Regional Chevening Programme Officer

The British Embassy in Riga is part of the United Kingdom’s world-wide diplomatic network, and represents British political, economic and consular interests in Latvia. We are now looking to recruit a Regional Chevening Programme Officer to deliver for the UK network across a number of European countries. 

Chevening is the UK Government’s flagship scholarship scheme, aimed at individuals with outstanding leadership potential. Chevening currently supports awardees from more than 140 countries and territories, creating lasting positive relationships with future leaders, influencers and decision-makers.  

Main purpose of the role:

This is an exciting opportunity for a collaborative, creative, and highly-motivated person to support the relaunch of Chevening in Europe, working across British Embassies in eight Nordic-Baltic countries, with the Scholarships Team in FCDO and with the Chevening Secretariat in London. Reporting to the Second Secretary (British Embassy Riga Political Team), the successful candidate will be one of three Officers in Europe who will each play a regional role, supporting Posts to launch, promote and administer the programme; identify and secure partnership funding for future years, and in time, foster a community of Chevening Alumni in Europe, as part of the global network.  

In Riga, you will sit within the Political Team.  British Embassy Riga hosts the Regional Chevening Programme Officer and is responsible for line management, welfare and day-to-day support of the post-holder. Accountability for delivery of Chevening programmes within participating countries remains with individual Posts, supported by the Chevening Secretariat.

Roles and Responsibilities:

1. Support Posts in region to re-launch the Europe Chevening programme.

2. Support Posts, including senior leadership and commercial teams, to seek and secure partnership funding for scholarships and fellowships beyond academic year 26 – 27: Work with the Partnerships lead in the Scholarships Team to provide advice and guidance to Posts as they seek to identify and secure opportunities for high-value funding partnerships to increase the number of awards per country. Share best practice across the region and advise on partnership agreement processes, including commitments on branding, marketing of sponsor’s involvement and direct sponsor engagement.

3. Work with Comms teams at Posts in region to coordinate campaigns promoting the Chevening programme: lead online engagement events to drive interest in the programme, targeting potential applicants and universities.  Link Posts to the Chevening Secretariat branding materials, identifying most relevant messaging for the region.  Travel as required to support Posts in delivery of their promotional and partnership activities.  

4. Support Posts in the delivery of each programme cycle, monitoring compliance with financial requirements, highlighting programme timelines throughout the year and ensuring the programme administration supports the overall Chevening values and goals: Provide guidance and training to Posts on managing the application process, advise on best practice for shortlisting and confirm that Posts complete online processes after interview. Oversee pre-departure briefings.  Support Posts to prepare for interviews and offer guidance on using the ASAMS online systems. Join shortlisting discussions to provide consistent approach across the region. Provide interview panel briefing including TSU panel requirements. You will not be required to sit on all interview panels.  Monitor: partner invoicing procedures are followed; compliance with data protection legislation, and appropriate fraud prevention measures are embedded across the programme.

5. In due course (i.e. not year 1), support region to establish/ develop/ reinvigorate Chevening alumni networks: using ASAMS (online database for scholar management) build and maintain records of all Chevening alumni in the region from the relaunch and, to the extent possible, through old records.  Generate an active and engaged network, drawing on the experience and connections of influential alumni to further the programme aims, including supporting to other alumni, and UK priorities. Encourage well-governed Chevening associations where possible.  Look for opportunities to bring alumni in for events and to support Post priorities.  Post retain primary responsibility for managing and maximising alumni relations within their host country. 

6. Staff Community and Crisis Preparedness: you will play an active role in contributing to embassy life, from joining one of the staff committees, to supporting learning and development for yourself and for colleagues, to preparing for and playing a role in any embassy crisis exercise or crisis response.

Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity!

Our Ideal Candidate shows: 

• Full professional proficiency in English, written and spoken (minimum C1 for CEFR framework*);
• Experience coordinating and delivering projects, programmes, campaigns or other activities involving multiple stakeholders, including planning, communication and relationship management;
• Experience of working independently, managing competing priorities and delivering to deadlines in a fast-paced environment;
• Ability to collaborate across teams and build effective working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders in different locations;
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to provide guidance, advice or support to a range of audiences;
• Personal resilience, adaptability and the ability to regularly review, reprioritise and respond to changing business needs.

This is a full-time, fixed-term contract position of 18 months. Working time is 37.5 hours per week (net).

Embassy provides all its employees the following benefits:

• Two additional annual leave days on top of those mandated by law.
• A combination of Latvian and UK public holidays - 14 working days-off per year.
• Comprehensive Health Insurance that among others also includes dental care and sports.

The British Embassy has an active learning and development culture and there will be opportunities for informal training and shadowing. We offer a wide range of learning and development opportunities, including contract and programme management training, and broader learning linked to our International Academy. 

The Embassy offers: job-specific training; job-shadowing/learning from more experienced colleagues in the network; five development days per year; a wealth of learning & development opportunities provided by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The British Embassy takes learning and development seriously.  We have an active L&D Committee which promotes different ways of learning, as well as offering Diplomatic Academy sessions and bringing in formal courses.  In this role in particular you will continue to develop your media engagement experience; develop (or acquire) diplomatic skills; enhance your leadership, policy, and problem-solving skills; and strengthen your team leadership.  

The successful candidate will be subject to professional background and security clearance. 

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in Riga are subject to terms and conditions of service that are in line with the employment laws in Latvia.

Visa/work permit requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Latvia and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract.

Nice to have: 

• Proficiency in another European language.
• Experience of communications, marketing, outreach or promotional activities;
• Experience of programme or project delivery, including planning, monitoring and evaluation;
• Experience working across multiple countries, organisations or geographically dispersed teams;
• Experience of partnership development, stakeholder engagement or relationship management;
• Knowledge of scholarship, education, youth or leadership programmes

Required behaviours  

Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service, Working Together

Application deadline  27 September 2026

Grade  Executive Officer (EO)

Type of Position  Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal

Working hours per week  37.5 hours net per week

Region  Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia

Country/Territory  Latvia

Location (City)  Riga

Type of Post  British Embassy

Salary  EUR 2,651.12 gross

Start Date  23 November 2026

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country.

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

Please be advised that the British Embassy will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a position.

*Please note for more information on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment levels  please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your language skill is going to be assessed.

The start date mentioned in the advert is only indicative. The date is flexible subject to the successful candidate clearing the Security checks and also based on their availability to join at the earliest.