View Vacancy - Political Officer

Main purpose of job:

The British Embassy in Santo Domingo is recruiting a Political Officer to work across a range of matters, with a specific focus on the UNSC (United Nations Security Council) and climate change policies. This is an exciting, busy role with the opportunity to make a significant impact.

The jobholder will coordinate briefing, research and lobbying materials on issues relating to the UNSC and the UK’s presidency of COP26 (2021 UN Climate Change Conference).

This is temporary 5 month position that will end on 31 March 2021.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, the United Kingdom works closely with other members of the Council on all the issues to be discussed. The jobholder will need to pick up complex policy ideas and identify the key points for a local audience, all under time pressure, to support the Embassy’s leadership team in this area.

The jobholder will need to work closely with colleagues in New York and London to understand the key issues and present and prioritise them in a way that works in the Dominican Republic. The jobholder will support the Ambassador in their roles interacting directly with Dominican ministers and officials.

The jobholder will collaborate with the Second Secretary to deliver a programme of work that furthers the climate agenda in the Dominican Republic and works towards core UK objectives. This will involve making sure the UK’s priorities are expressed clearly and effectively in the Dominican Republic and identifying and working with partners to deliver tangible results. There will also be an opportunity to work on similiar climate deliveries on Haiti.

Throughout all areas of their role, the job-holder will need to be able to work independently with limited direction/supervision, making recommendations to colleagues, including the Ambassador, and problem-solving across a complex portfolio of communication and policy work.

Essential on arrival:

- The ability to manage several urgent tasks at the same time, prioritising and meeting deadlines

- The ability to develop, implement and evaluate a work plan, with measurable objectives of success

- The ability to build strong networks of contacts and use them effectively, with confidence from the start

- The capacity to research complex policy topics, and to analyse and present information for senior staff

- The ability to draft briefings, media communications and policy documents in both English and Spanish

- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, in writing and in person

-  A demonstrable interest and enthusiasm for politics and foreign policy

- Competence using Microsoft Office 2016

Language requirements:

Language: Spanish and English

Level of language required:

Fluent English and Spanish, covering reading, writing, speaking and listening, and an ability to switch between the two languages seamlessly