View Vacancy - VNM (Hanoi) - Political Officer, External Political Section, HEO
Main purpose of job:
This position is a core part of the Vietnam Network’s political team, focusing on Vietnam’s foreign and security policy. It will involve day-to-day liaison with the Vietnamese Government plus analysis and reporting on Vietnam’s bilateral and multilateral action in a way which helps strengthen the UK’s relationship with Vietnam and our shared agenda on global issues. The position will have a specific emphasis on driving forward progress on the UK’s maritime security work in Vietnam.
Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:
Policy and analysis – foreign policy and maritime
Analyse and report on developments in Vietnam’s foreign policy. Lead on UK’s maritime security policy in Vietnam. This work will include highlighting developments and drafting reports on Vietnam’s main bilateral relationships with regional neighbours and significant international powers. It will also include assessing and recommending where the UK is best placed to support international efforts to strengthen maritime security in Vietnam.
Contributing to cross cutting and strategic issues, such as development of the Vietnam Network Country Business Plan; planning and organising the UK-Vietnam Strategic Dialogue; helping develop the Joint Action Plan; arranging annual talks between UK and Vietnamese policy planners; and organising high level visits. Working closely with colleagues on domestic political issues. The jobholder will be required to undertake translation and interpretation.
Project management
The jobholder will design and implement projects with Vietnam and its immediate neighbours. This work will also include significant representation requirements. This work will also require thought leadership on foreign and security policy across the Vietnam Network, producing papers, leading seminars and building capacity and awareness on foreign and security issues in British Embassy Hanoi and British Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City.
Manage projects to support the UK’s engagement with Vietnam on international issues; bid for and using programme funds to enhance the UK and Vietnam’s shared international agenda, e.g. through visits, seminars, workshops and conferences. The jobholder will have significant autonomy in determining direction for maritime security programming and funds. They will be expected to represent to the UK at maritime-related events.
The jobholder will need to manage information and budget to support best practice within the Network, by: forecasting and managing funds for projects and activities; capturing background information on key political figures; ensuring documents are saved appropriately and easily accessible; maintaining the team’s shared area.
Stakeholder management
Develop and use a wide network of contacts in the Vietnamese Government, among think-tanks and academics and in other diplomatic missions to better understand Vietnam’s foreign policy and to share UK thinking on international issues. This role includes arranging lobbying calls on specific topics and themes and recording these, as well as providing advice on how best to land messaging on UK asks and priorities. The jobholder will be responsible for regular contact with MOFA and other Vietnamese Government ministries and agencies.
Resources managed (staff and expenditure):
No staff management requirement, but will manage own and external political section team budget for projects and activities.
- Understanding of the Vietnamese political system and ability to call on a range of political contacts
- Experience interpreting from Vietnamese-English-Vietnamese
- Strong communication skills with a good knowledge of MS Word, Excel and Outlook
- Researching, analysing and interpreting information
- Ability to organise events, including in collaboration with Vietnamese government contacts
This position is being advertised as a 12 months fixed term position with possibility of renewal in Hanoi.
Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is committed to developing its staff, working hard to provide a comprehensive L&D offer. Staff have access to a wide variety of online resources through the Diplomatic Academy and Civil Service Learning. Staff are strongly encouraged to take advantage of all the available opportunities.
The job-holder will be required to take some specific training courses related to their role. All new staff undertake a workplace induction and there are a number of mandatory e-learning courses covering areas such as diversity, health and safety, and information management.
Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment and security checks. Staff who are locally recruited by the British Embassy are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law.
No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. Visa sponsorship may be possible for non-Vietnamese nationals if meet local requirements.
Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.
Disabled and ethnic minority applicants will be invited to interviews if meeting the minimum requirement of the job.
Working patterns:
This is a full-time post. The Embassy would be willing to discuss flexible working options. For example, these may include:
- Altered working hours (e.g. starting early or late), provided the post holder was able to make calls with colleagues in the UK when necessary and was able to travel as required.
All applications must be received before 23:55 (Local Vietnam Time) on the day of the deadline indicated above.
Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.
Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core competencies listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time.
Indicated start date is provisional and subject to successful completion of reference and security checks.
To those applicants not short-listed, we extend our appreciation for considering the British Government as a potential employer.
Please check the application centre regularly for any update on your application.
This opportunity is closed to applications.