View Vacancy - NZW - Political & Events Officer, AO

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 | He whakārapopotanga:

This is a great role for insight into one the UK’s most important relationships and for hands on experience helping to deliver UK-NZ shared interests. The UK’s bilateral relationship with New Zealand covers the a wide range of our shared interests – political, trade, defence, people to people links, science, climate change and consular. This role sits within the Political Team and helps to deliver much of that as events lead, visits support, and through policy work. 

We operate in a fascinating, fast-paced environment, working closely with New Zealand on a wide range of issues that reinforce our shared values. The key responsibilities for this role are:

  • Lead on organisational aspects of events. You will be responsible for the end-to-end delivery of events (including meetings, receptions and workshops), working closely with colleagues from across the UKinNZ network.
  • Policy support to the Political Team by monitoring, researching and reporting on developments in NZ politics and domestic policy areas of interest. This would include identifying and building a network of external contacts and working directly with posted UK diplomats (including the High Commissioner), including on regional visits around NZ.
  • Provide administrative support for British High Commission sponsored projects and programmes including on public diplomacy. Act as the point of resilience for the Visits and Team Co-ordinator Officer during absences or busy periods, picking up ad hoc team co-ordination and administrative support as needed.

The jobholder may be required to operate outside of their role should there be a crisis affecting the UK and NZ such as a natural disaster which requires the British High Commission to suspend some or all of usual business.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve | Me whakatutukihia: 

1. Events (50% of role)

  • Lead on delivering events such as receptions, speeches etc. liaising with venues and caterers, developing the guest list, logistics and invitations. You will work closely with policy leads, the communications team, and EAs to the British High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner.

2. Policy and Public Diplomacy Support (30% of role)

  • Conduct desk-based research in support of the Political Team’s policy objectives, covering a broad range of NZ domestic policy and politics.
  • Identify and build a network of contacts in areas of interest, working closely with other members of the Political Team.
  • Support with public diplomacy activities, from helping to deliver defined projects to tracking the public/media response to big issues.
  • Provide other policy support as needed, such as note taking and circulating papers for meetings.

3. Administrative Support (20% of role)

  • Lead on providing administrative support for projects and programmes, including on public diplomacy.
  • Ensure full compliance with UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office processes.
  • Support Visits and Team Co-ordinator Officer during absences or busy periods. Key duties include managing visits, cross team administration (e.g. arrangements for All Staff meetings, arrangements for new and departing team members and monitoring team budgets).
  • Pick up ad hoc team co-ordination and administrative support as needed

Essential on arrival:

  • Strong collaboration and organisational skills
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Strong relationship management skills.
  • An aptitude for and interest in public policy and politics
  • Knowledge and understanding of the NZ political system and political landscape.
Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace, Working Together
4 June 2023
Administrative Officer (AO)
Permanent
36.35
Asia Pacific
New Zealand
Wellington
British High Commission
1
NZD
NZ$69,503 pa or NZ$5,791.91 per month plus up to 5% superannuation contribution subject to an equal or greater contribution by the employee
31 July 2023

Learning and development opportunities | Te ara whakangungu i a koe

The British High Commission is committed to learning and development for all staff, placing a strong emphasis on both personal and team development.

A wide range of L&D opportunities are available, with access to specialist courses and training (including in-house te reo Māori training), and our annual L&D camp.

Working patterns | Te momo mahi:

Core hours are 0845-1700. Monday to Friday. This role is full time 36.25 hours per week excluding lunch breaks. 

This role offers scope for flexible working hours including some home working. You will work closely with the Team Coordinator and Visits Officer (part-time) with distinct but complementary portfolios. There will be a requirement for occasional out-of-hours work to support major events and visits with time off in lieu provided.  

Other Information:

The BHC supports remote working, and we have all adapted in the past two years to do so. A frequent presence in Wellington will be required to build and maintain relationships across NZG and NZ Parliament.  Flexible working patterns can be agreed in discussion with your line manager. 

Appointment is subject to a 90 day trial period pursuant to section 67A of the Employment Relations Act 2000, and gaining and maintaining Posts security clearance requirements.  

Open to New Zealand citizens, permanent residents, and partners/dependents of UK-based diplomatic staff currently posted in New Zealand. Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment checks. No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. Candidates must have or be able to obtain work authorisation for New Zealand in order to apply.

Staff recruited locally by the High Commission are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local New Zealand employment law.  Only short-listed applicants will be contacted regarding the next phase of the selection process.

For more information on the work of the British High Commission, visit our website - http://www.gov.uk/government/world/new-zealand.

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.

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

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

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.

All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.

For inclusivity and diversity, please remove the following personal information when uploading your CV: name, address, email address, age, date of birth, gender, and nationality.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’.  If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

The start date mentioned in the job 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.

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.