The British Government is seeking applications for the position of Regional Crisis Adviser (East and West Africa), based at the British High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya. This role is part of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Consular Network and provides a unique opportunity to work on critical international assignments that enhance the safety and resilience of British diplomatic posts in the Sub-Saharan Africa region.
The successful candidate will join a global network of dedicated professionals who play a vital role in ensuring that British missions overseas are adequately prepared to manage and respond to crises affecting British nationals and wider UK interests. This position carries significant responsibility, requiring a proactive and structured approach to strengthening crisis preparedness, response, and learning across East and West Africa.
Overview of the Role
The Regional Crisis Adviser will work as one of two crisis specialists assigned to the Sub-Saharan Africa region. The role focuses on ensuring that diplomatic posts in East and West Africa have the necessary skills, structures, and plans to effectively respond to crises. This involves providing direct advice, conducting training, championing best practices, and delivering consistent quality assurance of crisis management plans.
The position is Nairobi-based but involves frequent regional travel to various British Embassies and High Commissions across East and West Africa. Close collaboration will be required with FCDO headquarters in London, the Crisis Management Department, regional consular leadership, and colleagues across the consular network.
Main Purpose of the Job
The Regional Crisis Adviser will:
- Strengthen crisis preparedness across British diplomatic posts in East and West Africa.
- Provide advice and support to posts experiencing or preparing for crises.
- Deliver training and quality assurance of crisis management plans.
- Support the embedding of FCDO’s crisis management methodology across the region.
- Work closely with consular leadership to identify risks, develop regional crisis strategies, and integrate lessons learned from real events and exercises.
Roles and Responsibilities
The position entails a wide scope of responsibilities, which can be grouped under several key areas:
Crisis Preparedness and Risk Management
- Develop and implement a coherent approach to crisis management for British posts across East and West Africa.
- Support posts to strengthen their preparedness by assessing crisis risks, providing targeted guidance, and ensuring alignment with FCDO’s central crisis management framework.
- Monitor and track regional risks, providing early warning insights and risk analysis to FCDO headquarters and regional leadership.
Crisis Response
- Provide direct support and advisory input to diplomatic missions facing an active or emerging crisis.
- Assist posts in coordinating resources, implementing their crisis management plans, and adapting to evolving circumstances during live responses.
- Act as a liaison between posts, regional consular leadership, and the Crisis Management Department to ensure effective coordination.
Crisis Improvement and Lessons Learned
- Conduct reviews and evaluations following crises and exercises, ensuring that lessons are identified, recorded, and acted upon.
- Support posts in updating their crisis management plans based on new insights and experiences.
- Share best practices regionally and contribute to the continuous development of FCDO’s global crisis management approach.
Network and Post Support
- Act as an expert adviser to Embassy and High Commission crisis management committees.
- Encourage a whole-of-mission approach to preparedness, ensuring that all staff understand their roles in a potential crisis.
- Prioritise support to posts facing the highest levels of risk or with identified capacity gaps.
Quality Assurance of Crisis Management Plans
- Review and provide guidance on crisis management plans across the region.
- Ensure that plans meet FCDO standards while incorporating local context and realities.
- Work with headquarters to identify risks and gaps, and assist posts in addressing them.
Training and Exercising
- Deliver engaging crisis management training sessions across East and West Africa.
- Collaborate with the Crisis Management Department’s training team to deploy the latest training tools and methodologies.
- Identify skill gaps at posts and design tailored training interventions.
- Promote the use of FCDO’s International Academy resources, encouraging staff to complete relevant learning modules.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Build and maintain effective relationships with local, regional, and international crisis management partners.
- Ensure up-to-date liaison contacts with host governments and other stakeholders.
- Provide constructive feedback to senior leaders, fostering continuous improvement in preparedness and response.
Crisis Management Portal Support
- Act as a regional champion for the FCDO’s Crisis IT system, known as the Crisis Management Portal.
- Ensure that relevant staff are trained and up to date on the system.
- Promote effective use of the platform for real-time crisis management.
Corporate Contributions
- Dedicate up to 10 percent of working time to supporting corporate and policy contributions within the Nairobi platform.
- Support crisis preparedness in Kenya specifically, as well as wider people-centred initiatives within the High Commission.
Resources Managed
The Regional Crisis Adviser will be responsible for managing a regional travel budget in support of crisis preparedness and training activities. While the role does not directly line manage staff, it carries a significant advisory and leadership function across multiple posts.
Required Skills and Experience
Applicants should demonstrate the following essential skills and experience:
- Strong command of English, both written and spoken.
- Ability to work effectively in an international or governmental organisation.
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and teamwork abilities.
- Excellent organisational skills, including the capacity to manage multiple priorities.
- Resilience, with the ability to work independently and sustain performance under pressure.
- Self-motivation, time management skills, and ability to meet deadlines.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and MS Teams.
Desirable skills and experience include:
- Familiarity with FCDO crisis management policies and procedures.
- Experience in providing professional training, ideally with accreditation.
- Understanding of crisis management issues and risk assessment techniques.
- Familiarity with consular procedures.
Required Behaviours
The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate behaviours aligned with the UK Civil Service Success Profiles framework, specifically:
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Seeing the Big Picture
Terms of Employment
- Job Category: FCDO Consular Roles
- Grade: Executive Officer (EO)
- Contract Type: Permanent
- Working Hours: 36.25 hours per week
- Location: British High Commission, Nairobi, Kenya
- Salary: KES 280,165.78 per month (subject to statutory deductions)
- Start Date: 3 November 2025
- Number of Vacancies: 1
Additional Information
- Application Deadline: 30 September 2025
- Learning and Development: Successful candidates will have access to the FCDO International Academy Consular and Crisis Faculty, as well as ongoing development opportunities.
- Working Arrangements: Office-based in Nairobi, with frequent regional travel. Some flexibility may be possible depending on operational requirements.
- Eligibility: Applicants must already have the right to live and work in Kenya. The High Commission does not sponsor work permits.
- Recruitment Process: Reference checks and security clearances will be required before appointment.
- Salary is subject to local tax regulations and deductions.
Application Guidance
Applicants are strongly advised to ensure that their applications are authentically written, reflecting their own skills, experiences, and professional journey. The British High Commission does not accept plagiarised or AI-generated personal statements. Any evidence of such may result in disqualification.
Applications must be submitted through the official FCDO recruitment platform. The High Commission does not request payment or fees at any stage of the recruitment process.
Appointable candidates who are not initially successful may be placed on a reserve list for six months and may be considered for similar roles should they arise during that period.
Closing Note
This vacancy offers a challenging yet rewarding opportunity for a skilled professional to contribute to the crisis preparedness and resilience of British diplomatic posts across East and West Africa. The role combines international collaboration, technical expertise, and leadership, making it well suited for individuals committed to making a meaningful impact in crisis management.
