View Vacancy - SRR - Economic Liaison Officer B3(L)

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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Chancery

The British Embassy Riyadh has a vacancy for an Economic Liaison Officer on a fixed-term contract for two (2) years with a possibility of renewal.

The jobholder will support Her Majesty’s Government’s (HMG) engagement with Saudi Arabia in country as part of the British Embassy’s Economic and Prosperity Team. They will engage with an array of stakeholders, support operational logistics, understand relevant policy, manage visit programmes for senior UK officials, and liaise with Saudi Ministries. 

This is an exciting time of change in Saudi Arabia with Vision 2030 economic reforms providing unprecedented opportunities for the UK economy. Saudi Arabia is a high priority bilateral relationship for the UK on a range of areas, including security and prosperity. In particular, the Economic and Prosperity team focuses on: economic analysis, financial services, climate change, energy, healthcare, education, culture, sport and tourism.

The Embassy in Riyadh is a large team, delivering key priorities against a wide range of UK government objectives. The environment is challenging and the issues can be complex and fast-moving. This is a visible role across the Embassy and with a wide range of Whitehall partners. The successful candidate will be comfortable with project management, as well as able to add value bringing a strategic approach. They will gain political and delivery experience as well as develop economic and wider prosperity skills, influencing and public diplomacy capabilities. 

 

Duties and responsibilities:

- Political

  • Develop contacts and liaise with Saudi Ministries and other Government Organisations for the Economic and Prosperity Team.
  • Produce background understanding of the Economic and Prosperity Team’s policy focus areas.
  • Supporting coordination point between UK Ministries, British Council, Department for International Trade (DIT), and other teams at the Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah. Assist in ensuring UK activity on relevant work is joined up in country.
  • Arrange visit programmes for visiting UK Ministers, Special Representatives, and senior officials; coordinating logistics across the Embassy; liaising with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other stakeholders in order to secure visas and meetings.
  • Provide information to relevant Saudi government officials as they prepare to visit the UK.

- Programme delivery

  • Lead in drafting of notes verbale and liaise with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • Develop contacts and stakeholders across a range of areas relevant to the work of the Economic Team and Vision 2030.
  • Attend meetings with key stakeholders and draft meeting records. When required, develop these notes into briefing documents and reports for senior staff.
  • Support in organising travel and accommodation for the Economic and Prosperity Team.

-Line management

  • Line manage the Administrative Officer and supervise their work, which includes, but not limited to, providing administrative support to the Economic Team; help support operational logistics; lead administrative tasks; contribute to visit programmes for senior UK officials; and assist in liaising with Saudi Arabia’s Ministries

The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any response to a crisis.


Key competencies required:

  • Delivering at Pace - Focusing on delivering timely performance with energy and taking responsibility and accountability for quality outcomes. Working to agreed goals and activities and dealing with challenges in a responsive and constructive way. Keeping a firm focus on priorities and addressing performance issues resolutely, fairly and promptly
  • Engaging Internationally - Leading internationally, engaging our staff, contacts and international partners to help deliver UK Government objectives, while living the UK Civil Service values and serving the UK public. Understanding UK Government aims in the wider UK and international context and developing productive relationships with those external contacts and partners to help deliver UK objectives. Being aware of cultural sensitivities in your area of responsibility whilst valuing and modelling professional excellence and expertise.
  • Managing a Quality Service - valuing and modelling professional excellence and expertise to deliver service objectives and striving to improve the quality of service, taking account of diverse customer needs and requirements. Effectively planning, organising, and managing time and activities to deliver a high quality, secure, reliable and efficient service, applying programme and project and risk management approaches to support service delivery.
  • Making Effective Decisions - Using sound judgement, evidence and knowledge to arrive at accurate, expert and professional decisions and advice. Being careful and thoughtful about the use and protection of government and public information to ensure it is handled securely and with care. Reaching evidence-based strategies, evaluating options, impacts, risks and solutions and creating a secure culture around the handling of information. Aiming to maximise return while minimising risk and balancing a range of considerations such as social, political, financial, economic, legal and environmental to provide sustainable outcomes.
  • Excellent communication skills in English and Arabic, both verbal and spoken. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication.
  • Collaborative approach to colleague and stakeholder partnerships. Ability to maintain a range of contacts to build effective working relationships in public and private sectors. Recognises the importance of developing a strong business network.
  • Ability to prioritise own workload and meet deadlines without compromising the quality of the work.
  • Ability to multi-task and respond quickly and flexibly to meet multiple and changing priorities.
  • Resilient, decisive, and calm under pressure and with a proactive approach to problem solving.
  • Team player who is capable of working on their own initiative as well as manage others, including in a fast-paced and changing environment.
  • Strong IT skills and literacy in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams).
26 August 2021
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
35
Middle East & North Africa
Saudi Arabia
Riyadh
British Embassy
1
SAR
11,097.26
17 October 2021

Eligibility:

The position is available to Saudi Nationals and to current holders of valid Saudi residence permits or transferable iqamas. The successful candidate will be required to transfer their sponsorship to the British Embassy. 

 

Working hours and remuneration:

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role.

Salary details:

  • Base Salary including Eid bonus - SAR 8,557.81
  • Housing Allowance - SAR 2,139.45 (subject to eligibility)*
  • Travel Allowance - SAR 400 (subject to eligibility)*

*Allowances are not payable to staff who receive official provision for such expenditure in some other form.

No accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

 

Normal working hours for the Embassy are from 08.00 to 15.00 from Sunday to Thursday. This position is full-time, based on 35 hours per week.

The jobholder should also be flexible in their approach to hours worked as these will also be dictated by operational needs and may involve working out of hours (evening and weekend), especially during events and visits.

 

The successful candidate will be subject to a 90-day probationary period.

How to apply:

Interested candidates must attach 1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) and 2) a covering letter stating how you meet the requirements of the role.

Your application must also include examples of when you have demonstrated the required competencies in the Competence-Based Questions section of the online application form.

Applications that do not include these information will not be considered.

The closing date for applications is at 23:55 KSA local time on 26 August 2021.

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.


Due to the large number of applications we receive, only those shortlisted for the next step in the recruitment process will be contacted.

The start date mentioned in the advert is an assumed start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances, medical clearance and reference checks. 

 

The British Embassy Riyadh is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Saudi Arabia employment law.

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.