Jkt - Asean Science & Tech Adviser, SEO

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

The South Asia Research Hub, Research and Evidence Directorate (RED) is seeking an Adviser to: (i) lead, shape, and implement new science, research and innovation collaboration between the UK and ASEAN member countries, (ii) promote UK science policy objectives in the region, and (iii) provide analytical advice and generate research to drive the use of data and evidence in decision making.

As RED expands its international research, science, technology, and innovation engagement in the ASEAN region to tackle development challenges, we expect new R&D partnerships for development in country, delivering interventions and impacts across the region. The Adviser will be responsible for leading the delivery of S&T programming supported by RED, provide regional insights and analysis, and will act as lynchpin between SARH, SIN, and regional forums focused on delivering the Indo-Pacific Tilt.

Reporting to the Head of the South Asia Research Hub based in India, with the SIN Regional Director based in Singapore as Countersigning Manager, the job-holder will be posted in the UK Mission to ASEAN, based in Jakarta, and will play a key role in planning and preparing decisions for RED in the region as part of the regional science network.

**Roles and responsibilities**:
We all have a responsibility to embrace the changes of the FCDO as it transforms, building the culture we want to see and delivering our cultural statement in how we lead and behave towards others; how we make decisions and how we get the job done is everyone’s responsibility.

In this role you will work with the South Asia Research Hub (SARH) and SIN, to:

- ** Lead on all aspects of RED/SARH programming and engagement in the ASEAN region** to ensure achievement of RED’s R&I objectives in the region and in support of its successful delivery
- ** Provide portfolio-level oversight of RED** **research, science, and innovation partnerships **in the region. This includes coordination of programmes, corporate reporting, compliance, and correspondence; ensuring SARH/RED have effective systems to manage the portfolio; work planning; portfolio monitoring; financial management; exploring ‘dashboard’ style reporting that can support exercise our responsibilities in the region; collating** **impact stories and lessons learnt from across the portfolio; lead on comms to share outputs and keep core lines up to date
- With colleagues in the regional science network,** develop and implement strategies to increase R&I collaboration** **between the UK and ASEAN countries**; identify and facilitate opportunities to engage in regional activities in strategic priority areas
- ** Contribute a regional perspective to the development of research and innovation strategies and priorities **on how to maximise the development and diplomatic impact of HMG’s R&D, science and tech investments and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region
- ** Commission and manage demand-responsive research.** You will be responsible for managing requests for evidence by Posts in the region. This will include developing research questions and terms of reference in collaboration with evidence focal points in country teams, commissioning research on priority areas, and ensuring the research is well designed and synthesised to enhance uptake. These products will inform Country Business Plans and may need to be sufficiently rigorous for external publication and cross-Government circulation. It will be necessary to also disseminate the findings of relevant externally published research, which may require further interpretation of the results, to make the findings accessible and relevant to different country and regional policy interests.
- ** Build linkages with regional SIN officers** to plan (or shape our response to) new initiatives, analysis and policy steers that impact RED’s IP Delivery Plan
- ** Respond in a timely manner to requests** for information, introduction, and briefings for meetings and visits from UK government departments and their agencies
- Other team and corporate duties as required

**Resources managed** (staff and expenditure):
The Adviser will work closely with the Hub located in Delhi and Kathmandu (currently 6 team members) and the Science and Innovation Network officers based in Southeast Asia and be responsible for research and evidence programmes supported by RED in the region. They will act as expert adviser and/or RED’s representative for other global programmes in the region, identifying projects and contributing to decisions about funding in countries across ASEAN. They will be accountable for and have oversight of the ASEAN portion of the Evidence Fund (approx £500k per annum) making funding decisions for projects across the ASEAN region and help SARH to develop new research programmes in the region.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

We are looking for someone with:

- Strong analytical skills
- Expe