View Vacancy - Associate Political Officer

Main purpose of job:

Washington is the UK’s highest-profile Embassy, working to advance our most important bilateral relationship. We are looking for a highly motivated officer to support our reporting on US internal politics at a time of unprecedented political change, working within the Political Section and alongside our US-wide network. The successful candidate can expect to write reports on a range of subjects, including federal policy debates and the 2020 election, for senior audiences in the UK Government.

You will also play a vital role in the machinery of the bilateral relationship, leading on the management of UK Honours and projects to identify rising leaders. The role also requires some administrative support to the wider Section, undertaking critical tasks to keep the team moving.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

Political Research and Reporting (40%) The core of the job is to support the Political Section in producing timely and high-quality reporting on US political developments for audiences in London and the UK’s global diplomatic network. This is likely to include:

• Developing expertise to inform reporting on specific policy areas (chosen in consultation with the Head and Deputy Head of Section), drawing on independent research, networks of contacts and media reports;
• Responding to ad hoc requests from London for political reporting and briefing to inform Ministerial engagement;
• Writing a weekly polling digest on US political trends, particularly the 2020 Democratic primary and general election;
• Undertaking research to support the Political Section’s contact building and influencing efforts.

Bilateral Relationship (30%) You will be responsible for ensuring the smooth administration of programmes which support the UK-US special relationship, including by projecting UK soft power and developing ties with the next generation of US leaders. Namely, you will:

• Administer the UK Honours system within the US by:
  • Acting as the Secretariat for the Honours Committee;
  • Ensuring high-quality nominations from across the US Network;
  • Liaising with colleagues in London to ensure key deadlines are met;
  • Maintaining records and an inventory of Honours material including warrants and insignia.

• Oversee the UK’s International Leaders Programme, which helps to identify and support future leaders, by:
  • Liaising with the US Network on bids, working with those selected to arrange programmes in the UK;
  • Managing the US ILP alumni network

Team Support (25%) The role encompasses a degree of administrative support an eight-person team. This is likely to include:

• Ad hoc tasks such as assisting with travel arrangements and scheduling;
• Managing programmes for senior visitors from London in support of the embassy’s Visits Team;
• Forecasting and profiling Political Section spend against agreed budgets; monitoring spending through the Fiscal year; and resolving issues;
• Representing the Section on the Embassy Finance Committee.

Management of Political Section Intern (5%)

You will be responsible for running the recruitment process for the Political Section intern, and ensuring that the jobholder has a high quality experience, adding value to the work of the embassy.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

Management of Political Section intern.

Political Research and Reporting experience.

Under US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Permanent Residents or A visa holders with EAD cards*. If you hold a visa other than an A visa you are not currently eligible to work at our office.  Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/government/world/usa. All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work. 
*A visas are acceptable at the Embassy and Consulates. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas, and British Defense Staff (BDS) outposts accept A or NATO visas.