussions and informing networks of colleagues across FCDO in your 'lead' area.
* Provide expert representation internally and externally, engaging across FCDO and with external partners and organisations.
* Provide evidence-based advice and challenge to guide strategic, programmatic and delivery choices designed to maximise FCDO's impact.
* Champion learning and use of evidence, through regular seminars and meetings with internal and external stakeholders in your area. Foster collaboration on food, agriculture and related areas (for example on nutrition and nature) between policy teams, research teams, regional and country-based teams, and to maximise cohesion taking an inclusive approach to all those in the wider network.
* Use all available UK levers: development policy and ODA programme interventions; trade and diplomacy measures; diplomatic networks and relationships; influencing across HMG; and facilitating bilateral, regional, and multilateral agreements and negotiations.
Work in the Central Advisory Hub will often be on behalf of country offices and therefore the successful candidate must be willing and able to travel overseas. There will be a good notice period so that it is possible to arrange travel around existing commitments. The exact frequency and location will be agreed in advance with the wider Central Advisory Hub and department or team seeking technical support.
Candidate Engagement Calls
We will be running two 45-minute Candidate Engagement Calls on Thursday 9th and Tuesday 21st October. During the calls, you will have the opportunity to ask any further questions about the advertised position and, in more general terms, about the role of Food and Agriculture Advisers. Please do come along if of interest, both sessions will cover the same areas so you will only need to join one.
To join the call on
Thursday 9th October at 14:00-15:00
–
Use this link
To join the call on
Tuesday 21st October at 10:00-11:00
–
Use this link
The successful candidate will be a Food and Agriculture expert for the FCDO Central Advisory Hub (CAH). They will provide flexible technical advice to the FCDO network to strengthen the breadth and depth of international food and agriculture work. This is a demanding role with visibility across FCDO, with senior interaction.
Food and Agriculture Advisers provide evidence-based expert advice to inform and develop FCDO and wider UK Government (HMG) policy positions, diplomacy, and the design, costing and delivery of FCDO programmes, with a focus on food security and sustainable, inclusive growth.
They work at headquarters, regional and country level in a range of different contexts, including Fragile and Conflict Affected States (FCAS) to build markets and trade opportunities, reduce humanitarian need and address conflict and migration, deliver the climate agenda and protect natural resources through a people centred lens.
Food and Agriculture Advisers also provide cross cutting support within FCDO interdisciplinary teams and collaborate with Other Government Departments (OGDs) to ensure a coherent approach to the UK Government's priorities in food, agriculture and livelihoods internationally.
In the Central Advisory Hub, you will work closely with others to respond to triaged requests from the overseas network to deliver high quality, context specific food and agriculture advice. You will respond to short to medium-term priority requirements for advisory support to maximise their impact. This will include providing specific policy and programming advice, and country-based work to scope out options for FCDO consideration and engagement with policy teams that lack expertise. Where necessary you will be expected to identify and source additional support where needs exceed that possible under the CAH offer. This will include quality control of commissioned work to ensure quality advice is delivered.
Responsibilities
The exact responsibilities will depend on the specific requirement of the team you will be supporting. Typically, the successful candidate will:
* Provide technical advice and support across a range of food, agriculture and livelihoods issues, including policies, programmes and external relationships at headquarters and internationally.
* Provide leadership on food, agriculture and livelihoods issues, feeding into professional discussions and informing networks of colleagues across FCDO in your 'lead' area.
* Provide expert representation internally and externally, engaging across FCDO and with external partners and organisations.
* Provide evidence-based advice and challenge to guide strategic, programmatic and delivery choices designed to maximise FCDO's impact.
* Champion learning and use of evidence, through regular seminars and meetings with internal and external stakeholders in your area. Foster collaboration on food, agriculture and related areas (for example on nutrition and nature) between policy teams, research teams, regional and country-based teams, and to maximise cohesion taking an inclusive approach to all those in the wider network.
* Use all available UK levers: development policy and ODA programme interventions; trade and diplomacy measures; diplomatic networks and relationships; influencing across HMG; and facilitating bilateral, regional, and multilateral agreements and negotiations.
Work in the Central Advisory Hub will often be on behalf of country offices and therefore the successful candidate must be willing and able to travel overseas. There will be a good notice period so that it is possible to arrange travel around existing commitments. The exact frequency and location will be agreed in advance with the wider Central Advisory Hub and department or team seeking technical support.
Candidate Engagement Calls
We will be running two 45-minute Candidate Engagement Calls on Thursday 9th and Tuesday 21st October. During the calls, you will have the opportunity to ask any further questions about the advertised position and, in more general terms, about the role of Food and Agriculture Advisers. Please do come along if of interest, both sessions will cover the same areas so you will only need to join one.
To join the call on
Thursday 9th October at 14:00-15:00
–
Use this link
To join the call on
Tuesday 21st October at 10:00-11:00
–
Use this link
Person specification
Person Specification
You must be a British Citizen at the time of application and, if invited to interview, you will need to bring proof of identity (British Passport/Driving Licence etc.) with you
.
This role requires you to attain Developed Vetting (DV) security clearance.
For more information about this process, click here. Attaining DV will require you to have been resident in the UK for five of the last ten years. At least one year of this must have been a consecutive twelve-month period. Serving overseas with HM Forces, in some other official capacity as a representative of His Majesty's Government or having lived overseas as a result of your parents' or partner's Government employment counts as UK residency for the purposes of security clearances.
It is essential in your application that you provide evidence and proven examples in each of the following Minimum Criteria, the Behaviours and the Technical question as far as you are able to do so. These responses will be further developed and discussed with those candidates invited for interview.
Minimum Criteria
* 2:1 Degree in Agriculture, Food Systems, Geography or Environmental Sciences, Natural Resource Management, International Development, Development Economics or a related field, or relevant experience working on agriculture or veterinary science, food systems or food security, natural resource management or environmental policy, nutrition, rural livelihoods or international affairs and development.
* Demonstrable track record of delivering outcomes at Expert Level through strong capability in the Food and Agriculture Technical Competency Framework across at least 4 of the 5 standard technical competencies, including relevant international experience.
* Self-starter who is proactive and able to manage uncertainty.
* Strong communication and influencing skills. Communicates purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm.
* Strong analytical skills. Ability to digest and process information from multiple sources to establish or inform advice and/or decision making.
* Effective interpersonal skills to collaborate and work effectively within a diverse team, and to engage confidently with other Teams and Departments within FCDO, across HMG and with external partners.
* Ability to work at pace. Prioritise multiple demands and takes responsibility for timely and quality work with focus and enthusiasm.
Qualifications
2.1 Degree in Agriculture, Food Systems, Geography or Environmental Sciences, Natural Resource Management, International Development, Development Economics or a related field, or relevant experience working on agriculture or veterinary science, food systems or food security, natural resource management or environmental policy, nutrition, rural livelihoods or international affairs and development.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* Building resilience and reducing humanitarian need through interventions in livelihoods and the agri-food sector.
* Accelerating sustainable and inclusive growth through interventions in livelihoods and the agri-food sector.
* Tackling climate change and protecting nature through interventions in livelihoods and the agri-food sector.
* Strengthening health, in particular good nutrition, through interventions in livelihoods and the agri-food sector.
* Navigating the geopolitics of food, agriculture and livelihoods through diplomacy, negotiations and strategic cooperation.
Alongside your salary of £57,500, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office contributes £16,657 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
* A Civil Service Pension.
* 25 days Annual Leave per annum.
* 9 days Public and Privilege holidays per annum.
* Learning and Development tailored to your role.
See the attached candidate pack.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
This vacancy uses the
Success Profiles Framework
to assess your Behaviours and Experience and the Food and Agriculture Technical Competency Framework to assess your Technical skills.
Please see the 'Hints and Tips' that are provided for your information about how to prepare Behaviour examples at the Application and/or Interview stage.
Application Stage
You will be required to complete an online application form and submit a CV to assess your experience. The CV should detail your career history (including any relevant qualifications). CVs will be assessed against the Minimum Criteria outlined in the Person Specification section above.
Skills
It is essential that you provide clear evidence and proven examples addressing each of the Technical skills listed below. These responses will be explored further during the interview process for shortlisted candidates. The Technical skills you will be assessed on at the application stage are as follows:
* Building resilience and reducing humanitarian need through interventions in livelihoods and the agri-food sector.
* Accelerating sustainable and inclusive growth through interventions in livelihoods and the agri-food sector.
* Tackling climate change and protecting nature through interventions in livelihoods and the agri-food sector.
* Strengthening health, in particular good nutrition, through interventions in livelihoods and the agri-food sector.
* Navigating the geopolitics of food, agriculture and livelihoods through diplomacy, negotiations and strategic cooperation.
IMPORTANT:
If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme and require Reasonable Adjustments in order to complete your application, please ensure Government Recruitment Service (GRS) are aware of this on the date of application and certainly by the closing date.
In the event of a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift on CV's. Only candidates who meet the minimum standard demonstrating relevant experience will have the rest of their application fully assessed.
Interview Stage
At the start of your interview, you will be asked a non-assessed warm-up question about your motivation for applying for the role.
Required
Candidates will be required to give a Presentation at the Interview and the topic will be sent to you in advance. The Presentation will test the following (Technical) skill:
Navigating the geopolitics of food, agriculture and livelihoods through diplomacy, negotiations and strategic cooperation.
The
Behaviour
you will be assessed on during the interview is as follows:
* Communicating and Influencing
The
Technical
skills you will be assessed on during the interview are as follows:
* Building resilience and reducing humanitarian need through interventions in livelihoods and the agri-food sector.
* Accelerating sustainable and inclusive growth through interventions in livelihoods and the agri-food sector.
* Tackling climate change and protecting nature through interventions in livelihoods and the agri-food sector.
* Strengthening health, in particular good nutrition, through interventions in livelihoods and the agri-food sector.
The Technical questions will be assessed against the Food and Agriculture Technical Competency Framework.
Please note that the FCDO carries out name-blind (anonymised) recruitment to help build a more diverse and inclusive workforce. The personal information on your Application form and/or CV will be concealed during the sifting phase, and only the names of those who are being invited for Interviews will be made known to the Panel.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the 'Assistance required' section in the 'Additional requirements' page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Further Information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to FCDO from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems reading the Candidate Pack, such as through screen reader software, please contact our Team via and we will share a Word version of this.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Applications must be factually accurate
and should be your own work
. If there is any evidence of plagiarism, including presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own, your application will be withdrawn. The candidate's guide to artificial intelligence in recruitment provides guidance on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in the application process.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre- stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
Open to UK nationals only.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact
* Name : FCDO Recruitment Team
* Email :
Recruitment team
* Email :
Further information
The FCDO's recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should, in the first instance, contact If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the FCDO, you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commissioners.