View Vacancy - IQB - Defence Section Advisor (HEO)

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Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)
MOD (Ministry of Defence)

The British Embassy Baghdad is looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual to become our new Adviser to Defence Section (DS).

This is a key role within the Embassy, and will put you at the heart of decision making. The UK’s objective in Baghdad is to help strengthen Iraq’s defence security and stability. The jobholder will understand and provide access and insight to UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to influence Iraqi defence and security.

The jobholder will work in two main areas of DS’s work. The main focus (c. 65% of time) will be on the section’s Working Level International Engagement (WLIE) with wider stakeholders across Iraqi defence and security. They will be the project lead on visas and notes verbales (NVs). The jobholder will also be required to research, analyse, and advise on Iraqi MOD (IMOD) developments, and should be prepared to take a leading role in preparing briefing packs for High Level International Engagement (HLIE) (c. 35% of time). The jobholder will need strong written and oral communication skills, the ability to proactively lead on key areas of work and to respond flexibly as new priorities arise. A level of fitness is also essential for the role as the jobholder will be required to wear personal protective equipment when travelling in armoured vehicles.

 

Duties and responsibilities:

- Working Level International Engagement (WLIE)

  • Networking:  Engage, form, and manage relationships with security ministries and actors (including IMOD, Director General Intelligence and Security (DGIS), higher level military directorates, the Service Commands and the National Security Advisers Office) to complement existing Embassy relationships, enabling the UK to better understand security sector activities. Develop and manage relationships across defence to help facilitate a growing network and ease of access to key stakeholders. Coordinate and manage the NV process to ensure WLIE can take place, including becoming the project lead for visas both for UK personnel deploying and Iraqis travelling to the UK in support of Defence Section efforts. The jobholder is expected to be able to represent Defence Section at meetings with senior Iraqi and international stakeholders.
  • Security sector monitoring, reporting, and analysis:  Closely follow defence- and security-related developments, working independently to provide fast, insightful, and concise analysis, exercise skills of judgement and interpretation on developments. This will combine the use of networks of contacts with monitoring the media, government policy, legislation (including Defence and security executive orders), and other Council of Representatives proceedings relevant to security. Drafting regular oral and written reports to update the Defence Attaché (DA) and UK MOD on key issues in relation to the security sector are also an important policy-informing aspect of the role, along with searching, exploiting, translating, and analysing Iraqi related documents.

- Defence sector developments

  • Networking: Alongside other members of the team, form and manage relationships within the defence section of Federal Iraq as well as interlocutors within the KRI to help the UK to better understand their activities and viewpoints.
  • Monitoring, reporting, and analysis:  Closely follow defence policy updates focused on IMOD, its directorates, Service Commands, Da’esh, other in-country security actors and wider-Arabian regional defence and security issues as they appear. Required to have a current picture of military operations, particularly looking at joint operations, providing fast, insightful, informed, and concise analysis, exercise skills of judgement and interpretation on developments. Regular oral and written reports will be required, delivered in an informed, balanced, and professional manner to senior visitors from the UK as well as routinely to the Defence Attaché, senior Iraqi officials and the Defence Section team.

- Other project work: The jobholder may be required to lead on a variety of projects as required by the Defence Section. This could include analysing stakeholders and influencing them, whether they be Iraqi or UK. They would be required to develop a work plan and roadmap for how effects are going to be delivered.


Key behaviours required:

  • Communicating and Influencing - Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others.
  • Seeing the Big Picture - Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider Civil Service priorities and ensure work is in the national interest.
  • Delivering at Pace - Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
  • Making Effective Decisions - Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.
  • Managing a Quality Service - Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.

 

Eligibility:

If you are selected for this position, we will be able to employ you as long as:

  • We can obtain the appropriate level of local and UK security clearance for you; and
  • You have (or be willing to obtain) the right to live and work in Iraq. Candidate's residence permit and work permit, and the expense to obtain them, will be their own responsibility – the Embassy does not provide residence or work permits. If you have any questions about residency and/ or visa requirements, you should contact the relevant Iraqi Government Ministry.
  • Fluent communication skills in English and Arabic language (both spoken and written). Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication.
  • Strong understanding of Iraq’s defence and security situation, particularly issues on internal, regional, and related political issues.
  • At least three (3) years’ work experience in a similar role or in academic institutions (such as further education, think tanks), international and/ or non-governmental organisations, corporate entities, law, or government.
  • Holds at least a bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject (i.e., Political Science, International Relations, Political Economy, Domestic Law, International Law, Human Rights, Government, Public Policy, Public Administration, or History.)
  • Strong team-working skills. A team player who is capable of working on their initiative and who is adaptable to changing priorities. Able to work and act without close supervision and react calmly to situations that may arise.
  • Ability to work in fast-paced, high profile environments, and deliver to deadlines.
  • Proficiency in using Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams).
Experience working with, or for, Iraqi security institutions or judiciary.
Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing
5 February 2023
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Permanent
38
Middle East & North Africa
Iraq
Baghdad
British Embassy
1
USD
3,130
1 March 2023

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role, including up to 20 days of annual leave.

The role grade is Higher Executive Officer (EO), with a base salary of US$ 3,144 per month. This base salary is paid 13 times a year. In addition, there is a security allowance of US$300 per month payable as part of this package. The allowance is subject to review and may be altered or withdrawn at any time. No accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

This position is for a full-time employment, on a permanent basis subject to a 90-day probationary period.

Conditioned working hours are 38 hours per week. Normal working hours are Sunday to Wednesday from 08:00 to 16:00 and Thursday from 08:00-14:00. There may be flexibility for starting and leaving times as long as conditioned hours are completed.

The Embassy encourages a culture of continuous learning. Training will be given in the role. All employees have access to the Civil Service Learning platform, which gives access to training to improve job specific skills. Employees are entitled to a minimum number of annual training days.

Interested candidates must include to their online application form 1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV); 2) a covering letter/ motivation essay stating how you meet the requirements of the role; and 3) specific examples in the relevant sections of the online application form of how you meet the key behaviours and skills required.

Applications that do not include these this information will not be considered.

All applications must be received before 23:55 Iraq local time on 02 January 2023.

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.

The start date mentioned in the advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security-vetting procedures.  Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances and reference checks. 

 

 

The British Embassy Baghdad is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited locally are subject to Terms and Conditions of service according to local 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.