JOB DESCRIPTION

View Vacancy – BK – Health Adviser, HEO

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.

Job Category

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)

Job Subcategory

Health

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Main purpose of job:

The British Embassy Bangkok is a large diplomatic mission of around 140 staff delivering a dynamic and rapidly expanding programme of activity in support of the UK’s objectives including on sustainable development, prosperity, trade, security, open societies, consular services and law enforcement. The Embassy is a modern, diverse and inclusive employer where everyone contributes to the Embassy’s Values of Generosity, Ambition and Courage.

The UK government’s Global Health Framework details the UK’s ambitions to play a leading role in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 – to “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”. In line with this the UK is growing it’s cooperation with Thailand, ASEAN and its member states to:

• Strengthen global health security through improved preparedness and response to future epidemics, pandemics, drug-resistant infections, and climate change
• Strengthen country health systems and address key risk factors for ill health, working towards ending preventable deaths of mothers, babies and children in the world’s poorest countries and enabling women and girls to exercise their rights

The UK already works with Thailand and the wider SE Asia region across a range of health initiatives including efforts to address non-communicable disease; build capacity for molecular diagnostics (including genomics); strengthen health systems; enhance surveillance for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and advance research & development for health. We have recently launched the ASEAN-UK Health Security Partnership programme (HSP) which aims to strengthen health security; health system resilience and build understanding and action on the health impacts of climate change.

Sitting in the Economic & Sustainable Development team (ESD) and reporting to the Regional Health Director, in this role you will lead the UK’s cooperation with Thailand on health and play a key role in the delivery of the HSP programme. You will also support structured policy exchange with Thailand across a range of strategic health agenda, building strong external networks across government, multilateral organisations, academia and civil society. You will leverage these relationships and your analytical skills to provide expert sectoral advice to the British Embassy, informing our programmes and engagement in the health sector. You will work with colleagues from across FCDO and His Majesty’s Government to maximise the impact of UK investments in health through our bilateral, multilateral and regional programmes.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve:

Lead UK health policy engagement and dialogue with Thailand on health (40%)

• Provide policy analysis to build UK understanding of Thailand’s approach to key health agenda including: Universal Health Coverage; global health security (including antimicrobial resistance and genomics); healthy ageing; sexual, reproductive health and rights
• Contribute to relevant reporting, prepare policy briefs (identifying risks and opportunities for policy dialogue) and help develop communications materials covering UK-Thailand partnerships
• Develop and maintain strong networks across the Thai health sector including with the Ministry of Public Health, thinktanks, civil society, UN (e.g. WHO, FAO, UNEP) and academia
• Represent the UK at working level with the Thai government and health stakeholders, participating in relevant discussions, events and visits (inward, outward) to communicate UK health objectives
• Work across the British Embassy and with relevant UK government departments (e.g. UK Department of Health & Social Care; UK Department of Business & Trade; Science & Technology Network) to support UK bilateral objectives on health, trade, science & technology.
• Convene and chair the British Embassy’s Health Delivery Group, working across teams to strengthen the coherence and impact of UK cooperation on health with Thailand

Support regional delivery of the ASEAN-UK Health Security Partnership Programme (HSP) (40%)

• Act as the lead health adviser for HSP (Pillar 3) partnership with the Quadripartite (WHO, FAO, UNEP, WOAH) to support implementation of the ASEAN One Health Plan of Action. Work with the Programme Officer and Quadripartite to ensure effective management and delivery of Pillar 3 strategic objectives and workplan.
• Lead specific HSP workstreams and stakeholder relationships as agreed with the Regional Health Director (e.g. participate in ASEAN Health Sector meetings representing the HSP programme; provide targeted support to the British Embassy Vientiane (Laos) to guide implementation of the HSP programme).
• Contribute to HSP programme monitoring, evaluation and learning activities and support communications on programme impact.

Support the implementation of evidence-based and impactful UK health programmes in Thailand (20%)

• Provide technical advice and oversight of grants in Thailand under the ASEAN-UK Health Security Partnership Programme (HSP), supporting programme monitoring, evaluation and learning.
• Lead stakeholder management and key programme relationships in Thailand, including with the HSP delivery consortium; government and grantees.
• Work in collaboration with the Regional Health Director and UK Mission to ASEAN (Jakarta) to ensure that HSP adopts a sustainable and evidence-based approach, responding effectively to the health priorities of ASEAN and Thailand.
• Provide technical and contextual advice to other UK government health initiatives operating in Thailand (e.g. research grants, UK Health Security Agency activities)

All staff are expected to make a corporate contribution to the smooth running of the British Embassy either through a committee membership or another voluntary role to support the vision and values of the Embassy.

This role will require approximately quarterly travel, mostly within Thailand and the SE Asia region, but occasionally to the UK.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Post-graduate degree in public health or an allied subject (e.g., health policy, global health & development, epidemiology, veterinary medicine) or equivalent work experience.
• At least 4 years of professional experience in a relevant field
• Team player driven with a passion to make a difference as part of a collaborative team that prizes kindness.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Language requirements: Fluent Thai in addition to English

Level of Language required: Proficient

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Experience of managing complex development projects / programmes
• Knowledge and experience of applying a One Health approach across human, animal and environmental sectors
• Experience of working regionally within SE Asia or with ASEAN
• Established relationships with a relevant domestic and regional network of stakeholders

Required behaviours

Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions, Working Together

Application deadline

12 November 2025

Grade

Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Permanent

Working hours per week

36

Region

Asia Pacific

Country/Territory

Thailand

Location (City)

Bangkok

Type of Post

British Embassy

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

THB

Salary

108,455

Type of Salary

monthly

Start Date

29 January 2026

Other benefits and conditions of employment

The British Embassy offers a competitive remuneration package, including salary (will be abated for those not liable to tax), benefits, a leave entitlement, health insurance and comprehensive development programme based upon business need and individual staff requirements.

Learning and development opportunities:

The British Embassy Bangkok encourages all staff to develop their capabilities, through both formal training (courses) and informal (job-shadowing, coaching, on-the-job training etc.). The majority of our formal L&D opportunities are drawn from FCDO resources. All staff are encouraged to share their skills and experience with colleagues, through informal training (‘lunch & learn’) or coaching/mentoring. All staff are eligible for 5 L&D days a year.

The successful candidate will be part of FCDO’s global cadre of health advisers and part of a global community of practice with advisers based across the UK, Africa and Asia. Membership of the cadre enables access to regular learning & development opportunities including regular seminars and a biannual annual health cadre conference.

Working patterns:

This is a full time role – 36 hours/week, Monday to Friday.

We are currently operating a hybrid working pattern with at least 60% of the time being spent in the office.

The Embassy has a smarter working policy and is committed to offering flexible working patterns balanced with the operational requirements of the role. In crisis/emergency situations you may need to work as required to support the Embassy response, sometimes on a shift pattern, which may result in unsociable hours and/or weekend working.

As an inclusive employer we are happy to discuss alternative working patterns at interview or at the point of any job offer.

Other Information:

Health Advisers provide the high-quality technical expertise required to deliver FCDO’s ambitious health agenda. Advisers work in-country with national governments, academics, civil society and other stakeholders to advance national health gains and tailor FCDO’s health interventions to the development aspirations of country partners in ways that are consistent with UK and international commitments.

Health advisers are competent in 5 technical areas. These are detailed in the FCDO Health Competency Framework (TCF). HEO advisers are expected to perform at practitioner level. Health technical competencies H1; H3 and H4 are tested in the written application. All five health technical competencies will be tested at interview.

Health Technical Competencies:

• Health Competency H1: Health systems development
• Health Competency H2: Health architecture and health diplomacy
• Health Competency H3: Health security
• Health Competency H4: The wider determinants of health and health improvement
• Health Competency H5: Evidence, innovation and evaluation

Candidates invited to interview will be requested to complete a timed written test (in advance of interview) and a 5 minute presentation during the interview. The timed written test and presentation topic will be sent to you in advance.

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment and security checks. Staff who are locally recruited by the British Embassy are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law.

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit. Any costs related to obtaining or renewing permits and visas are the responsibility of the successful applicant.

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.

The FCDO also operates an agile workforce. To facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require.

Additional information

Please note that your application must be submitted before 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.  

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

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 ensure that your application is authentically written based on your own experiences. If AI tools are used, their usage must only be limited to specific tasks such as ensuring formatting consistency and keyword relevance. The core content, personal narratives, and responses to behaviour and skill-based questions must genuinely reflect your professional journey, experiences, and achievements. We place great importance on originality and individual effort throughout the application process. Any form of plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification.

Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.

Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

To ensure a successful application, it is important that you explain how you demonstrate these behaviours, including through your experience. You are strongly advised to read the Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours which provides detailed guidance on how the behaviours are defined.

Applicants are encouraged to use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format to prepare specific examples of when they have demonstrated these behaviours in their application. Using the STAR format to provide evidence of your skills and experience in your application and at interview helps to give a structure. You briefly describe the situation in which you showed the behaviour, and then explain your task in addressing the situation, what action you took and the result of this.

For inclusivity and diversity, please remove the following personal information when uploading your CV: name, address, email address, age, date of birth, gender, and nationality.

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.

Please note that it is likely that any non-Thai national who is successful in securing a role within the Embassy will need to leave the country and re-enter with a specific type of visa if currently living in Thailand or will need to apply for a visa before travelling here if currently based outside of Thailand. Whilst the Embassy can support you with this process, the costs involved will need to be met by the candidate.

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment and security checks. Staff who are recruited by the British Embassy are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law.

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.

The British Embassy offers a competitive compensation package including a guaranteed 13th month pay, 20 days paid annual leave (calculated on a pro-rata basis if you join after 1 January), extensive medical insurance and access to a guaranteed 5 days of learning opportunities a year.

The British Embassy Bangkok promotes the following values:

• Collaboration

We support each other and are inclusive

We work closely with others to deliver

• Empowerment

We are innovative and adaptive
We achieve a healthy work-life balance, taking advantage of hybrid working

• Expertise

We build on and champion our diverse skills and expertise
We draw on data, technology and evidence

• Respect

We build trust and value differences
We invite and appreciate other perspectives

• Impact

We take a strategic approach
We prioritise and are all clear on expectations

To those applicants not short-listed, we extend our appreciation for considering the British Government as a potential employer.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements