View Vacancy - Political Officer (12/22 DKR)

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)
Political

Main purpose of job:

  • Monitor and analyse developments in Senegal, Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau in the areas of democracy, good governance, international relations, internal security, human rights, civil society, and religion;
  • Prepare briefs, background papers, short-term research projects and longer-term in-depth research studies on a range of issues;
  • Advise the Ambassador and the Head of Political Team and contribute to the development of policy by way of advice and recommendations;
  • Develop expertise on topic areas that are important to the British Embassy;
  • Participate in seminars on relevant issues organised by various institutions in both government and non-government sectors;
  • Represent the Embassy at external meetings and events as required;
  • Assist in arrangements for meetings and visits of VIPs and other high-level representatives on matters covered by the embassy, including the preparation, editing and co-ordination of documentation for such meetings, as well as preparation of minutes;
  • Manage embassy programme funds.

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

POLITICAL OFFICER (60%)

  • Reporting and analysing developments and trends in key areas, against agreed priorities (e.g. democracy, good governance, transparency, international relations, internal security, human rights, civil society, and religion)
  • Liaise with relevant Senegalese politicians and others, and political leads in other missions, to gather information and analysis

PROGRAMME AND PROJECT WORK (20%)

  • To support delivery of the embassy’s objectives, including budget management in these areas;
  • Identification of suitable projects working with Embassy Programme Board;
  • Management of agreed projects;
  • Monitoring of projects including on-site visits, obtaining and checking financial accountability, updating spreadsheets and preparation of Post Annual Report;
  • Replying to requests for assistance;
  • Meeting and responding to enquiries on our bilateral programme budget.

CHEVENING OFFICER (10%)

  • Outreach and management of selection process for Chevening scholarship candidates;
  • Marketing and Promotion activities;
  • Organising Chevening interviews;
  • Arranging pre-departure briefing events;
  • Undertaking alumni engagement and raising the Chevening profile.

LINE MANAGEMENT (10%)

  • Management of A1 projects assistant

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

The successful candidate will have line management responsibility for a projects assistant and have a leading role in the management of the programme budget.

  • Knowledge of the Senegalese political system;
  • Excellent analytical abilities: sound judgment and the ability to scan the political context and gather information from a range of sources to identify salient developments, remaining above party politics;
  • Excellent networking skills, an ability to develop and maintain contacts across a wide range of sectors, and strong influencing / persuasion skills;
  • Positive, proactive attitude and ability to work both independently and in teams, and to create professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people both internally and externally;
  • Excellent communication skills both written and oral to a wide range of stakeholders at all levels.
  • Strong IT skills, particularly Outlook, Word and Excel.
  • A very good level of both French and English is required
  • Fluent in Portuguese language 
Seeing the Big Picture, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
4 October 2022
Executive Officer (EO)
Fixed Term
36.5
6 months
Africa
Senegal
Dakar
British Embassy
XOF 1,160,374 plus Transport Allowance XOF 20,800
1 November 2022

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

  • The successful applicant will have access to a range of learning and development opportunities both in-house and e-learning, with the potential for overseas training.

  • Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening.
  • Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
  • The British Embassy will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.
  • 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.
  • Information about the Civil Service Success Profiles can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles
  • All applicants must be legally able to work in Senegal with the correct visa/status or work permit.
  • The successful applicant will demonstrate that they meet the requirements under Senegal law to work in Senegal.

  • The British Embassy in Dakar is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.

  • Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in Dakar is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Senegalese 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.