View Vacancy - Social Affairs Attaché (FRA19.551)

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)
Economic and Prosperity

The British Embassy in Paris is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. It is also part of the UK’s France Network (including offices in Lyon, Bordeaux and Marseilles and representation to international organisations in Paris (OECD and UNESCO) and Strasbourg (CoE). The British Embassy is currently looking for a Social Affairs Attaché for fixed term contract to cover for a maternity leave.

The jobholder will join the Embassy at fascinating time, with the UK due to leave the European Union. Working in the Embassy’s Economics and Social Affairs team, he/she will lead on the team’s work with France on health, education and labour policy. The jobholder also acts as the France Network’s lead on G7 and G20 summits.

The wider, friendly team of 6, which sits in the European and Global issues section of the Embassy, also covers the economy, trade, financial services and customs; and leads preparation for future economic partnership negotiations. All these issues are of real importance to the UK and France and the jobholder will be expected to understand and convey UK positions to the French system and influence and seek opportunities for collaboration as appropriate.

The team, section and embassy offers an encouraging, supportive work environment and the jobholder will be able to participate in learning and development opportunities.

Roles and responsibilities:

  • Understanding and influencing the French position on health, education and labour policy (and occasionally other policy issues that the team follows), seeking out opportunities in bilateral, European and multilateral contexts for collaboration with the French in pursuit of UK objectives. High quality analysis and reporting to UK contacts across government, to keep them informed of French developments and input into the UK policy-making process;
  • Developing and maintaining a network of key contacts within the French government, civil society and business community and with UK counterparts;
  • Delivering successful programmes for visiting senior officials and ministers from the UK, including accompanying and reporting;

  • Proficiency in English and French (written and spoken, minimum of C2 level for CEFR framework*);
  • Good research and analysis skills;
  • Good understanding of international affairs and French politics;
  • Experience in engaging with senior external stakeholders and building a network of contacts;
  • Self-starter with strong communication and interpersonal skills;
  • Ability to show evidence of collaborating and working in a team;
  • Ability to deliver at pace and prioritise well are essential;

  • A knowledge of the French social and welfare system;

 


29 October 2019
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Temporary
35
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
France
Paris
British Embassy
1
EUR
4,819
15 December 2019

This is a temporary contract maternity cover of 7.5 months, extendable until return of the job holder.

All appointments are subject to professional background check satisfactory security clearance. The successful applicant will be required to provide a copy of his/her passport or national identity card for all nationalities held, an up-to-date criminal record (casier judiciaire) for recent countries of residence (which can be obtained online at casier-judiciaire.justice.gouv.fr), two written proofs of address (utility invoices and/or bank statements) and two references.

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in France are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local French employment law and FCO guidance for Local Staff. The posts we offer are not an entry point into the UK’s Diplomatic Service.

Your application will only be considered if you follow the guidance below:

  • Your application must be sent in English only.
  • Your application must clearly indicate all nationalities you hold.

Visa / Passport requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in France and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract. Additional requirements may become necessary pending EU Exit. If requirements change additional eligibility information will be shared during the recruitment process.



* Please note Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment  indicates Level C2 as Mastery or proficiency Level which comprehends that a person can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read; can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation; can express themselves spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations. For more information please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your languages skills are going to be assessed.

 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.