View Vacancy - SIN - Political Team Support Officer, A2(L)

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 UK’s relationship with Singapore has always been strong. The two countries have historic ties and deep, varied modern links. The Political Team at the High Commission plays a crucial role in maintaining and developing that relationship. 

The Political Team Support Officer provides an essential function, facilitating and enabling the delivery of all the activity which supports the bilateral relationship and the UK’s role in the broader South East Asia region. This role will provide an insight into the nuts and bolts workings of a High Commission. It would suit someone with an interest in politics and international relations and a positive, flexible, can-do attitude.

Main purpose of job:

  • Support the delivery of Political Team’s projects and events
  • Management of logistics for senior visits including Ministers, Royals and senior officials
  • Monitoring and reporting on Political Team projects and core budgets
  • Secretariat for High Commission meetings (including planning, minutes and follow up)
  • Other administration of Political Team’s work
  • Flexibly provide support for other teams across the High Commission

The High Commission is currently handling the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, some of the standard responsibilities for this role as outlined below have been disrupted. In the short-medium term, the successful candidate will need to take a flexible approach, support the Political Team with its work in response to the pandemic but also work with teams across the High Commission on ad hoc pieces of work relevant to the running of the mission. Over time, we expect the balance of the work to be more in line with the responsibilities below.

Projects and Events

  • Supporting delivery and administration for International Programme Fund, Chevening Scholarships and the Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships including management of programme documentation and liaison with London
  • Project and event support to include logistics (travel, hotel and catering bookings), room bookings, planning, managing invitations, databases and alumni networks, agendas, guest lists and in-person event support
  • Working with the High Commissioner’s Residence team on events which generate income
  • Budget management: planning and monitoring project and event budget expenditure, placing orders and ensuring suppliers are paid on time, working with Corporate Services Team

Visits Management

  • Working with teams across the High Commission, the High Commissioner’s office and London-based colleagues to deliver high quality visits for Ministers, Royals and senior officials
  • Coordination of visit programmes, hotel bookings, reservations, and transport bookings. Liaising with host government departments and other external organisations
  • Liaison with visit elements specifically related to VIPs e.g. securing clearances for weapons and security staff and use of airport VIP complex

Budget management

  • In addition to project and events related budgets, track monitor and report on Political Team core budgets.
  • At key points in financial year, work with Political Team on financial reporting.

Political team support

  • Administrative support for Political Team (e.g. drafting Notes Verbales, transport bookings, acting a secretariat for various committees, including scheduling of meetings, minute-taking, and distribution of minutes).
  • Ad hoc support on political work in support of other team members (small research projects, drafting documents) 
  • Updating internal cross High Commission documents.

Resources managed: 

Responsible for tracking and reporting on political team budget, Global Britain Uplift Budget, International Programme Fund

  • Flexible, adaptable and proactive with good problem-solving and organisational skills
  • Good IT skills – MS Office: Outlook, Excel, Word, MS Teams
  • Good communication skills both written and oral
  • Projects and events management experience
  • Budget experience including using financial software packages 
  • Experience of working in a government setting
29 October 2020
Administrative Officer (AO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
37.5
Asia Pacific
Singapore
Singapore
British High Commission
1
SGD
3,707
14 December 2020

Due to the Government of Singapore’s measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, including safe distancing and travel restrictions, we are only able to accept applications from those currently resident in Singapore.

The British High Commission has an active L&D Committee which works hard to provide a comprehensive L&D offer. There are a wide range of options available for personal development including training courses, coaching and mentoring, job-shadowing, presentations and learning sets. Staff have access to a wide variety of online resources through the Diplomatic Academy and Civil Service Learning. Staff are strongly encouraged to take advantage of all the available opportunities. The job-holder will be required to take some specific training courses related to their role. All new staff undertake a workplace induction and there are a number of mandatory e-learning courses covering areas such as diversity, health and safety, and information management.

Normal working hours are 37.5 per week. BHC Singapore supports and promotes flexible working as a crucial part of our inclusive offering. This particular role allows for flexibility in start and end times, working compressed hours, working remotely, and the possibility of a job share arrangement, subject to agreement with management. Home working is also possible, and current coronavirus measures mean home working is actively encouraged.

Due to the nature of visits work, there will be occasional calls for working outside of the normal hours. Time off in lieu can be taken to account for this.

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. You must have or be able to obtain a local work permit which we will sponsor.

Staff recruited locally by the British High Commission are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local Singapore employment law. 

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment checks. Only short-listed applications will be called for personal interviews.

The British High Commission is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on grounds of ethnic origin, race, religious beliefs, age, disability, gender or sexual orientation.

All applications must be received before 11:55PM (Singapore Time) on 29 October 2020.

Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. We regret to advise that we will only be contacting short-listed candidates. Applicants called for an interview will be assessed on the core competencies listed above.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted regarding the next phase of the selection process. To those applicants not short-listed, we extend our appreciation for considering the British Government as a potential employer.

Applicants who recently applied for similar role do not need to submit new application.

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.