View Vacancy - Policy Support and Visits Officer (CHEB18.345)

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

The British Embassy in Berne is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now recruiting a Policy Support and Visits Officer. This is a varied and challenging role as part of a dynamic and growing policy team, at time of revitalised UK-Swiss relations.

In taking on the role, you’ll need to develop a close understanding of both Swiss and UK foreign policy and the politics behind them. You’ll develop knowledge of the motivations and levers of power in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and an ability to predict these countries’ reactions to sets of circumstances. The job will put you at the centre of a valuable and unique bilateral relationship, where Switzerland’s importance to the UK has grown significantly over the last year.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Pursue policy analysis to report and lobby on a wide range of foreign and domestic issues in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The successful applicant will need to develop a broad network of contacts in government, business and civil society to deliver on the varied portfolio. This includes UN Security Council issues such as Iran and North Korea, and cross-cutting priorities such as counter-terrorism and development policy.

  • Organisation of visits of UK Ministers and officials to Switzerland and Liechtenstein. This includes leading and coordinating arrangements, including programme and briefing content, and logistics. It requires excellent self-organisation - and, at times, resilience and an ability to work fast under pressure. Many of these visitors are here to see and learn about the countries first-hand, and to develop personal contacts locally. These visits are key to UK engagement and offer otherwise unavailable opportunities for influence - including of the visitors themselves.

  • Accurate, clear and engaging written and oral communication skills;
  • Knowledge of Swiss politics and economics;
  • Team-playing attributes;
  • Strong research and analytical skills;
  • Fluent in English and German;
  • Familiarity with Microsoft IT systems.

  • Applied project management skills;
  • Knowledge of international politics and foreign policy;
  • Professional experience in a Government institution and/or International organisation.

22 July 2018
Executive Officer (EO)
Permanent
40
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Switzerland
Berne
British Embassy
1
CHF
7482
1 September 2018

This is a permanent full-time position. The successful candidate will be subject to professional background and security clearance.

The successful candidate must have pre-existing work authorisation for Switzerland in order to apply.

All applicants should have the right to live and work in Switzerland.

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

FCO does not pay for travel related expense incurred in interviews (including Security Check) or accept any financial risk, including cancelation or reschedule costs. The FCO will not meet the costs connected with relocation if offered a position.

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.