View Vacancy - Senior Policy Officer - Humanitarian (POL22.449)

Poland is an important partner for the UK. The British Embassy Warsaw works to develop relations between all parts of Poland and all parts of the UK. Our work covers the breadth of the bilateral relationship, including political, commercial, security and economic issues of interest to both the UK and Poland, which we deliver under the framework of a Country Strategy setting out key objectives. Roles and responsibilities might evolve, in line with the Country Strategy. 

The British Embassy Warsaw is committed to being an inclusive employer. We actively champion diversity and UK values, internally and externally. We value team working, flexibility, responsibility and creativity, as well as everyone’s contribution to making the Embassy a great place to work, where our people get good training and fulfil their potential.  We have a strong Learning and Development culture, organise regular in-house training opportunities, and encourage staff to take on opportunities for development.

Why should you apply? 

Working in the Embassy’s Policy Team, the job holder will lead on Humanitarian issues.  They will contribute to cross-Whitehall policy-making and influence Polish humanitarian policy development, including by engaging officials at Polish Government Ministries, and representatives from humanitarian agencies and NGOs.
   

What will the jobholder be expected to achieve?

The job holder will be part of the Embassy’s Political Team, which covers foreign and security policy, internal political developments and migration, justice and internal security issues. Poland has developed rapidly over the last 20 years, becoming an important NATO member, a key ally within the EU system, a strategic partner on Russia and increasingly a leader in the humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine. The Team leads, or works in tandem with other parts of the Embassy, on all these issues. All staff are also expected to contribute to wider Embassy corporate objectives, helping to reinforce the Embassy’s reputation as a high performing, friendly mission that actively promotes Embassy values.

BE Warsaw is one of nine posts in the Central European Network (CEN). The CEN provides shared resources, expertise, collaboration across posts and support from peers. Virtual teams work on regional priorities, sharing analysis, ideas and campaigns. Colleagues across the Embassy, in all teams, are encouraged to connect with their counterparts in other CEN posts and there will be opportunities to make a personal contribution to the CEN, whether on expertise, policy or the corporate agenda.

The job holder leads on humanitarian policy and will develop a deep understanding of the issues involved.    

Humanitarian is a new area of work for BE Warsaw following the war in Ukraine and the subsequent number of refugees that crossed into and remain in Poland (over 1 million have registered for a PESEL number). HMG has pledged a significant amount of humanitarian aid both to support refugees in Poland, and – in collaboration with the Government of Poland – to provide humanitarian relief in Ukraine. The funding is being managed centrally from the UK, however your role will be to support the implementation at Post. You will work closely with colleagues in London, as well as the Humanitarian Adviser and regional Humanitarian Affairs Officer, to ensure that the funding is being spent correctly and is producing high quality outputs that meet humanitarian objectives. You will also be responsible for understanding and keeping the Embassy and HMG updated on developments in the humanitarian sphere within Poland. Across all these areas, you will be expected to:

• Work closely with the Humanitarian Adviser and regional Humanitarian Affairs Officer to lead  BE Warsaw’s humanitarian policy, ensuring that BE Warsaw’s perspective and interests are fully integrated into decision making and future HMG humanitarian policy; 
• Support the Humanitarian Adviser and Humanitarian Affairs Officer in ensuring effective distribution of UK’s humanitarian spend in and with Poland (roughly £30m), including through implementer progress visits, donor coordination meetings, and supporting the programme reporting cycle; 
• Build and maintain a strong network of stakeholders in Poland, including across key Ministries, humanitarian agencies and relevant NGOs. Utilise this network to deepen understanding of Polish priorities, the current humanitarian situation for refugees in Poland, and seek to influence their policy positions and to look for areas the UK can support the response, in line with HMG objectives;
• Develop an equivalent network of UK contacts, ensuring that you understand key drivers and interests in UK policy;
• Provide regular high quality analytical reporting on humanitarian updates in Poland to BE Warsaw and UK departments (particularly the FCDO). This to be both written (e.g. diptels, meeting notes) and oral (e.g. in regular meetings with officials across UK Government departments);
• Provide written and oral briefing on your specialist areas to colleagues across the FCDO network, senior Embassy staff, including the Ambassador and government Ministers as required;
• Act as policy lead on related senior official and Ministerial inward and outward visits where there is a humanitarian angle, developing programme ideas in line with objectives, accompanying those visitors and providing briefing as required.

As part of the Embassy Policy Team, you will be expected to follow domestic politics closely and may be required to cover other portfolios within the team as necessary, including reporting and providing advice to UK diplomats.

L&D:

The Embassy has a strong commitment to staff learning and development. You will be supported to achieve your development goals through stretching on the job opportunities, regular bite-sized L&D sessions and by more formal training too.

• Full professional proficiency in Polish and English (C1/C2 CEFR*)
• Masters degree, or equivalent;
• Good understanding of humanitarian policy issues, particularly in relation to refugees;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; confidence in dealing with senior contacts and colleagues;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Microsoft Office Tools proficiency.