View Vacancy - Political Officer

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:

The Political Officer will play a key role in the Embassy’s Political team, providing political context to help deliver Embassy priorities in the area of internal and external politics, the security situation and human rights.

In the run-up to elections in 2018, the Political Officer will build and maintain an excellent network of contacts, identify opportunities for UK engagement and support the political engagement of teams across the Embassy. The officer will provide a supporting role on human rights, particularly covering the embassy’s engagement with human rights defenders.

Roles and responsibilities:

-Political analysis and contact building (40%)

  • Build and maintain an excellent network of contacts with the Colombian Government, political parties and the international community across the range of issues in order to fulfil the Embassy objectives.
  • Attend meetings and events with the Colombian Government and international community, including covering EU working groups to provide reporting across the embassy.
  • Organise and report meetings for the Ambassador and political secretaries with politicians, commentators and political experts.
  • Gather and help analyse information on political developments to help the political team provide relevant policy advice to the Embassy and London.

 

-Political Reporting (30%)

  • Provide timely and concise background briefing to Embassy and London colleagues on political developments. Follow closely the campaigns for the 2018 elections.
  • Provide background research to support political team’s analysis of high-profile political issues, and help draft regular political round-ups.
  • Research to help draft responses to questions from UK parliamentarians.

 

-Political Advocacy & Human Rights (15%)

  • Support political work around different Embassy projects to increase their effectiveness.
  • Provide organisational support for conferences, meetings, events, and trips (for example during visits of Ministers from the UK) to further Embassy objectives.
  • The officer will support the political secretary on the issue of human rights defenders, organising the Embassy’s engagement with specific cases, liaising with the A2 Human Rights Project Officer.

 

-Management & Administrative Support (10%)

  • Line manage the work of one local A1 (L) full-time staff member.
  • Provide administrative support to the political team.

 

-Learning and Development (5%)

  • Bachelor’s Degree, or higher, in Government, Political Science, Economics, International Relations, Law or related fields.
  • Excellent written and spoken English and Spanish.
  • Excellent interpersonal, presentation and persuasion skills.
  • A minimum of two years of relevant professional activity in international organisations, non-governmental organisations or the public sector.
  • Experience in building and managing relationships with government officials, international organisations, NGOs and businesses.
  • A strong understanding of the government, the political agenda and international interest in Colombia.
9 June 2017
Administrative Officer (AO)
Full-time, Permanent
36
Latin America and Spanish speaking Caribbean
Colombia
Bogota
British Embassy
1
COP
3,439,836
3 July 2017
  • The opportunity to work in a diverse and multicultural work environment.
  • Net working hours 35 per week ie Mon-Thu 08:30 – 17:00 with an hour lunch break and Fri 08:30-13.30 allowing for a good work/life balance. Some flexibility will be required during periods of exceptional workload.
  • 14 public holidays per year.
  • 15 days annual leave plus 4 compensatory days pro-rata on first year.
  • 15 days salary in December pay and 15 days salary in June pay (pro rata in first year).
  • The British Embassy is committed to the ongoing training and development of its staff, and training will be provided as appropriate

The jobholder will be encouraged to take forward training opportunities.  These include:

  • International Policy Skills for Policy Officers;
  • Programme and project management;
  • Specific modules of the FCO’s Diplomatic Academy

 

There will be opportunities to travel within country and develop representational skills.

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.