View Vacancy - Human Rights Policy Officer (POL21.290)

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.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Public Diplomacy

The British Embassy in Poland is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking to recruit a Values/Human Rights Policy Officer to lead on the delivery of the Embassy’s objectives in Poland on key human rights priority areas.

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. The Public Diplomacy Team, of which this role is part, works to ensure that the Embassy uses impactful public and private activity to influence and support delivery of UK objectives in Poland [substitute this sentence for whatever the specific team does]. You will need to be flexible, as the role and responsibilities will evolve, in line with embassy priorities.  

The British Embassy Warsaw is committed to being an inclusive place to work. We actively champion diversity and UK values, internally and externally. We really value teamworking, flexibility, taking responsibility and creativity. We value everyone’s contribution to making the Embassy a great place to work, where our people get good training and fulfil their potential. 

Main Duties and responsibilities:

  • Championing UK values in Poland through high impact, creative public diplomacy activity on human rights priority issues, portrayal of the UK as a force for good in Poland and more widely.
  • Devising, and implementing, with international and local partners, project activity to promote human rights in Poland, increase the capacity of local NGOs and increase links between UK and Polish organisations working on similar issues;
  • Building and maintaining a network of Embassy contacts and stakeholders on human rights and civil society across Poland;
  • Providing reporting and analysis on human rights issues including women’s rights, LGBT rights, hate crime, Freedom of Religion or Belief, historical/post-Holocaust issues, democracy and rule of law and other issues on an ad hoc basis. Contribution to policy advice to UK Ministers;
  • Producing and delivering BE Warsaw's Human Rights Strategy in line with the objectives of Warsaw’s Country Business Strategy;
  • Working with colleagues in Embassies across the Central Europe region on priority human rights issues and joint communications campaigns;
  • Supporting the work of Lord Eric Pickles, the UK’s post-Holocaust envoy on his engagement and visits to Poland;
  • Leading the Embassy’s internal work on diversity and inclusion.
  • Fluency in Polish and English (both oral and written, minimum C1 level*);
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field;
  • At least 4 years of experience in human rights, international policy or a related field;
  • Experience in developing and delivering projects and managing budgets;
  • Experience in managing and delivering a demanding workload as well as responding flexibly to changing priorities;
  • Strong understanding of the UK and Polish political situation, especially in the field of human rights;
  • Strong IT skills in MS Outlook/Teams, Word, Excel and PowerPoint;
  • Ability to work independently and show initiative with limited day-to-day supervision while operating as part of a wider team with shared goals and wide-ranging objectives;
  • Enthusiastic, energetic and creative team player with a passion for human rights;
  • Strong sense of personal responsibility and the ability to assess and initiate activities independently.
  • Proven track record of designing, ,managing and evaluating successful large-scale events;
  • Experience of working with UK Government, especially knowledge of UK policies;
  • Knowledge of and experience working with digital media;
  • An existing network of contacts in Poland in the NGO/Civil Society sector.

 

28 July 2021
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
37.5
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Poland
Warsaw
British Embassy
1
PLN
12.706 gross
1 September 2021

This is a full-time fixed-term position of 5 days (37.5 net per week) for 2 years with the possibility of renewal by mutual agreement.

The gross salary for this position is PLN 12.706 gross per month. Working hours are flexible and staff are entitled to time-off-in-lieu for agreed extra hours worked. The annual leave entitlement is 20 or 26 days per year pro rata and the Embassy also enjoys a maximum of 14 Polish / UK public holidays per year.

Please note that staff members are responsible for paying any income tax required by the local law.

The successful candidate will be subject to the Polish references check and satisfactory completion of a probationary period of three months.

Candidates must have pre-existing right to live and work in Poland for the duration of the job offer in order to apply. The British Embassy does not sponsor work permits.

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in Warsaw are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to Polish employment law.

Visa / Passport requirements:

Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Poland 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.

Working patterns

BE Warsaw has a strong commitment to work/life balance. Office hours are 8:30 – 16:30, staff are encouraged to leave on time. Flexi-hours are also possible within the Embassy building’s opening hours (0800-1800).

We have mobile technology and most staff in the team work from home one day a week in normal circumstances.

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 Embassy will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a position.

* 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.