View Vacancy - Policy and Events Assistant Intern (BEL21.181)

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.
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Northern Ireland Executive

The Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels (ONIEB), established in 2001, has served as a focal point for liaison between the Northern Ireland Executive and the Institutions of the European Union in promoting the Administration’s interests. The office is part of the wider family of the UK Mission to the European Union and is now looking for one recent graduate for a full time internship opportunity: Policy and Events Assistant. Visit www.brusselsni.com or @BrusselsNI for more information.  

The contract will be for a period of 6 to 12 months with a starting date to be discussed between the parties (ideally September 2021). This is a good opportunity to develop your skills and to gain experience in a diverse work area, working in the heart of Brussels’ EU Quarter’. 

Main Duties/Responsibilities:

  • Provide general administrative support to a diverse team including (but not limited to): procuring supplies, taking minutes, assisting with diary management, maintaining databases, greeting visitors.

  • Work with the team to organise a number of cultural and policy events and official visits to Brussels, including assisting with the practical arrangements, maintaining all meeting rooms and on occasion working in the early evening.

  • Produce web content and maintain office website and twitter account.

  • Support the team with policy-related activities including desk-based research, scanning of upcoming events, attending external events and meetings, writing reports.

  • Provide occasional support to the Head of office.

  • A college / university level degree in any subject at the time of taking up post;

  • Relevant academic, work or/and voluntary experience;

  • Full professional proficiency in English, including excellent writing skills (written and spoken, minimum of C1 level for CEFR framework*);

  • Strong IT skills - familiarity with Microsoft Office and internet search engines;

  • Organisational skills, the ability to plan and prioritise tasks;

  • Experience of working in a team;

  • Ability to solve problems and pay attention to detail;

  • Understanding and knowledge of Northern Ireland affairs;

  • Experience of social media platforms in a professional environment and website software;

  • Confident and professional in communicating with people at all levels;

  • In addition, a certain degree of flexibility is inherent to the role depending on changing office priorities, requiring a positive approach to accepting varied tasks;

  • Demonstrated ability in the following key FCDO competences: Managing a Quality Service, Collaborating and Partnering, Delivering at Pace.

  • Knowledge of a second European language;

  • Experience of working in an office environment.

6 June 2021
Internship
Intern
36.25
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Belgium
Brussels
UK Delegation
1
EUR
1,300 (gross)
1 September 2021

This is a full-time professional immersion traineeship, for 36.25 hours net for 5 working days a week. The professional immersion indemnity for this position is €1.300 / month.

The duration of the traineeship will be for 6 months, with the possibility of a further 6 months if certain conditions are met. This will be explained during interview. 

You will gain:

  • Organisational skills, the ability to plan and prioritise tasks;

  • Experience of working in a team;

  • Experience of working in an office environment and using office equipment;

  • Various training opportunities in Brussels, tailored to individual needs;

  • Ability to solve problems and pay attention to detail;

  • Understanding of the European Union and Northern Ireland affairs;

  • Experience of living and working in Brussels;

  • Website and social media skills.

  • In addition, a certain degree of flexibility is inherent to the role depending on changing office priorities, requiring a positive approach to accepting varied tasks.

Additional benefits including allowances for public transport and daily subsistence costs of €7 per work day are also provided. Interns have access to 1 day of paid annual leave and 1 day of unpaid leave per month of internship. As the nature of the events-related work will occasionally entail working in the early evening, TOIL (time off in lieu) is given.

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.

As you will know, the Covid-19 (coronavirus) situation has resulted in the temporary closure of workplaces across the world and for the moment that includes The Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels although partial reopening is underway and being reviewed every week. While the Office is closed, working from home arrangements will be provided to the successful candidate in Brussels.

Like everyone, we hope to be able to re-open and resume normal business when it is safe to do so, but for the moment our normal events calendar has been postponed.

For these reasons, it may be necessary to delay the post start date indefinitely, depending on the resolution of the Covid-19 (coronavirus) situation. Should the situation continue long-term, our Senior Management Team will come to a decision on the feasibility of progressing with the post. As such, we cannot guarantee with absolute certainty that this post will go ahead.

Passport: officers are expected to be in possession of a passport due to the possibility that they may be asked to undertake business travel.

Visa/work permit requirements: Candidates 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 it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country.

Professional Immersion Traineeship Requirements:

  • Be a minimum of 18 years old;

  • Proof of valid medical coverage for the period of the internship (UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), or a valid UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)  https://www.gov.uk/global-health-insurance-card OR equivalent medical coverage);

  • The successful candidates will be subject to professional background checks and security clearance and the post is offered on condition of the adequacy of these 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.

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.

Subject to travel restrictions, we expect to hold the interviews remotely end of June 2021. Further details about interviews will be communicated to successful candidates in due course.

*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.

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.