View Vacancy - UKRep 2nd Secretary, Migration (BEL070)
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 2nd Secretary, Migration for the UK’s Permanent Representative.
Roles and Responsibilities:
The main purpose of the job is to support the successful delivery of UK objectives on migration (including asylum, borders and illegal immigration) through the European Union by:
- Influencing Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) and European Council Conclusions, European Commission proposals and EU legislation to reflect UK objectives of reducing illegal migration and securing borders. This requires effective negotiation skills and the ability to build strong EU networks, including with like-minded states.
- Providing analysis and advice to support the delivery of UK policy objectives in the EU context - including on the implications of the Treaty and its Protocols, co-decision with the European Parliament, the European Commission and the use of the UK’s Protocols on Justice and Home Affairs;
- Providing HMG with high quality and timely advice and reporting on EU handling and lobbying strategies.
- Advising and briefing Ministers and senior officials in order to secure UK objectives at Justice and Home Affairs Councils and other high-level meetings;
- The successful candidate will lead on visas and JHA aspects of external relations with third countries but will be expected to contribute to full range of migration related business as required;
- The post-holder will attend Working Groups and other meetings in support of Whitehall policy leads, help prepare the UK position beforehand and follow up on issues between meetings. This frequently includes negotiations on specific subjects at EU meetings where the post-holder will directly represent and speak for the UK. S/he will also be responsible for advising the Permanent Representative (Ambassador) in advance of and during the COREPER negotiations, as well contributing to Ministerial briefings for JHA Council. The ability to prioritise, master complex policy and legal issues quickly, switch between varied subjects at short notice and work effectively under pressure will be very important;
- This is a representational role and the post-holder will need to develop strong working relationships with officials from the EU institutions and other Member States to gather information, influence others’ positions and negotiate successful outcomes for the UK.S/he will also need to work closely with policy leads from a range of Whitehall departments to provide handling and policy advice as well as with colleagues within the JHA section and the wider UK Rep;
- The post holder will have personal responsibility for the delivery of specific migration dossiers (visas and JHA aspects of external relations with third countries) but flexibility will also be required to respond to changing priorities and to support colleagues and the wider team. This includes covering meetings for colleagues and providing input into a wide range of briefings. The full range of migration dossiers covered by the current team include asylum (Dublin, Eurodac, EASO, resettlement and relocation), Borders (Schengen, SIS and document security), visas and readmission agreements, legal migration, migration aspects of external (non-EU) relations, and free movement of persons.
Fluency in English (both oral and written);
No formal qualifications are required but it is essential for potential candidates to be able to demonstrate a sound working knowledge of migration issues, preferably across the broad range of issues currently affecting EU Member States;
Applicants should also be able to demonstrate excellent knowledge of EU institutions and processes.
Experience of working with UK government departments would be desirable as would knowledge and/or professional experience of external migration matters.
Proficiency in a language other than English is not essential but the ability to communicate effectively in French would be desirable.
This is a full-time, maternity cover contract, for 5 working days (36.25 hours net) per week. The contract duration is 6 months.
The monthly salary for this position is € 4,747.11 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.
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.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
