Human Capital Development Adviser

Job Description

Main Purpose of Job

The Human Capital Development (HCD) Adviser will provide strategic leadership for the UK's support to Ethiopia's human capital development agenda, driving high-quality policy engagement and programme delivery across multidisciplinary human development priorities. The role requires strong strategic judgement, political awareness and the ability to identify opportunities and risks within a complex and evolving development landscape.

The postholder will serve as Programme Responsible Owner (PRO) for a flagship Human Capital Development programme, leading the transition from programme design to implementation and ensuring delivery of sustainable and measurable results. They will provide oversight of programme performance, financial management, risk management, safeguarding, due diligence, monitoring and evaluation, ensuring compliance with FCDO programme operating standards and value for money principles.

Working closely with government counterparts and partners, the Adviser will provide evidence-based policy advice that informs UK engagement and supports the achievement of Ethiopia's human capital development priorities. They will use political, economic and development analysis to shape investment decisions, influence policy dialogue and ensure that UK programming remains responsive to emerging needs, evidence and opportunities.

Building and maintaining effective partnerships will be central to the role. The postholder will establish and strengthen relationships with government ministries, development partners, civil society organisations, research institutions and implementing partners to promote collaboration, leverage expertise and maximise the impact of UK investments. They will represent the UK in senior-level policy and technical forums, influencing stakeholders to advance shared objectives and improve development outcomes.

The Adviser will identify opportunities to strengthen coherence and integration across sectors, ensuring a joined-up approach to human capital development. They will convene UK-funded programmes, UK Government specialists and wider UK institutions to promote learning, innovation and collaboration, helping to deliver greater collective impact and value for money.

As part of a multidisciplinary Embassy team, the postholder will work closely with humanitarian, governance, conflict, political and economic colleagues to ensure human capital development priorities are effectively integrated into wider policy, diplomacy and programming. They will contribute actively to cross-government and cross-sector collaboration, helping to ensure that UK interventions address the interconnected drivers of poverty, vulnerability and development outcomes.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong leadership, sound judgement and the ability to deliver results through others. They will be skilled at managing complexity, influencing senior stakeholders, building high-performing partnerships and translating strategic priorities into effective programmes that deliver measurable impact for the people of Ethiopia.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Act as Programme Responsible Owner (PRO) for a major HCD programme, providing strategic oversight, accountability and leadership.
• Provide overall direction throughout the programme cycle.
• Provide strategic advice and evidence-based recommendations to Team Leader, Development Director and Ministers, setting direction and influencing stakeholders across the Mission, the government and external partners.
• Operate with high professional autonomy to shape policy, investment choices, and learning, acting as a recognised technical authority within agreed governance arrangements.
• Ensure a clear theory of change links the programme activities to the intended outcomes and impact, recognising where there is uncertainty and an adaptive approach might be needed.
• Lead programme management across the programme lifecycle, including delivery planning, risk management, financial oversight, results monitoring and adaptive management.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships to support delivery, coordination and influence across a complex stakeholder landscape, including effective relationships with government counterparts, development partners, implementing partners, civil society, research institutions and other key stakeholders.
• Provide high-quality policy advice on human capital development and contribute to the ongoing evolution of the Embassy's HCD strategy and programme portfolio.
• Identify and promote cross-sectoral opportunities and interlinkages across health, education, nutrition, WASH and related sectors, bringing together UK teams, institutions and Embassy colleagues to maximise impact.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Policy influencing and diplomatic skills, including strategic negotiation with suppliers and stakeholders.
• Significant experience managing complex development, public policy or programme portfolios.
• Strong understanding of international policy development and multilateral engagement, including the ability to work on complex cross-cutting issues.
• Proven ability to provide evidence-based policy advice and strategic recommendations to senior management, stakeholders, including Development Director and partners.
• Strong track record of effective collaboration and influence with multilaterals, development partners.
• Demonstrated leadership in setting direction, managing teams or major programmes, and fostering an inclusive, high-performing organisational culture.
• Skilled in applying evidence, learning, and evaluation to improve programme quality and inform policy decisions.
• Experience managing significant budgets, risk, and assurance processes, with a commitment to system strengthening and fair partnership working.
• Strong professional judgement and analytical capability, including adapting advice to political, legal and delivery constraints.
• Strong understanding of human capital development, including in particular health and education.
• Demonstrated ability to influence, convene and build partnerships across a wide range of stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to translate evidence into policy and programme decisions.
• Strong programme and financial management capabilities, including risk management and results monitoring.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Experience working in complex political, institutional or development contexts.
• Ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams and deliver at pace.

Desirable Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Experience working on human development in Ethiopia or a comparable operating context.
• Experience working across disciplines and teams to ensure coherent and credible advice.
• Significant experience leading complex policy and/or programme work, including strategic advice, stakeholder influencing and delivery assurance.
• Experience managing large donor-funded programmes or working with implementing partners.
• Knowledge of political economy, systems approaches or cross-sectoral programme design.
• Experience bringing together multiple sectors to deliver integrated human development outcomes.

Required Behaviours

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions