View Vacancy - Policy Advisor - UN General Assembly and/or Sustainable Development
An exciting and challenging opportunity to work at the UK Mission to the United Nations, driving UK policy in the General Assembly of the United Nations at a time when the international community is gearing up to support the new Secretary-General’s ambitious reform agenda. We are recruiting for two positions to support UK engagement with the General Assembly (GA), one leading on policy, liaison and analysis on the GA generally; the other on the Sustainable Development cluster within the GA and Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). You’ll be working for a Government who cares about these issues, whose views are influential and whose thought-leadership is respected.
The successful candidates will join a busy team that leads on the UK’s overall engagement with the General Assembly and ECOSOC, and also focuses specifically on international development, health and climate change at the UN. You will work with policy managers and colleagues across a broad spectrum of British Government departments to develop and deliver UK policy in relation to the UN – either with a focus on successful engagement with the General Assembly broadly, or on delivering UK aims on sustainable development issues and in the Second Committee.
The ideal candidates will have a flexible approach and be strong team players. You will be comfortable managing competing and evolving demands in a fast paced environment, and demonstrate an enthusiasm for making a positive contribution to the workings and culture of the team and wider mission. You will be part of an energetic and friendly team of seven with a strong team ethos and a belief in enabling each other to excel. You will also work with other parts of the mission, and will contribute to setting up Ministerial visits to the UN, putting on events and coordinating activity across the team and wider Mission. There will likely be some travel opportunities, including to London to meet with UK Government policy leads.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Build and maintain up-to-date understanding of UK priorities and Member States positions on your policy areas, preparing statements, briefs and reporting on these;
- Provide policy support more broadly to other members of the mission and team, including working closely with the UN Secretariat to ensure coordinated and effective engagement at the General Assembly and/or Second Committee;
- Build and manage effective relationships between the UK and key stakeholders on your policy areas, representing UK views to stakeholders as required;
- Support the wider team in areas such as Ministerial visits programmes, events, coordination and administrative support if needed;
- Represent the UK and negotiate on its behalf on your lead policy areas;
- Assist in other policy areas and issues as needed, working flexibly and adjusting to changing priorities.
- There is considerable scope for personal development in the range of responsibilities outlined.
- Bachelors degree (or equivalent)
- 3-5 years’ experience in a relevant field
- Excellent negotiation, influencing and communication skills, including written communications, in English
- Ability to deliver high quality results on multiple areas of work to tight deadlines
- A team player able to work flexibly and prioritise across a variety of policy areas
As per US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), employers in the US are required to ensure that all employees have the legal right to work in the US. Under US State Department requirements, the embassy and our consulates may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Green Card holders or A visa holders with an Employment Authorisation Document. If you hold a visa other than an A visa, you are not currently eligible to work at the embassy or our consulates. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) also accepts G visas, and British Defence Staff (BDS) outposts accept A or NATO visas. All candidates will be subject to background checks and security clearance.
If you hold a visa other than an A or NATO visa you are not currently eligible to work at the Embassy. Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/government/world/usa.
- Knowledge and understanding of the UN, international relations or international development
- Familiarity of working in public service, particularly the UK civil service
- Willingness to undertake international travel
The British Embassy Network offers a strong benefits package. This package includes medical, dental, vision, life, long term and short term disability insurance, a 401(k) retirement savings plan, generous vacation and leave time, and an enriching training package.
Resume and a cover letter should be submitted by 18 June 2017. Please identify in your cover letter whether you are currently eligible to work at the Mission. Internal candidates must address their Head of Group before applying.
Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.
Staff recruited locally are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law.
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, 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.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
