View Vacancy - Political and Corporate Services Officer, Montevideo

Main purpose of job:

The British Embassy Montevideo is recruiting a Political & Corporate Services Officer. We are looking for a dynamic and enthusiastic person who is able to flex between various duties and work successfully within a team. This role is ideal for somebody with existing work/office experience who is interested in politics/international relations and is looking to develop their career.

The role has two main areas of work.

First, you will be asked to help research and write on political developments in Uruguay. You will need to develop a strong network with parliamentarians, academia, think tanks and NGOs, to ensure that the British Embassy understands political developments in Uruguay and is able to access persons of influence. You will also be asked to help pull together visit programmes for VIPs and senior officials, and to lobby Uruguayan government officials on UK policy

Second, as part of the Corporate Services team you will be asked to assist with some of the administrative tasks within the Embassy. These will involve the processing of payments & supplier details, according to FCO rules and procedures. You will also deal liaise regularly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Uruguay, to ensure that franchises and accreditations and all other protocol matters are handled properly. This routine work is important and requires attention to detail and accuracy.

You will be expected to carry out both elements equally and will need to flex between political reporting and your administrative and protocol work.

Roles and responsibilities:

Policy

To help research political developments in Uruguay (e.g. political parties, prominent politicians, workings of parliament) and provide reporting (written and oral) to London and senior members of the Embassy team e.g. the Ambassador and Deputy Ambassador.

To work with local think tanks, NGOs, academia and civil society to help develop and deliver Embassy-funded events and projects..

To prepare visit programmes for VIPs and other senior visitors, by developing a good network of contacts across government ministries and civil society groups, NGOs, parliament.

To support the Embassy’s wider political lobbying, especially at the Foreign Ministry, and to represent the UK at local and regional conferences and seminars.

As needed, to support the Ambassador and other Embassy colleagues in promoting the UK’s wider work and to offer assistance in crises or VIP visits.

Corporate Services

To initiate payment processes on the accounting system, making sure all information is correct and following up specific steps so that payments can be finalised. Liaise with other areas of the Embassy/FCO to make sure payments are completed within specific deadlines.

Act as the back-up accountant when required (e.g. when accountant is away), looking after local funds, accounts and month-end reporting and to manage cash payments.

Conduct inventories to verify existence and condition of furniture and other items at Embassy properties, including the British Residence.

Liaise with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for any paperwork required for the purchase of vehicles, diplomatic officers’ moves & any other overseas purchases for the Embassy; also liaise with them regarding officers’ accreditation and vehicles identification/registers.

Assist with Embassy suppliers’ maintenance by dealing with suppliers for required information, submission of forms and follow up their creation on the IT system.

To provide English language support to the Security/Maintenance officer in ensuring compliance with FCO procedures.

Assist with telephone call handling when the person in charge of the switchboard is away.

You will be expected to carry out both roles in this job with a high degree of accuracy and commitment, including some of the more mundane administrative tasks. You will not be able to ignore these routine but highly important tasks, because you have other more interesting work.

Essential on arrival:  

Previous experience of working in an office environment and leading on administrative tasks;

Good IT skills and a high degree of numerical/financial literacy;

Proven experience of research and writing reports (in English) on political/economic developments;

Able to work flexibly as part of a team and individually, with minimal supervision.