The British High Commission in Kenya is inviting applications for the position of Office Manager to support the National Crime Agency (NCA) International Liaison Officer (ILO) based in Nairobi. This position offers an opportunity to contribute to the United Kingdom’s global security agenda by supporting the fight against serious and organised crime. The NCA serves as the UK’s lead agency responsible for addressing criminal networks involved in narcotics trafficking, organised immigration crime, online child sexual exploitation and abuse, and other transnational threats.

The International Liaison Officer in Nairobi works closely with Kenyan law enforcement partners, facilitating cooperation between the UK and Kenya on criminal matters that have a direct or indirect impact on the UK. This involves operational coordination, information sharing, capacity development, and strategic engagement in line with NCA objectives. The Office Manager plays a central role in ensuring that the ILO team operates efficiently through robust administrative, financial, and project management support.

The position operates within the British High Commission Nairobi, which hosts multiple UK government departments working collaboratively to strengthen diplomatic ties, enhance security partnerships, and contribute to Kenya’s development priorities. The Office Manager will operate in a dynamic and structured diplomatic environment that requires professionalism, discretion, cultural awareness, and strong coordination skills. This long-form job advertisement outlines the scope, responsibilities, and expectations of the role in detail, offering potential applicants clear insight into the nature of the position.

Overview of the Role

The Office Manager’s primary purpose is to ensure the effective delivery of NCA objectives by providing comprehensive administrative, financial, logistical, and project management support to the International Liaison Officers. The successful candidate will be expected to perform supervisory duties, oversee operational requirements, maintain accurate financial records, and support critical programmes that influence national and international security outcomes.

Administrative and Logistical Support

The Office Manager will be expected to support the daily administrative requirements of the International Liaison Officers. Tasks within this responsibility include:

• Coordinating programme activities and engagements scheduled for the ILO team
• Preparing meeting notes, drafted communications, and official correspondence
• Supporting bilateral learning initiatives between the UK and Kenyan law enforcement institutions
• Organising meetings, workshops, briefings, and collaborative sessions with external partners
• Ensuring that administrative systems remain functional, structured, and updated
• Maintaining relationships with host nation partners and key stakeholders relevant to NCA operations
• Handling routine office needs to support operational continuity

This administrative support forms the backbone of the ILO’s overall effectiveness, allowing the office to respond efficiently to operational demands and programme requirements. The Office Manager must maintain an organised workflow, demonstrate attention to detail, and ensure that communication processes remain consistent and well-documented.

Financial Management Responsibilities

The Office Manager will play an important role in supporting the financial operations of the NCA team in Nairobi. The portfolio includes budgets in excess of £1 million, requiring accuracy, compliance, and consistent oversight. Responsibilities include:

• Assisting the ILOs in developing financial plans, forecasts, and annual budgets
• Monitoring expenditure across multiple cost centres
• Tracking financial commitments and ensuring cost-effectiveness
• Maintaining accounting records in line with NCA financial procedures
• Preparing financial returns and periodic expenditure reports for senior managers in the UK
• Ensuring full compliance with NCA and British High Commission financial guidelines
• Supporting value-for-money processes during procurement or contract engagements

Strong financial discipline is an essential component of the role. The Office Manager must demonstrate structured thinking, analytical skills, and a clear understanding of financial management practices. Ensuring that expenditure remains aligned with project requirements and organisational policies will be an ongoing responsibility.

Project Management and Programme Coordination

Capacity building forms a major part of the NCA’s engagement in Kenya. The Office Manager will use project management skills to coordinate these programmes effectively. Responsibilities within this area include:

• Managing programme timelines and ensuring that key milestones are achieved
• Monitoring project scope, schedule, and deliverables through structured processes
• Coordinating with contractors, external consultants, and partner agencies involved in programme activities
• Assessing project risks and developing appropriate mitigation strategies
• Documenting programme activities and maintaining accurate project records
• Ensuring that capacity building initiatives remain within budget and aligned with NCA objectives
• Supporting monitoring and evaluation processes where applicable

The Office Manager must demonstrate a strong understanding of project management principles, the ability to coordinate multiple components, and the capacity to track progress against planned outcomes. Effective communication with stakeholders is essential to ensure smooth project execution.

Operational and Investigative Support

The role may involve supporting sensitive and high-priority operational matters connected to serious and organised crime investigations. Responsibilities include:

• Providing administrative and coordination support for operational tasks
• Handling sensitive or confidential information with the highest level of integrity
• Reviewing open-source information to support ILO tasks
• Preparing briefings, summaries, and structured notes for the ILO team
• Ensuring operational files and documentation are securely maintained

This aspect of the role requires a high level of discretion, reliability, and awareness of legal and ethical obligations. The Office Manager may be required to work outside standard hours when operations necessitate additional support.

Supervisory Responsibilities

The Office Manager will be responsible for supervising one Country Based Staff member, the NCA Driver/Assistant. Duties include:

• Assigning tasks in alignment with operational needs
• Monitoring task completion and overall performance
• Providing guidance, feedback, and problem-solving support
• Addressing operational or performance-related issues promptly
• Reporting performance in accordance with established FCDO policies
• Ensuring that the supervised staff member contributes effectively to the NCA’s objectives

This supervisory responsibility requires leadership, communication skills, and the ability to cultivate a productive working relationship with team members.

Required Behaviours

The British High Commission has outlined the following behavioural expectations for the role:

• Communicating and influencing
• Making effective decisions
• Managing a quality service
• Working together

These behaviours guide the professional conduct expected of all employees within the UK Civil Service operating overseas.

Position Details

The position is permanent, with working hours of 36.25 hours per week. The role is based in Kenya, specifically in Nairobi.

• Coordinating programme activities and engagements scheduled for the ILO team
• Preparing meeting notes, drafted communications, and official correspondence
• Supporting bilateral learning initiatives between the UK and Kenyan law enforcement institutions
• Organising meetings, workshops, briefings, and collaborative sessions with external partners
• Ensuring that administrative systems remain functional, structured, and updated
• Maintaining relationships with host nation partners and key stakeholders relevant to NCA operations
• Handling routine office needs to support operational continuity
• Assisting the ILOs in developing financial plans, forecasts, and annual budgets
• Monitoring expenditure across multiple cost centres
• Tracking financial commitments and ensuring cost-effectiveness
• Maintaining accounting records in line with NCA financial procedures
• Preparing financial returns and periodic expenditure reports for senior managers in the UK
• Ensuring full compliance with NCA and British High Commission financial guidelines
• Supporting value-for-money processes during procurement or contract engagements
• Managing programme timelines and ensuring that key milestones are achieved
• Monitoring project scope, schedule, and deliverables through structured processes
• Coordinating with contractors, external consultants, and partner agencies involved in programme activities
• Assessing project risks and developing appropriate mitigation strategies
• Documenting programme activities and maintaining accurate project records
• Ensuring that capacity building initiatives remain within budget and aligned with NCA objectives
• Supporting monitoring and evaluation processes where applicable
• Providing administrative and coordination support for operational tasks
• Handling sensitive or confidential information with the highest level of integrity
• Reviewing open-source information to support ILO tasks
• Preparing briefings, summaries, and structured notes for the ILO team
• Ensuring operational files and documentation are securely maintained
• Assigning tasks in alignment with operational needs
• Monitoring task completion and overall performance
• Providing guidance, feedback, and problem-solving support
• Addressing operational or performance-related issues promptly
• Reporting performance in accordance with established FCDO policies
• Ensuring that the supervised staff member contributes effectively to the NCA’s objectives

• Coordination skills
• Professionalism
• Discretion
• Cultural awareness
• Attention to detail
• Structured thinking
• Analytical skills
• Project management principles
• Leadership
• Communication skills

• Experience in administrative, financial, logistical, and project management support.
• Experience in supervisory duties.
• Experience in maintaining accurate financial records.
• Experience in supporting critical programmes.
• Experience in coordinating programme activities and engagements.
• Experience in preparing meeting notes, drafted communications, and official correspondence.
• Experience in supporting bilateral learning initiatives.
• Experience in organising meetings, workshops, briefings, and collaborative sessions.
• Experience in ensuring administrative systems remain functional, structured, and updated.
• Experience in maintaining relationships with host nation partners and key stakeholders.
• Experience in handling routine office needs.
• Experience in assisting with financial plans, forecasts, and annual budgets.
• Experience in monitoring expenditure across multiple cost centres.
• Experience in tracking financial commitments and ensuring cost-effectiveness.
• Experience in maintaining accounting records in line with financial procedures.
• Experience in preparing financial returns and periodic expenditure reports.
• Experience in ensuring compliance with financial guidelines.
• Experience in supporting value-for-money processes.
• Experience in managing programme timelines and ensuring key milestones are achieved.
• Experience in monitoring project scope, schedule, and deliverables.
• Experience in coordinating with contractors, external consultants, and partner agencies.
• Experience in assessing project risks and developing mitigation strategies.
• Experience in documenting programme activities and maintaining project records.
• Experience in ensuring capacity building initiatives remain within budget and aligned with objectives.
• Experience in supporting monitoring and evaluation processes.
• Experience in providing administrative and coordination support for operational tasks.
• Experience in handling sensitive or confidential information with integrity.
• Experience in reviewing open-source information.
• Experience in preparing briefings, summaries, and structured notes.
• Experience in ensuring operational files and documentation are securely maintained.
• Experience in assigning tasks and monitoring performance.
• Experience in providing guidance, feedback, and problem-solving support.
• Experience in addressing operational or performance-related issues.
• Experience in reporting performance.