View Vacancy - IQB - Economic Policy Officer (HEO)
The British Embassy in Baghdad is looking for an experienced Economic Policy Officer, job grade Higher Executive Officer (HEO), to join our Development Team.
The Development Team is the part of the British Embassy that provides core analysis and ideas to inform the UK’s development and economic work in Iraq. The UK’s objective in Baghdad is to help strengthen Iraq’s security, stability, and economic sustainability, and tackle the underlying drivers of conflict.
This is a key role within the Embassy and will put the jobholder at the heart of decision making. As Economic Policy Officer, you will focus on economic and financial issues in Iraq, developing a strong network of Iraqi and international contacts, providing in-depth knowledge, and reporting, and supporting the delivery of our development programmes (focused on economic reform).
Duties and responsibilities:
This role will support the British Embassy’s work in Iraq by
- Monitoring, reporting, and analysis
- Closely follow economic and financial issues in Iraq, working independently to provide fast, insightful, and concise analysis. Understand the Iraqi political environment and how this impacts economic reform.
- Provide regular oral and written reports to update the UK Embassy and Ambassador, as well as teams in London, on key issues in relation to the economy. This will include fiscal and monetary policy; economic reform implementation including new legislation and policies; and public-private sector dialogue (working with the UK’s trade team where relevant).
- Work closely with the British Consulate General Erbil to oversee economic issues in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI).
- Networking
- Engage, form, and manage relationships with relevant ministries and actors (including the Finance, Planning, Health and Migration and Displacement Ministries, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Central Bank of Iraq, the World Bank and IMF, the Iraq Fund for Development, key private sector organisations, civil society organisations working on private sector development, and other international Embassies) to complement and build on existing embassy relationships and making introductions, enabling the UK to better understand economic policy and activity.
- Recommend and arrange meetings for the team, including the Ambassador. Provide briefings ahead of meetings and provide translation and economic advice during meetings.
- Policy development
- Contribute to the development of UK policy and programming to support Iraq’s economy, including support to the Iraq Economic Contact Group, the UK’s Iraq Catalytic Economic Diversification (ICED) programme (budget £1.25mil in the financial year 2024-2025) and any economic aspects of the UK’s Integrated Security Fund (ISF) programme (budget tbc) by providing political/ economic advice; spotting risks and opportunities; and working with Iraqi and UK stakeholders.
- Ad hoc tasks
- Help organise visits to the UK for Iraqi stakeholders and visits to Iraq by UK officials. Draft notes verbales (NVs) when needed, using appropriate economic technical terms.
- Provide cover for the wider team when they are away from Baghdad, including for the Economics Advisor.
- Support the wider Development Team as required, in particular support around NVs and stakeholders on issues of peace and stability.
- Corporate
- Support wider Embassy activities, such as the Chevening programme, major events (i.e., King’s Birthday Party), and promoting Wellbeing or Diversity & Inclusion within the Embassy.
The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible as specific responsibilities could change in the future and this would be at the discretion of the line manager. The job description may be reviewed to meet changes in business needs. The jobholder may also take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any other response to a crisis.
Key behaviours required:
- Communicating and Influencing - Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity, and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses, and opinions of others.
- Seeing the Big Picture - Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider Civil Service priorities and ensure work is in the national interest.
- Working Together - Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources, and support.
- Developing Self and Others - Focus on continuous learning and development for self, others, and the organisation as a whole.
- Leadership - Show pride and passion for public service. Create and engage others in delivering a shared vision. Value difference, diversity and inclusion, ensuring fairness and opportunity for all.
- Managing a Quality Service - Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise, and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.
Eligibility:
If you are selected for this position, we will be able to employ you as long as:
- We can obtain the appropriate level of local and UK security clearance for you; and
- You have (or be willing to obtain) the right to live and work in Iraq. Candidate's residence permit and work permit, and the expense to obtain them, will be their own responsibility – the Embassy does not provide residence or work permits. If you have any questions about residency and/ or visa requirements, you should contact the relevant Iraqi Government Ministry.
- Strong understanding of Iraq’s economic situation, ideally with relevant professional experience in a similar role for at least two (2) years.
- Able to understand UK objectives and prioritise their workload accordingly.
- Good judgement in assessing solutions to problems where issues are complex or conflicting, weighing up several factors to produce and communicate constructive ideas and solutions, and proposing solutions ahead of issues becoming problems.
- Excellent team-working, communication, and networking skills with both Iraqi and international stakeholders, including working effectively across the Embassy. Ability to drive delivery of outcomes and overcome obstacles, especially when working with and through others.
- Confident in translating between English and Arabic, both in meetings and in writing.
- Fluent English and Arabic language skills. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, Able to simplify complexities and adapt communication so others can understand.
- Ability to work independently and to take the initiative to work in fast-paced, high-profile environment, deliver to deadlines, and work well as part of a larger team to deliver results.
- Holds at least a bachelor's degree.
- Strong IT/ computer skills and in using MS Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams).
- Economic analysis, reporting, and advisory skills and knowledge, such as university-level qualifications in economics or finance, or professional experience in economics, finance, or business.
- Knowledge of technical economic terms in both English and Arabic.
- Experience working in an embassy/ foreign diplomatic mission or international organisation in a similar capacity.
- Experience of working with international partners and/or with an existing network of relevant contacts.
- A positive approach and resilience when facing challenges.
The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role, including up to 20 days of annual leave (calculated pro-rata).
The role grade is Higher Executive Officer (HEO), with a base salary of US$ 3,374 per month. This base salary is paid 13 times a year. In addition, the role attracts a security allowance payable as part of this package. This security allowance is subject to review and may be altered or withdrawn at any time.
No accommodation nor relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.
This position is for a full-time employment on a permanent contract basis. Employment is also subject to a 90-day probationary period.
Conditioned working hours are 38 hours per week. Normal working hours are from 08:00 to 16:00 on Sundays to Wednesdays and from 08:00-14:00 on Thursdays.
This job requires a significant amount of in-person engagement, as the jobholder will be required to attend meetings and provide technical advice and translation. The jobholder may also be asked to complete some urgent work out of typical hours (evenings/ weekends) when necessary, such as supporting with events. There may be flexibility for starting and leaving times as long as conditioned hours are completed. This will be considered based on operational requirements and in agreement with the line manager, and in line with FCDO and Embassy policies.
The Embassy encourages a culture of continuous learning, and staff are entitled to a minimum number of annual training days. Training will be given in the role, in particular the ‘Economics for Foreign Policy’ course to build on economics knowledge (depending on the jobholder’s prior economics experience). Other courses available include those on diplomacy, written communication, leadership, etc. The jobholder will be eligible to apply to the Economics Flexible Training Fund, which provides funding for academic economics courses such as postgraduate-level distance learning modules provided by the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). All staff also have access to the Civil Service Learning (CSL) platform, which gives access to training to improve job-specific skills.
Application process:
Interested candidates must include to their online application form
1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV);
2) a covering letter/ motivation essay stating how you meet the requirements of the role; and
3) specific examples in the relevant sections of the online application form of how you meet the key behaviours and skills required.
Applications that do not include these this information will not be considered.
All applications must be received before 23:55 Iraq local time on 01 April 2024.
Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.
Internal candidates (i.e., those who are currently employed by the British Embassy Baghdad/ British Consulate General Erbil) applying for this position should consider informing their current line manager upon submission of their application.
Interviews are tentatively planned for the week commencing 22 April 2024. Due to the large number of applications we receive, only those shortlisted for the next step of the recruitment process will be contacted.
Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful at interview may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of six (6) months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.
The start date mentioned in the advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security-vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances and reference checks.
The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around 2-3 months. The security clearance process includes checks available in country and in the UK, dependant on the security level required for the role and the candidate’s profile and UK footprint. You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign, and we are working hard to minimise any disruption.
The British Embassy Baghdad is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited locally are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local employment law.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
