View Vacancy - Political Assistant AO (10/22 KSH)

Main purpose of job:

The British Embassy in Kinshasa is recruiting a Political Assistant to join the Political, Governance and Inclusion Team. The Political Assistant will play an essential role in helping to drive the UK’s relations with the DRC, through a range of work, including managing the  embassy’s arm of the globally-recognised Chevening Programme and holding relationships with DRC interlocutors to deliver high-profile and time-sensitive policy priorities.

The Political Assistant must have excellent interpersonal skills, an ability to work under pressure and manage competing deadlines, and a capacity to apply strategic thinking to a range of tasks. Your ability to deliver through others, both within the embassy and DRC government contacts, will be crucial to your success.

The role is critical to the UK’s ability to deliver in the DRC, through maintaining positive relationships with key interlocutors on sensitive issues (including DRC visit visas and UK immigration policy) and strengthening the UK’s reputation in the DRC as a key player in diplomacy and development.

Roles and responsibilities:

In this role you will be responsible for:

1.     Managing the Chevening Programme for DRC, Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic: coordinating the promotion campaign; ensuring a smooth and timely recruitment process; organising interviews for candidates; organising the pre-departure event; managing the Chevening Alumni Association; leading on the Chevening Alumni Programme Fund; acting as the focal point for prospective candidates throughout the year.

2.     Leading on Protocol, immigration and travel documentation: holding relationships with key DRC government interlocutors; providing Note Verbales, visa support documents, emergency travel documents and overflight and landing clearances.

3.     Managing the embassy travel and entertainment budget: applying for the yearly budget allocation and additional funding as needed; forecasting and reviewing the budget each month; providing feedback on risks and mitigation measures.

4.     Visits: providing practical support to high-level and Ministerial visits.

5.     Maximising UK soft power in DRC: working with the Ambassador, communications and other teams to seize opportunities to publicise UK impact; organising and publicising embassy events throughout the year.

This is a flexible role and the successful candidate should expect to remain adaptive to respond to the team’s work requirements. There will also be opportunity to develop policy expertise through support to the wider political team.

About the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office                                                                                                              

How we approach our work is important. The How We Work Statement (below) sets out the ambition we share across the FCDO for how we lead and behave towards each other, how we make decisions, and how we get the job done. Some aspects may be particularly relevant to this role.

• We put respect and kindness first. We are inclusive, we get to know each other, and value our diversity and the contribution we each bring. We are fair, act with integrity, and tackle inequality and unacceptable behaviour. We work together and take responsibility to solve problems. 

• We draw on the expertise, insight and diverse perspectives of people across the FCDO, HMG, and beyond. We use the best available data and evidence. We are open to challenge and take a sustainable, long-term approach. We are transparent about the rationale for decisions and smart about taking and managing risks. 

• We are agile and alert to emerging opportunities. We encourage learning, innovation and use of data and digital. We are all clear on what we are expected to deliver and support each other in doing so. We look to reduce duplication and unnecessary process. We are committed to transforming both the FCDO and the way HMG delivers international policy. 

The British Embassy in Kinshasa works to deliver the UK’s vision for sub-Saharan Africa in the Democratic Republic of Congo: a prosperous, safer, healthier sub-Saharan Africa which sees the UK as a partner of choice for peace, trade and economic development, is less reliant on aid and is more resilient to shocks and stresses.

DRC is the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa and central to our global objectives of supporting the bottom billion, addressing climate change, building stability and supporting open societies. It is home to 8% of the world’s extreme poor and faces the world’s largest food crisis and the third largest humanitarian crisis. DRC also has most of the world’s second largest rainforest, immense hydropower potential and precious mineral resources, supplying the majority of cobalt that powers phones and electric batteries.

Our strategic objectives in DRC are:

• providing basic services to accelerate a demographic transition and sustainably reduce poverty;
• meeting acute humanitarian needs, safeguarding forests and biodiversity and pursuing green economic recovery;
• building long-term stability; and supporting more stable, open and inclusive institutions 

Description of the team

This role sits within the Political, Governance and Inclusion team that delivers a cross-cutting policy and programme function in the office. You will report to the Second Secretary Political and will work closely with the Political Officer, as well as the rest of the team. You will also work with the Senior Leadership Team including the Ambassador and communications team, on cross-cutting soft power opportunities.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

No staff managed

Responsible for managing travel and entertainment budget, although this responsibility may change as embassy structures are aligned.

Excellent written and oral skills in French and English.

A proven track record organising events.