View Vacancy - Second Secretary, Justice (BEL18.590)

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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
UKREP (UK Representation to the EU)

The UK Permanent Representation to the EU (UKRep) works within the EU and its member states to maximise British influence on issues such as trade, the single market and economic growth and is now looking for a Second Secretary - Justice.

This is a dynamic and challenging post in the Justice and Home Affairs team spanning a range of justice business, primarily in areas falling to the Ministry of Justice but also on work led by other Government departments, particularly the Home Office, the Department for Business, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department for Exiting the EU.  

The post is a representational role, working directly to two first secretaries in the justice team and responsible for delivering UK objectives in the EU on criminal, civil and family justice and fundamental rights, including by:  

  • Influencing EU legislation in line with UK objectives to support appropriate cross-border criminal and civil judicial cooperation and a well functioning system to resolve cross-border family law disputes.
  • Representing the UK’s interests on fundamental rights.
  • Providing quality and timely analysis and reporting to London to support the development of EU handling strategies.
  • Advising and briefing Ministers and senior officials in order to secure UK objectives within the EU.
  • Developing strong networks across Brussels in the field of criminal and civil law and fundamental rights.
  • Supporting work on civil judicial cooperation in the UK exit negotiations.  

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

  • This role will involve supporting London by attendance at Working Groups, helping to prepare the UK position beforehand, and following up on issues between meetings. This may include meetings where the postholder will directly represent and speak for the UK. 
  • The postholder will need to develop strong working relations with officials from the EU institutions, Member of the European Parliament and other Member States in order to negotiate successful outcomes for the UK. You will also need to work closely with policy leads across a range of Government departments in London to provide police and handling advice, as well as with colleagues in the wider JHA team and across UKRep. 
  • The postholder will be responsible for advising the Permanent Representative in advance of and during COREPER, as well as orally briefing Ministers for JHA Councils. 
  • As the UK leaves the EU, the postholder will be expected to support the negotiations on the UK’s future relationship with the EU in the area of civil judicial cooperation and develop broader networks in that area beyond the EU Institutions.
  • Knowledge and experience of working with European Union processes and institutions.
  • Experience of delivering successful outcomes in a legally and politically sensitive environment.
  • Fluent in English.
  • University Graduate.
  • Strong communication skills.
  • Legal training and experience, particularly in the areas of EU criminal and civil law and fundamental rights, is highly desirable.

7 October 2018
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Permanent
36.25
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Belgium
UK Permanent Representation to the European Union, Brussels
British Embassy
1
EUR
4,984.46 gross
1 November 2018

This is a permanent full time contract for 5 working days (36.25 hours net) per week. 

The monthly salary for this position is 4,984.46, C4(L) level (The British Diplomatic Missions in Belgium salaries are not subject to annual indexation).

Please note that Belgian nationals will be paid their salary gross and are expected to comply with their tax obligations through completion of a tax return to the Belgian authorities. Non-Belgian nationals will receive their salary net, minus the deduction of an equivalent level of Belgian tax retained at source. Further information on this will be given to candidates during the recruitment process.

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

Staff recruited locally by the British Diplomatic Missions in Belgium are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Belgian employment law.

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

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 Diplomatic Missions will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a job.

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.

This opportunity is closed to applications.