View Vacancy - Personal Assistant and Bilateral Support Officer (DEU22.443)

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.
Department for International Trade roles (DIT)
DIT

The British Government in Germany is based at the British Embassy in Berlin and our Consulates General in Dusseldorf and Munich. We are part of a worldwide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas.

The Consulate General in Dusseldorf leads on the UK’s bilateral relationships with the federal states of North Rhine Westphalia (NRW), Hesse, Rhineland Palatinate and Saarland, including political, consular and business issues. The majority of the Consulate General’s day-to-day work supports the Department for International Trade (DIT) in Germany. DIT’s mission is to improve market access for businesses, champion free and fair trade, and encourage trade and investment between the UK and Germany, whilst at the same time supporting global goals – e.g. tackling climate change and improving economic security. For more information about DIT’s objectives, see here.  The DIT Germany team has around 35 staff based at the British Embassy in Berlin and the Consulates-General in Düsseldorf and Munich. 

We are looking for an enterprising, team oriented and highly organised individual to join the British Consulate General in Düsseldorf as Personal Assistant to the Consul General and Bilateral Support Officer.

Why should you apply?

Are you interested in international relations? Would you like to make an impact in a fast-moving, high-profile environment

You will play a key role supporting the operations of the Consulate GeneralAs Personal Assistant, you will ensure the smooth running of the Consul General’s office. This includes diary organisation, arranging programmes and events and coordinating senior visits with a wide range of internal and external contacts. As Bilateral Support Officer you will support the further development and new activities in bilateral relations, in particular between NRW and the UK. This follows the signature of a Joint Declaration on bilateral relations in February 2022 between NRW and the UK. 

This role offers an excellent opportunity to develop your own contact networks and knowledge of the UK’s bilateral political and commercial relationships with Germany. We are committed to ensuring the jobholder can use this role as a great development opportunity. You will have the chance to take part in our broad and varied corporate and learning and development opportunities.

The successful candidate should have strong organisational, delivery and communication skills. Working as part of a large team and matrix structure, you will need to have a flexible approach and be able to juggle competing demands and pick up new issues quickly.  

Roles and responsibilities:

Personal Assistant – 80%

  • Management of the Consul General’s calendar, internal and external appointments, travel programmes and official administration, including handling correspondence and enquiries and input to communications & social media activity
  • Coordination and support for visit programmes & briefing for senior visitors to the four federal states covered by Düsseldorf. Visitors can include Ministers, the British Ambassador and senior officials from DIT or other Government Departments
  • Maintaining close working relationships with internal & external contacts, including in politics, business & the British community
  • Leading or supporting the organisation & delivery of events, including at the Consul General’s  Residence and the annual Queen’s Birthday Party reception
  • Support for wider Düsseldorf and DIT Germany teams, such as arranging team meetings

Bilateral Support Officer – 20%

  • Work with internal & external colleagues to support the development of the new UK-NRW bilateral Steering Committee on bilateral relations, including the organisation of the annual NRW-UK senior level meeting
  • Provide administrative support to follow up and monitor new and ongoing bilateral projects and actions agreed by the UK-NRW Steering Committee
  • Provide support to other activities and programmes as requested e.g. the Invictus Games taking place in Düsseldorf in September 2023

The job holder is also expected to contribute to wider work of the Consulate General through corporate activity, including crisis work.


Our ideal candidate shows:     

  • Excellent oral and written English and German (to at least level C2 CEFR*)

  • University degree in relevant field and proven experience in a related role

  • Strong organisational and delivery skills and experience managing projects

  • Interest in international political and business relations

  • Familiarity with the German and UK business environments

  • Excellent interpersonal and team working skills.

  • Ability to work well on own initiative, under pressure and to juggle multiple priorities effectively

  • Good IT skills, especially Excel and PowerPoint

It will be a plus

  • Experience in organizing and managing events

Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
9 October 2022
Administrative Officer (AO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
37.5
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Germany
Dusseldorf
British Consulate General
1
EUR
45,564 € gross per annum rising to approx 51,182 € gross per annum after a qualifying period in addition to performance related pay. (Salary is not negotiable)
1 November 2022
31 October 2024

- This is a 2 year fixed-term position with the possibility of contract extension depending on performance and available funding. 

Our Learning & Development environment: The British Government Germany Network has a strong ethos of Learning & Development, including our Learning & Development Week. In addition, there will be many opportunities for support, including mentoring, coaching, job shadowing and secondments and dedicated L& D days. This is in addition to the induction programme offered to all staff.

- The successful applicant will be encouraged to be actively involved in the corporate life of Consulate General, contributing to the wider objectives of the British Government’s Germany Network and supporting a positive working environment.

- The successful candidate will be subject to professional background check and security clearance.

- Staff recruited locally by the Consulate General are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local German employment law.

Visa/work permit requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Germany 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.

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 Government Germany Network 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.

* Please note Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment indicates Level C2 as Mastery or proficiency Level which comprehends that a person can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read; can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation; can express themselves spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations. For more information please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your languages skills are 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.