Job Description PB9 Deployment Exercise 2012-13

Role Profile

Job Title Country Director Saudi Arabia/Yemen

Directorate or RegionMiddle East & North Africa(MENA)

Department/CountrySaudi Arabia & Yemen (Acting)

Location of post Riyadh Pay Band 9b

Reports toRegional DirectorMENA Duration of job 3+1

Purpose of job:

Provides strategic direction and leadership for Saudi Arabia. Ensures effective resource management and business development to deliver the double bottom line of targets (financial and impact). As a member of the MENA regional team, contributes to the development of regional strategy, policy and decision making.

The key challenges are to use our market insight and networks to support UK education and cultural organisations to build effective programmes of work in Saudi Arabia, to lead continuing growth of our own portfolio, and to lead a large and dispersed team in a complex and challenging operating context.

This post will continue to provide strategic direction and leadership of Yemen until a substantive Director Yemen can be appointed.

Context and environment: (e.g. dept description, region description, organogram)

Saudi Arabia has an increasingly high profile with our external government stakeholders in the UK. Membership of the G20, being the world’s largest oil producer, Saudi’s significance to some 2 billion Muslims, it’s influence within the Arab and Islamic world, and Saudi’s commercial importance to UK are important reasons why. It is classified as one of the highest priority countries for the FCO, and is critical to the Prime Minister’s Gulf Initiative to increase and broaden engagement with the Gulf States. Saudi is acknowledged as the priority country within the Gulf.

Saudi Arabia is at a fascinating moment. The Kingdom has ambitious plans to grow and diversify its economy, build a knowledge economy and reduce reliance on the oil and gas sector. Almost 25% of non-oil GDP is spent on education, training and manpower, and the school, college and university sector is growing at a remarkable rate to absorb the c 60% of the population that is under 21. The role of women is also opening up with increasing education and work opportunities. Education is recognised as one of the critical elements of the bilateral relationship, with major commercial significance for the UK and growing UKTI and others are active.

Saudi Arabia is a complex operating environment, with considerable restrictions on our relations with government institutions. Much of our activity requires government permission and

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segregation of sexes, visas for visitors and colleagues can be slow, and this means that perseverance, and careful and early planning is essential.

The wider tension between those who support reform of Saudi Arabia’s education and other systems and those who do not, can make this is a difficult place to deliver cultural relations, and cultural sensitivity, persistence and strong relationship building are key. The scale of opportunity for our work combined with the challenges makes this a fascinating place to live and work.

The post-holder will have a strong impact on the BC’s reputation with our T1 target audiences in Saudi Arabia, and with high profile stakeholders in the UK. The post-holder needs to build and maintain sensitive and high-profile bilateral relations, within the Saudi cultural context, to win and maintain their appreciation, support and advocacy of British Council work and to enable us to secure project and partnership opportunities.

The post-holder leads a team of c 160, including large Teaching and Exams businesses – Saudi Arabia is currently the 4th largest generator of surplus globally for teaching, and for Exams.

The Saudi Arabian political environment, the complex dynamic surrounding working with international organisations in education and cultural fields, and the wide range of UK stakeholders mean that there is a high degree of complexity inherent in all activity – and the stakes are high.

Accountabilities, responsibilities and main duties: (including people management and finance)

As member of the MENA regional executive and management teams, to contribute to regional objectives and strategy

To develop strategic partnerships that extend reach, impact and generate income within Country and the wider region

To develop and implement country strategy and business plan and be accountable for management of risk and delivery of agreed performance targets

To ensure achievement of the business plan by providing effective leadership to country team to develop agreed strategy

To manage talent and staff performance in country To manage key stakeholders and relationships with an interest in our Country operations To be accountable for overseeing the financial management of the operation and ensuring all

financial targets (expenditure and income) are met

Key relationships: (include internal and external)

Partnership and Business Development TeamMinistry of Foreign Affairs Schools & Culture DepartmentFCOMENA SBU leadsMENA marcomms teamUUK, BIS, Association of Colleges, TVET UKTeaching and Exams regional Business Development Managers

Other important features or requirements of the job (e.g. travel, unsocial/evening hours, restrictions on employment etc)

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The Saudi authorities have effectively contained the threat of terrorist activity within the Kingdom. Although the risk remains, the threat assessment is the lowest it has been for many years. Saudi Arabia is predominantly safe with low risk of personal crime. Women may not drive in Saudi Arabia, and there are various norms related to dress and mixing that although not stringently applied to expatriates need to be observed. There is a limited range of social venues and opportunities, and alcohol is banned.

The role is responsible for a large team in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al;-Khobar, so regular travel in Saudi is expected in order to develop new partnerships and local delivery. Frequent travel within the region and to UK is required, as is weekend and evening work.

Travel to Yemen currently requires completion of the Security Awareness in Fragile Environments and Close Protection courses within the last 3 years, and currently involves travel in armoured vehicles with armed guard.

Please specify any passport/visa and/or nationality requirement.

UK passport holders only. This post holds diplomatic status

Please indicate if any security or legal checks are required for this role.

Security Clearance required.

Person Specification

Essential Desirable Assessment stage

Behaviours Shaping the future (most

demanding)

Creating shared purpose (most demanding)

Connecting with others (most demanding)

Making it happen (most demanding)

Short listing & Interview

Working together (most demanding)

Being accountable (most demanding)

Requirements of the job, but not assessed for recruitment purposes

Skills and Knowledge

Business Management & Development, especially Market Analysis & Business Strategy Level 3

Financial planning and management (level 3)

Short listing & Interview

Experience Knowledge and/or experience

of English teaching/project work, and of education work

Experience of working in a middle eastern country

Short listing & Interview

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Qualifications

Language proficiency

Arabic to B1 Short listing & Interview

Submitted by Date

4 of 4 Recruitment Team September 2011