Foreign & Commonwealth Office Hiring for DXB – Learning and Development Adviser (Design) (HEO) Job at Dubai Full Time

The British Embassy Dubai has a vacancy for a Learning and Development (L&D) Adviser (Design) to support the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) Data-driven Diplomacy and Development Team and the International Academy. The role is a fixed-term contract of one (1) year.

The purpose of Data-driven Diplomacy and Development is to help all staff across the FCDO give better advice, make better decisions, improve delivery, be more influential, and achieve better results by using good data and analysis. Part of this work focuses on developing L&D in support of the FCDO’s ambition to be ‘best in class’ at using evidence, data and digital to inform our policy and our action.

The International Academy (IA) provides innovative and creative learning solutions to meet the needs of over 17,000 staff working internationally across the FCDO. The IA’s goal is to provide professional learning and development that builds expertise and agility to enable Her Majesty’s Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (HMG) to be a world leader at operating internationally.

This role is based in the IA’s Learning Design Team (LDT). It will involve working in partnership with a range of stakeholders to lead the design and development of a new foundation level curriculum to develop knowledge and skills related to sourcing, analysing, evaluating and presenting data for non-specialists. The key to this role will be the ability to quickly develop strong relationships with important stakeholders, gain a deep understanding of their aims and objectives, and work with them to co-create the curriculum at pace.

We are looking for someone with proven experience in learning design, curriculum design and development, and the ability to design impactful learning. You should also have demonstrable skills and experience in leading and managing projects and stakeholder management.

The role will evolve in accordance with the development of the curriculum, so the successful incumbent should expect to be flexible and adaptable to changing priorities, including working across teams. The role will require occasional international travel.

This job can be based in Dubai or within the India Network. If you are interested in applying to more than one location(s), you should submit an application for each. Please go to https://fco.tal.net/candidate and search the location and job title and click Apply.

Duties and responsibilities:

You will work with stakeholders to:

• lead on the strategic design of a foundation level curriculum of data and analysis learning that will promote a consistent and effective data literate culture in the organisation
• proactively lead and influence stakeholders on appropriate digital and non-digital options within the curriculum
• develop engaging and innovative learning experiences and products; apply modern learning and instructional design theories, practice, and methods to your work
• research, curate, and develop appropriate content that aligns to the curriculum outcomes in collaboration with subject matter experts; edit and redraft complex language to enhance uptake, retention and transfer; write effective storyboards, instructional text, audio and video scripts
• build effective e-learning products using authoring tools such as Articulate Rise/360; support the development of digital assets such as videos, podcasts and infographics
• work with the evaluation team to develop an appropriate evaluation strategy for the curriculum and products within it; ensure continuous improvement through data-driven analysis of user needs, behaviours and preferences; support stakeholders to carry out user-testing and evaluation using target audience groups and revise the design and products based on the evidence
• practically apply effective project management and design methodologies such as agile and design thinking to your work; work effectively in a global and virtual project team to ensure quality and timely delivery of shared objectives and project outcomes

The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any response to a crisis.

Key behaviours required:

• Working Together – Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.
• Making Effective Decisions – Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.
• Delivering at Pace – Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
• Communicating and Influencing – Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others.

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in an L&D design and delivery context, either in the public or private sector
• Professional qualification in L&D or equivalent
• Significant experience in an L&D consultative or business partnering role; the ability to build and maintain trusted and credible relationships with key stakeholders quickly
• Demonstrable experience of instructional design theories and models and their practical application; experience of design thinking and user experience (UX); ability to identify the best learning delivery formats for a specific set of learning outcomes
• Demonstrable ability to produce innovative learning design solutions; comfortable using authoring tools such as Articulate Rise and 360, gomo, Captivate, or equivalent
• Significant experience of leading and working with agile projects; ability to lead end-to-end learning solution delivery
• Proven ability to work on multiple project elements simultaneously in an environment of high activity, competing priorities, and time pressure
• Highly organised, detail oriented with an openness to new ideas and creative approaches to problem solving
• IT literate and well versed in the use of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams)
• Excellent communication skills in English, both verbal and spoken. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication (C2 level according to Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)

• Experience of designing L&D solutions or materials to develop knowledge and skills related to data and analysis
• Experience of using Adobe Creative cloud applications to design infographics, work with images, record and edit audios and videos
• Experience of working remotely or in a global role
• Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment
• Professional qualification in the use of technology in learning

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role, including: 25 days of leave per annum; on-site swimming pool, gym, and sports facilities (subject to COVID-19 restrictions).

Salary is at AED 22,500 per month.

There are no other allowances payable as part of this package. No accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

Effective 01 January 2022, the Embassy will be open from Monday to Friday, from 07:30 to 18:00. Conditioned working hours are 38 hours per week (including breaks), and specific working hours for this role will be confirmed at a later time.

The successful candidate should also be flexible in their approach to hours worked as these will also be dictated by operational needs and may involve working out of hours. Flexible working arrangements will be considered based on operational requirements and upon agreement with the Line Manager and in line with the Embassy’s policies. The successful candidate must also be available for occasional international travel for official/ business purposes.

The FCDO has a strong learning culture and the successful candidate will be encouraged to develop their knowledge of the organisation and its networks so you can really get to know your client’s business drivers. We want you to spend time investing in your Continued Professional Development (CPD) so you are up to date on the latest thinking and trends in learning design and learning technologies. The role will involve working within an innovative and creative design environment at the heart of a global organisation so there will be many opportunities to learn new things and build your skills and experience.

The successful candidate will be required to transfer their visa under the Embassy’s sponsorship.

How to apply:

Interested candidates must attach 1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) and 2) a covering letter to their online application form. Please include any links to your online portfolio or to relevant samples of your work in your CV/ cover letter, if appropriate.

Your application must also include examples of when you have demonstrated the required behaviours in the Behaviours Questions section of the online application form.

Applications that do not include these information will not be considered.

Closing date for applications is at 23:55 (UAE local time) on 12 June 2022.

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.

Process:

The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around two months. You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign, and we are working hard to minimise any disruption.

Due to the large number of applications we receive, only those shortlisted for the next step of the recruitment process will be contacted. Interviews will be done remotely if the existing situation determines this to be the right course of action.

The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances.

The British Embassy Dubai is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.