View Vacancy - Political Section Administrative Officer - UK Mission to the United Nations

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. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.
UK Mission
UKMIS (UK Mission to the United Nations)

Main purpose of job:

This is an exciting opportunity for an active and dynamic person to work at the forefront of international diplomacy and in the heart of the British Government’s Mission to the United Nations (UKMIS NY).

You will act as Political Section Administrative Officer and executive assistant to the UK Minister Counsellor (Political), and provide administrative, budget management and some policy support to the wider Political section at the UK Mission to the United Nations.

The Political section is an exciting team of 26 colleagues at the heart of the 115-person strong UK Mission’s effort to promote key Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) objectives in the UN Security Council. 

You will work with a diverse range of stakeholders, both within and outside the UK government, on a wide range of issues. The jobholder must have an adaptable approach and a ‘can do’ attitude’ with a willingness to learn and work flexibly across a broad range of issues, including new areas which might emerge during the individual’s time in the role.

The US Network offers a unique career enhancing opportunity and is committed to supporting its staff through a variety of benefits including generous leave, insurance packages and a highly competitive 401k programme. It also promotes a culture of flexibility which enables people to better maintain wellness through an excellent work/life balance approach.

In this role you would be working in a diverse international environment to support UK diplomats, armed forces personnel and other country-based staff operating across the British Government’s network of Consulates and Government Offices in the United States. This network provides a platform for approximately 30 Government departments and agencies to conduct their work in the United States and is made up of over 900 staff with a rich and diverse background, skill sets, and experiences.


Duties and responsibilities include:

  • Providing secretarial and administrative support to the UK Minister Counsellor (Political) through: effective diary management to ensure their time is used efficiently and purposefully, monitoring of and responding to correspondence, accurate reconciling of expenses, creative use of social media, and working collaboratively with others to ensure high-quality briefings and statements for UN meetings/events.
  • Providing administrative support to the wider Political team including: information management, compiling briefings, co-managing the UK Mission shared inbox and incoming correspondence, budget planning and monitoring, annual leave management, and monitoring, managing stationery and other office supplies.
  • Assisting with UKMIS-led virtual and in-person events, including: designing and issuing invitations, managing RSVPs, coordinating with relevant external stakeholders at the UN, handling virtual room settings and speakers’ lists, and booking refreshments.
  • Assisting with incoming visits, including by UK Ministers, senior officials and UK election candidates, by setting up programmes, organising logistics and arranging catering.
  • Covering for the other members of the UKMIS Administrative Team as necessary; including some flexible hours.
  • Additional duties, tasks, and/or projects as assigned.
  • For the right candidate, there will opportunities to develop policy skills and an understanding of diplomacy and multilateral work, as long as the post-holder’s core duties and responsibilities are being well delivered. Policy work could include: attending UN meetings and events on behalf of the UK, attending UN negotiations on behalf of the UK, writing briefings for senior meetings and writing meeting readouts for colleagues and being part of policy development and discussions.

The ideal candidate must have a can-do attitude. They will be an enthusiastic and flexible team player, with strong organisational skills and able to deliver results quickly and accurately with great attention to detail and be able to shift priorities swiftly to a variety of different tasks.  Strong written communication skills would be advantageous.  For the right candidate, there will opportunities to develop policy skills and an understanding of diplomacy and multilateral work.

 

Resources managed:

No staff or budget resource management but the role may require support to the Team Lead and Finance Officer to monitor section expenditure and update monthly budget reports. 

  • Two years’ work experience in a relevant field or related education.
  • Excellent English written and oral communication skills.
  • Track record of organisational skills, including managing multiple tasks and strong attention to detail.
  • Proactive and flexible team player, ready to help out all colleagues and sections when needed.
  • Strong computer literacy and proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
  • Ability to manage stakeholders and conduct administrative tasks.
  • Legal status to live and work in the US in your own right, from time of application.

Please note: Under US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Permanent Residents, A and NATO visa holders with EAD cards, and L2 visa holders with an up-to-date I-94 form. 

You may refer to our website for additional information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-the-usa. All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work. 

  • Experience of work in public service.
  • Knowledge of the work of the UN.
  • Familiarity with the UK Government.
Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Working Together
23 June 2024
Administrative Officer (AO)
Full-time, Permanent
40
Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories
United States
UK Mission to the United Nations, New York
British Consulate General
1
USD
$26.27 per hour
hourly
12 August 2024

The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communicating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).

The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance.

Normal working hours are 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. for the members of the Political Section. Occasional evening and weekend work is required. This position is office-based and hybrid work from home is only offered on rare occasion based on workload and executive/team needs.  It is commonly required to be in office five days. The UK Mission supports flexible working opportunities, to improve the work/ life balance of its staff, where operational and security needs allow, but the ultimate decision for working pattern is made by the line manager.

We welcome candidates of any race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, age, or any other category. The Mission is committed to building a diverse environment. UKMIS New York prides itself on upholding the principles of diversity and inclusion and providing equal opportunities for all.

We strive to nurture a diverse workforce by promoting policies that emphasize fairness, transparency, creativity and a comfortable and safe working environment in which individual differences are respected and the contributions of all staff are recognized and valued. The Mission values honesty, integrity, professionalism, and teamwork. Treating all colleagues with respect is fundamental. We have a zero-tolerance policy towards bullying, harassment, and discrimination.

The British Embassy is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and to creating a diverse working environment, free from discrimination, where everyone is included and treated fairly, based on merit alone. We are an equal opportunity employer, making all employment decisions without regard to race, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other criterion protected by law.

We want staff to express themselves freely, to think creatively and to feel free to challenge policy perspectives constructively. The Mission supports the professional learning and development of all colleagues. 


Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6-12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, e.g. some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.

Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.

Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive; we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.


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.