View Vacancy - TW - Senior Political Analyst, EO

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

Main purpose of job:

 Understanding the political landscape and system underpins much of our work at the British Office and drives policymaking in London. The Political Section is responsible for delivering that understanding and policy advice. You will be the team’s leading expert on Taiwanese politics, key political trends and developments, and on Taiwan’s democratic development. Your analysis and reporting, formed by robust research and engagement, will help to deepen our understanding of Taiwan.

As part of the British Office team, you will support the UK’s strengthening of our unofficial relations with Taiwan. Apart from reporting on domestic politics, you will play a key role in delivering our goals on shared democratic values and our engagement with local authorities. Your effective use of existing and new networks will help the British Office strengthen our connections, relationships and influence to drive forward UK objectives in Taiwan.

This is an exciting, important and meaningful position that will expose you to a range of colleagues, stakeholders and policy areas. The role is best suited to someone who enjoys acquiring and sharing expertise, able to make sense of complexity, has strong prioritisation skills, communicates effectively in both English and Mandarin, and most importantly, relishes keeping a finger on the pulse of Taiwan’s domestic political developments and conversations.

Roles and responsibilities:

You will play a leading role on identifying, analysing and reporting on Taiwan’s political system, domestic political developments and emerging political trends. Key topics include understanding the upcoming Presidential and Legislative Elections in 2024, political parties, identity politics, and the legislative agenda. This requires proactive horizon scanning; critically assessing a range of sources; the aptitude to carry out in-depth research, and the confidence to speak to a wide range of contacts to gain comprehensive insights. You will need to spot domestic developments that are significant and relevant to UK interests and convey this in both an effective and timely manner.

Your key tasks and responsibilities include:

Domestic Political / Political Policy support (60%)

  • Become the working level point of contact for domestic politics (40%), human rights (10%) and values, and political engagements with local authorities (10%), and other relevant ad hoc issues as they arise
  • Proactive horizon scanning and monitoring for political developments and emerging trends
  • Critically assess a range of sources and carry out in-depth research when directed, for example on the political system, legislative changes, and opinion polling results
  • Produce analysis and reporting in a timely manner, both independently and with the team
  • Provide evidence-based policy advice to the team and Head of Mission
  • Lead on our GOV.UK Travel Advice updates

 Relationship Management and Network-Building (25%)

  • Build and sustain a strong network of contacts, including political parties and legislators’ offices, civil society organisations, academia, relevant departments and agencies, and other foreign missions.
  • Coordinate and maintain our political engagements with local authorities, including working with other teams to identify appropriate moments for interaction
  • Identify and advise on wider political engagements for other colleagues, including Head of Mission, Political and Communications Director and Head of Political (Taiwan)

Events, Visits and Projects (15%)

  • Plan political engagement trips for yourself and senior team members
  •  Lead on certain incoming visits, by providing suggestions to the programme, issuing invitations and organising meetings, drafting briefing and taking written records of interactions
  •  Support other Political Section or office-wide key events and projects as necessary

You will be working very closely with the Head of Political (Taiwan), who will oversee your work and provide direction. You will also be working with all members of the wider Political team, including the Political and Communications Director who oversees all activities; the Head of Cross Strait and Regional Security; another Senior Political Analyst focussed on cross strait and security monitoring, and our Political and Chevening Officer. There will also be plenty of opportunities to interact with our Head of Mission, Deputy Head of Mission and colleagues from other teams.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

No staff management; potential for project management; allocation within team budget for travel and business hospitality.

  • A shared sense of our values
  • An in-depth understanding and knowledge of Taiwanese political and social life and an interest in international affairs and Taiwan’s place in the world
  • The ability to maintain positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people to help get business done
  • The ability to set and work to agreed goals and activities, delivering timely performance with energy and taking responsibility for quality outcomes
  • The ability to communicate sound judgements effectively, and use of evidence and knowledge to provide accurate, expert and professional advice
  • Existing contacts in politics, government, media, academia and civil society

     Language Requirements:

  • English and Mandarin (Essential) - Fluent both written and spoken
  • Taiwanese (Desirable) - Fluent spoken
  • Three years work experience in media, international relations & law, policy or government affairs
  • Related postgraduate university degree with research and analysis components
  • Knowledge of UK political system and British foreign policy
  • Project management experience
Seeing the Big Picture, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
2 April 2023
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Permanent
40
Asia Pacific
Taiwan
Taipei
British Office
1
TWD
NT$76.143
29 June 2023

The British Office offers a competitive remuneration package with a gross salary of NT$76.143 per month x 13.5, benefits, leave entitlement and training package. 

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

The British Office has a strong commitment to developing staff and supports staff who wish to pro-actively develop their talents and abilities. We encourage individuals to take advantage of the many different learning opportunities open to team members. These include bespoke in-house online training as well as courses provided by the FCDO both in Taiwan and overseas.  Setting a development goal will be a key part of your appraisal process, and you will have the opportunity to drive your own developmental needs with the support of your line manager.

Working patterns:

There is flexibility to working from home once a week, subjected to agreement by your line manager.

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment checks. 

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. You must have or be able to obtain correct permit to work or work authorisation in Taiwan in order to apply. Any costs related to obtaining or renewing permits and visas are the responsibility of the successful applicant.

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.

Your application must be submitted before 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

Applications must include a current CV.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen. 

All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the  next stage.
 
Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’.  If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate”.

Indicated start date is provisional and subject to successful completion of reference and security checks.

To those applicants not short-listed, we extend our appreciation for considering the British Government as a potential employer.

Please check the application centre regularly for any update on your 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.