View Vacancy - Executive and Business policy support officers (FRA22.491)

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 Paris is part of a worldwide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. It is looking for two energetic and enthusiastic people to join us as Executive and Business Policy Support Officers for the Economic and Political Section (EPS) of the Embassy.

EPS covers a wide range of policy issues including economics, social affairs, domestic politics, science and innovation, development, energy and climate change. The successful candidates will help ensure the section is run effectively, providing administrative support, policy analysis, reporting, delivering visits, briefing and events for the section.

Executive and Business Policy Support Officers will provide efficient diary management and administrative support to the Head of the Economic and Political Section, and will coordinate cross-section activities and corporate issues and manage the section budget.

Both successful candidates will need to be collaborative team players, able to juggle different types of work and reprioritise at short notice and deliver projects on time and to a high standard. We are also looking for candidates who are flexible and happy to get involved in different types of support work across the network as needs evolve.

Situated in the heart of Paris, the British Embassy is a dynamic and fun place to work and we encourage all our staff to get involved in the wider work and community life of the Embassy.

Roles and responsibilities:

Executive Assistant to the Head of Section: Provide effective and proactive diary management to optimise the Head of Section’s busy schedule, setting up internal and external meetings with senior French government officials and other contacts. Arrange visit programmes, book travel and provide briefing. Manage the Head of Section’s contacts.

Business Support Officer: Manage the section budget and track financial expenditure. Act as central point of contact for corporate issues and internal communication. Promote good Knowledge Management practice, maintain contacts database and ensure records are filed correctly. Coordinate section administration e.g. annual leave, and act as secretariat for section meetings.

Section coordination: Provide executive and logistical support to the section. The successful candidates will work together to manage section contacts and may also occasionally be required to fill in for each other.

Policy Support: Provide policy support to the section, including insightful analysis and reporting on issues such as education, agriculture and fisheries. Effectively respond to commissions, draft briefing and biographies, conduct press monitoring and research.

Events and visits: Lead on organisation and logistics for visit programmes for incoming Ministers and government officials, liaising with the Visits Team. Coordinate external policy events, liaising with the Residence Hospitality Team. The post holders will work together to organise impactful receptions and events.

  • Full professional proficiency in English and French (written and spoken, minimum of C1 level for CEFR framework* or equivalent);
  • Ability to establish good relationships with contacts outside the Embassy;
  • Excellent organisation skills, including the ability to deliver on time under pressure and to manage a varied workload and competing priorities;
  • An enthusiastic team player with the ability to work with a wide range of colleagues;
  • Ability to make connections and take the initiative to anticipate the section’s requirements and propose solutions;
  • Effective and accurate management of budgets and other corporate duties;
  • Ability to grasp and distil policy issues;
  • Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel.
  • Experience working in an office management, Personal Assistant or administrative role;
  • Interest in current affairs and understanding of UK and/or French governments.
Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
10 October 2022
Administrative Officer (AO)
Permanent
35
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
France
Paris
British Embassy
2
EUR
3350 € gross
14 November 2022

This is a full-time, permanent contract (35 hours per week).

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 https://www.cjn.justice.gouv.fr/cjn/b3/eje20), 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 FCDO guidance for Country Based 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/work permit 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.

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

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 job.

*Please refer to the “Common European Framework of Reference for Languages”.  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 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.