View Vacancy - Intern - British High Commission St John's (Antigua and Barbuda)
Main purpose of internship:
This is an internship which is 25 hours per week, for which a stipend of XCD 2227 per month will paid to cover expenses. The focus is on ensuring the successful intern gains a good understanding of the work of a small British diplomatic mission and how we operate in Antigua and Barbuda. Under the supervision of our Political and Projects Officer and our Office Manager, you will gain valuable experience observing frontline diplomacy in action, but also what it takes to ensure smooth running of the mission.
Roles and responsibilities:
- Demonstrate energy and enthusiasm towards each learning and development opportunity as assigned by the Political/Projects Officer and Office Manager.
- Help conduct research as needed, including media monitoring.
We are a very small diplomatic mission where personal impact is extremely important. The successful intern must be flexible, pragmatic, courteous, and prepared to come to our office each day with enthusiasm and energy.
- A passion for international relations, and a strong interest in British, and Antigua and Barbuda politics, economics and society.
- A real desire to learn.
- A team player.
- Attention-to-detail.
- Excellent communicator (both written and verbal).
- Ability to manage one's own time.
- Adaptable.
- Knowledge of Antigua and Barbuda politics, economics and society.
- Fluency in written and spoken English.
- Legal status to live and intern in Antigua and Barbuda in your own right, from time of application. All applicants for this internship must be a legal resident in Antigua and Barbuda. Non-Antiguan and Barbudan/ non-CARICOM nationals must explain how they are legally able to reside and undertake this internship in Antigua and Barbuda.
- An interest in Antigua and Barbuda media.
This internship is designed to be an immersive learning and development opportunity for the successful person. You will be able to shadow most of the staff in our small mission, gaining a real understanding of the demands of diplomatic life and also running a British diplomatic mission. You will also have an opportunity to undergo virtual learning via our Ministry’s International Academy.
BHC St John’s is part of a network of five British missions in the Eastern Caribbean, with its High Commissioner based in Barbados. There will be opportunities to virtually meet and learn from our staff carrying out the spectrum of UK Government objectives across our region during this internship.
Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, e.g. some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
The internship is in-person and will be for no more than 25 hours per week: we are happy to agree with the successful candidate when these are, provided they are within our mission’s standard operating hours (0745-1600hrs Monday to Thursday and 0800-1300hrs Friday).
The UK expanded its diplomatic network with twelve new missions in 2019, which included opening our High Commission near St John’s. This is an exciting opportunity to learn from our small team which is working to have a real impact on UK/Antigua and Barbuda relations. We are a busy and energetic team and need an intern with a “can do” and flexible attitude towards their learning and development. The successful intern will have a thirst for knowledge, specifically understanding the UK’s relationship with Antigua and Barbuda.
The FCDO and our overseas network is recognised as a good organisation to work or intern for, and we have a strong learning and development and organisational culture. We treat people with respect and equality and have a policy of zero tolerance for any form of discrimination, bullying, or harassment.
The appointment is subject to succesful passing of reference and security checks.
A small stipend to cover any travel and lunch expenses will be made available. No accommodation costs or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this internship.
Please note: any questions you may have about this internship will only be answered during interview, incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted (consider your application unsuccessful if you have not heard from us three weeks after the closing date).
Interviews will be held in December 2023.
The British High Commission is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on grounds of ethnic origin, race, religious beliefs, age, disability, gender or sexual orientation.
Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6-12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate(s).
This opportunity is closed to applications.