View Vacancy - Senior Political Officer (BEL23.153)

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.
UK Mission
UKDEL (UK Delegation to NATO)

Who are we? 

The United Kingdom’s Joint Delegation to NATO (UKDEL) is the vital link between the UK Government and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Its principal roles are to promote British interests in NATO and to keep UK Ministers and Government Departments informed about NATO discussions. We are now looking for a full time Senior Political Officer to work within the Politics Team.

The UK’s Integrated Review puts NATO at the heart of UK defence policy. Its work is valued highly by FCDO and MOD Ministers alike. The job holder will work in a delegation dealing with the largest range of challenges NATO has faced since the end of the Cold War, with challenges presented by Russia, China, terrorism, new and emerging technology and across all domains including cyber and space. 

Main purpose of the job: 

The jobholder will work in a fully integrated civilian and military delegation representing UK interests in a fast moving multilateral environment. They will deliver UK objectives in a range of areas, with a focus on enhancing NATO’s Partnership Policies and Partner relations. This will likely include a focus on the Global South, including the Middle East and North Africa region. The jobholder will support delivery of wider political team objectives across a range of issues from Ukraine to the Indo-Pacific Region, and will contribute to enhancing the Women, Peace and Security and Human Security agendas at NATO. 

This will require the ability to build relations with a wide range of stakeholders, to persuade and influence when problems arise, and confidently to represent the UK in NATO committee discussions and negotiations in order to advance UK objectives. The jobholder will work in collaboration with NATO Allies, Partner delegations, International Staff and external organisations. They will need to lead UK thinking at NATO in their policy areas, building and drawing on a large network of UK government contacts and leveraging seniors when needed. They will need to monitor global developments that affect their areas; and be ready to respond to them. The job holder will need to deliver quality work on high profile issues in a fast-paced environment.

As with all jobs in the Delegation, we promote an adaptable and responsive approach, which means the jobholder will need to be ready to adapt their focus to deal with changing circumstances and priorities. The jobholder will be a strong team player. Working in a large and diverse mission, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in cross-team issues, and the jobholder will be expected to make an active contribution to supporting the effectiveness and wellbeing of the UK delegation and its people, based on their particular interests and experience. We can ensure that it will be fast moving and enjoyable, with plenty of scope for policy development and delivery.

Roles and responsibilities: 

  • Policy development: analyse issues, understand other countries’ positions and formulate policy in line with UK priorities and in consultation with London.  
  • Briefing: provide succinct, targeted, well-judged advice and briefing to the UK Permanent Representative, Military Representative and wider senior leadership team to advance UK priorities through their engagements, including meetings of the North Atlantic Council and Military Committee. 
  • Negotiation: prepare for and represent the UK in working-level committees and informal discussions, negotiating with Allies and partners to help achieve UK objectives and deliver progress by consensus.
  • Political reporting: draft timely, accurate reports of committee meetings, sessions of the North Atlantic Council, Ministerial meetings and other events as necessary. Contribute to the team’s political analysis.
  • Networking: establish and maintain productive working relationships with a wide-range of stakeholders, including NATO’s International Staff, Allied and Partner delegations, UK Government departments and the UK’s global network of Embassies and High Commissions, and external organisations.  
  • Wider support: provide wider support and advice across the Political Team and the wider UK Delegation, particularly in advance of Ministerial meetings and NATO Summits, flexing according to changing priorities. 
  • Corporate activity: contribute to the overall effectiveness and wellbeing of the UK Delegation by joining one of our staff-led committees. 

What do we look for? 

  • Full professional proficiency in English (written and spoken, minimum of C1 level for CEFR framework*);
  • Bachelor's degree in a relevant field;
  • Experience of working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders; 
  • Minimum 5 years of experience working in or with government or in an international setting;
  • Strong communication skills (written and oral);
  • Effective negotiating and influencing skills, and experience of using them to deliver through a wide network of contacts;
  • Able to grasp complex issues quickly and communicate them simply and effectively;
  • Sound judgement and good problem-solving skills–able to identify mutually agreeable solutions;
  • Good interpersonal skills–able to work well as part of a team and contribute to its outputs, covering colleagues as necessary;
  • Good organisational skills;
  • Adaptable and able to work confidently under pressure.
  • Knowledge of NATO and UK Government institutions and procedures;
  • Knowledge of wider global strategic and security issues;
  • Experience of project or programme management. 
Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
6 April 2023
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Permanent
36.25
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Belgium
UK Joint Delegation to NATO, Brussels
UK Delegation
1
EUR
6,285.34‬ €
1 July 2023

This is a permanent full-time contract for 5 working days (36.25 hours net) per week. The monthly gross salary for this position is € 6,285.34‬, Higher Executive officer (HEO) level.

In addition, we offer an extensive salary package, which includes a 13th month, luncheon vouchers, pension scheme, optional hospitalisation insurance, reimbursement of public transport and a lot more. We offer more days of annual leave than the Belgian requirements.

Please note that Belgian nationals will be paid their salary gross and are expected to comply with their tax obligations through completion of a tax return to the Belgian authorities. Non-Belgian nationals will receive their salary net, minus the deduction of an equivalent level of Belgian tax retained at source. Further information on this will be given to candidates during the recruitment process.

Staff recruited locally by the British Diplomatic Missions in Belgium are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Belgian employment law.

The successful candidates will be subject to professional background checks and security clearance.

Passport: officers are expected to be in possession of a passport due to the possibility that they may be asked to undertake business travel.

Visa/work permit requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Belgium and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract. 

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country.

Learning & Development:

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has a strong culture of learning and development, in which the delegation plays a full part. Everyone has at least five days each year for development, and there is great scope to take up specific learning in different forms: there are team away days, opportunities for on-the-job learning, training courses, and longer-term development. French classes are organised regularly, and a range of other masterclasses and presentations are offered, e.g. on prioritisation, stress management and policy issues. Staff have access to the FCDO’s Diplomatic Academy which provides in-depth learning and knowledge on a wealth of different subjects and skills up to diploma level. 

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.

Please be advised that the British Embassy will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a position. 

*Please note for more information on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment  levels  please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your language skill is going to be assessed.

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.