View Vacancy - Senior Policy Advisor, Political Section

Main purpose of job

The Charter of the United Nations reaffirms humanity’s collective faith in fundamental human rights and the equality of men and women. In this critical role at the UK Mission to the UN, the successful candidate will work in the vanguard of British Government efforts to promote Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) across the UN. As one of only five Permanent Members of the UN Security Council, working at the UK Mission affords the successful candidate unique responsibilities and opportunities, including in their work leading negotiations at the Security Council. The successful candidate will also lead the UK Mission’s policy advice to London on UN sanctions regimes, and will represent the UK on the relevant Security Council Committees and Working Groups. Depending on their expertise and interest, the successful candidate will also have the opportunity to lead on country-specific files in the Security Council.

Roles and responsibilities

The successful candidate will lead Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) in the Security Council for the UK, as well as certain other country-specific files. They will join the busy and exciting Middle East, Americas, and WPS team. This is a policy development and delivery role, heavily focussed on negotiating and influencing Member States, the UN secretariat, and NGOs.  Responsibilities include, inter alia:

• Negotiating Security Council products; drafting UK-proposed texts and chairing negotiations; reporting views of other Council members and UN Secretariat; representing UK on Security Council Sanctions Committees; advising London on tactics to best deliver UK policy at the Security Council.

• Working with colleagues in the UK Mission, and colleagues across the UK network of posts from other UK Government departments, to make full use of UK Government influence across the UN to deliver UK policy on WPS and to provide strategic advice to London in developing wider UK policy on WPS and other country-specific dossiers.

• Delivering UK policy at the UN on WPS and country dossiers.

• Briefing UK Permanent Representative for, and reporting on, Security Council and other high-level meetings on issues on a variety of WPS and country-specific dossiers.

• Working flexibly across the team to provide cover for the MENA/Americas/WPS team, and other senior policy advisers where necessary

• Working closely with the UK Mission’s military, development, and human rights teams, and supporting the work of the wider Political Section, including planning visits and other ad hoc duties where appropriate.

• Engaging the wider Political Section in developing policy on cross-cutting issues with a WPS locus e.g. peacekeeping, conflict-related sexual violence, and sanctions work.

This is a challenging role with the opportunity to lead on some of the Security Council’s highest profile issues and to develop specific expertise on WPS and conflict issues.  The portfolio will grow as the job holder gains experience in the role.  You will work in a fast-paced and changing environment and must be willing to support other team members and priorities as needed.

• An undergraduate or postgraduate degree in a relevant field;
• At least four years of relevant work experience, including work on Women, Peace, and Security;
• Proven track record of influencing a wide range of stakeholders;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English;
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to work independently as well as part of a larger team;
• Ability to work flexibly and adapt to changing priorities across a range of tasks and responsibilities that require long-term planning, as well as reaction to urgent day-to-day developments.

Under US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Permanent Residents or A visa holders with EAD cards*. If you hold a visa other than an A visa you are not currently eligible to work at our office.  Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/government/world/usa.  All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work. 
*A visas are acceptable at the Embassy and Consulates. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas, and British Defense Staff (BDS) outposts accept A or NATO visas.