View Vacancy - Political Officer, UKDEL NATO (BEL22.445)

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)
UKDEL (UK Delegation to NATO)

The United Kingdom’s Joint Delegation to NATO is part of a world-wide network of 230 Diplomatic Posts, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. It is the vital link between the UK Government and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Its principal roles are to support UK Ministers to promote British interests in NATO and maintain a strong political and military Alliance providing security for almost a billion people. The UK Delegation (UKDEL) is now looking for a Political Officer in the Politics Team, which leads the Delegation’s delivery of UK objectives in a wide range of foreign policy areas from Russia and the Western Balkans, to MENA and the Asia Pacific.

 

The jobholder will focus on maximising the value of NATO’s partnerships with 40 countries; and advancing the Human Security and Women, Peace and Security agendas at NATO. This will require the ability to build relations with a wide range of stakeholders; to persuade and influence, including when problems arise; and to represent the UK—and advance UK objectives—in committee discussions and negotiations. The jobholder will work in collaboration with 29 other Allies, partner delegations and NATO’s International Staff.

 

The jobholder will work in a fully integrated civilian and military delegation dealing with the largest range of challenges NATO has faced since the end of the Cold War, with challenges presented by Russia, China, terrorism, new and emerging technology and across all domains, including cyber and space. The UK plays a highly respected leadership role in the Alliance.

 

As with all jobs in the Delegation, we promote an adaptable and responsive approach, which means the jobholder will need to be ready to adapt their focus to deal with changing circumstances and priorities. The jobholder will be a strong team player.  Working in a large and diverse mission, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in cross-team issues, and the jobholder will be expected to make an active contribution to supporting the effectiveness and wellbeing of the UK delegation and its people, based on their particular interests and experience. We can ensure that it will be fast moving and enjoyable, with plenty of scope for policy development and delivery.

 

The FCDO is an equal opportunities employer, and has a strong culture of learning and development, in which the delegation plays a full part. Everyone has at least five days each year for development, and there is great scope to take up specific learning in different forms: there are team away days, opportunities for on-the-job learning, training courses, and longer-term development. Staff have access to the FCDO’s Diplomatic Academy, which provides in-depth learning and knowledge on a wealth of different subjects and skills up to diploma level. 

 

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Policy development: Analysing issues, understanding other countries’ positions and formulating policy;
  • Briefing: Provide succinct, targeted advice and briefing to the UK Permanent Representative, Military Representative and other colleagues as required. Contribute to the Team’s political analysis;
  • Negotiation: preparing for and representing the UK in working-level Committee and informal discussions, negotiating with Allies and partners to help achieve UK objectives;
  • Political reporting: Draft timely, accurate reports of committee meetings, sessions of the North Atlantic Council, Ministerial meetings and other events as necessary;
  • Networking: Establish and maintain contact with stakeholders in NATO, Allies’ and partners’ delegations, UK Government departments and the UK’s network of embassies;
  • Wider support: Providing support and advice across Political Team and the UK Delegation, flexing according to changing priorities;
  • Corporate Activity to improve the Delegation’s effectiveness.
  • Fluency level of English language both oral and written (written and spoken, minimum of C2 level for CEFR framework*);
  • Ability to grasp complex issues quickly and communicate them simply and effectively;
  • Excellent drafting skills;
  • Clear, confident verbal communicator;
  • Experience of working with a wide network of contacts demonstrating negotiation and influencing skills;
  • Strong interpersonal and networking skills;
  • Demonstrated ability to work in a team and contribute to its outputs;
  • Good organisational skills;
  • Adaptability and resilience under pressure;
  • An graduate degree, preferably in a relevant subject (including, but not limited to, international relations or politics).
  • Experience of NATO and UK Government institutions and procedures;
  • Knowledge of wider global strategic and security issues;
  • Knowledge of Women, Peace and Security issues;
  • Project management experience;
Seeing the Big Picture, Changing and Improving, Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
25 September 2022
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Permanent
36.25
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Belgium
UK Joint Delegation to NATO, Brussels
UK Delegation
1
EUR
€4,684.93 (gross)
1 November 2022

This is a full-time permanent contract for 5 working days (36.25 hours net) per week.

The monthly gross salary for this position is € 4,684.93, Executive Officer (EO) level. In addition, we offer an extensive salary package, which includes a 13th month, a meal allowance, an optional hospitalisation insurance (subject to monthly employee contribution), reimbursement of public transport and a lot more. We offer more days of annual leave than the Belgian requirements.

 

Please note that Belgian nationals will be paid their salary gross and are expected to comply with their tax obligations through completion of a tax return to the Belgian authorities. Non-Belgian nationals will receive their salary net, minus the deduction of an equivalent level of Belgian tax retained at source. Further information on this will be given to candidates during the recruitment process.

 

Staff recruited locally by the British Diplomatic Missions in Belgium are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Belgian employment law.

 

The successful candidates will be subject to professional background checks and security clearance.

 

Passport: officers are expected to be in possession of a passport due to the possibility that they may be asked to undertake business travel.

 

Visa/work permit requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Belgium 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, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment indicates Level C2 as Mastery or proficiency Level which comprehends that a person can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read; can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation; can express themselves spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations. 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 advised 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 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.