View Vacancy - Political Internship (Domestic Politics and Human Rights)

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:

The jobholder will provide an insight into the public diplomacy work of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the opportunity to learn about the UK’s work on a range of issues that include domestic politics, human rights, foreign policy and security issues.

This is a varied and challenging position, which covers a wide range of political and project related tasks as well as administrative duties. It will involve contact with most sections of the Embassy and a range of external contacts in Mexico and the UK. We often work under time pressure in a fast-paced environment.

The jobholder will provide administrative and analytical support for the Political team, as well as support on logistics, activities and events to ensure high quality outcomes working toward overall HMG objectives in Mexico.

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

  • Research and draft reports about the Mexican political landscape, the human rights situation, security issues, party politics and foreign policy.
  • Help the Political team to operate as efficiently as possible by ensuring effective communication with Mexican government departments, businesses, and other non-governmental institutions, as well as with all areas of the Embassy and stakeholders in the UK in order to facilitate and deliver programmes and activities.
  • Provide administrative and logistics support for the Political team’s daily tasks and events.
  • Draft correspondence briefings for the team in Spanish and English as required. 

The role will involve working with numerous different teams across the Section and the Embassy. The successful candidate will need to work flexibly across areas to provide support.

All employees in the Embassy network are expected to contribute to the corporate activity of the organisation.

  • Currently studying or recently completed a university degree level course in or related to Political Science.
  • Have knowledge and interest in key domestic politics issues, human rights and diplomacy.
  • Have solid drafting and communication skills.
  • Strong interpersonal skills to facilitate relationship building both internally and externally.
  • Must be able to provide information in an understandable format to stakeholders.
  • Should be proactive and creative self-starter with the ability to learn quickly.
  • Organisation and time management skills, with a high level of attention to detail.
  • Good teamwork abilities – being able to liaise with people over requirements and ask for help when needed but also able to work independently.
  • Fluent in English and Spanish (spoken and written). No certification required but this will be assessed at the interview stage.
  • Candidates must be able to live and work in Mexico in their own right.  The successful candidate will be subject to a security clearance and professional reference checks. 
  • Experience working in an international office environment.
  • An understanding of webinar technology or ability to learn.
  • Strong interest in UK-Mexico relations.
16 June 2021
Internship
Part-Time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
25
Latin America and Spanish speaking Caribbean
Mexico
Mexico City
British Embassy
1
MXN
Stipend: $4,514.00
2 August 2021

Learning and development opportunities:

  • On-the job training and access to courses and learning sets organised by the wider British Embassy teams.
  • Turning classroom learning into real world experience.
  • Wide networking opportunities.
  • One-on-one support.
  • Career development and advancement.
  • Flexible working and work-life culture.

Working patterns:

  • 25 hours a week, Monday-Friday, between 09:00-14:00 (hours can be slightly adjusted). 
  • The Mexico Network embraces flexible working practices when operation requirements allow. The majority of staff has access to laptops for working across site and from home, in line with Remote Working Policy and Guidance.

During COVID-19, all internships will be on a remote, work-from-home basis.

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.  

  • Candidates must be able to live and work in Mexico within their own right.
  • The successful candidate will be subject to a security clearance and professional reference check.
  • Please note that to be eligible for a Chevening Fellowship you must not be an employee, a former employee, or relative* of an employee (as of June 2016) of Her Majesty’s Government (including British Embassies / High Commissions). You will not be able to apply for a Chevening Scholarship for two years after ending your contract with the Embassy.
  • This is a paid internship

* Immediate relatives are defined as parents or step-parents, siblings, children or step-children, spouse, civil partner or unmarried (where the couple have been in a relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership for at least two years).

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.