Senior 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, 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.

Job Category

Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Policy & Political roles)

Job Subcategory

Political Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)  

Note: Due to COVID-19, you may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign. We are working hard to minimise any disruption. You may find more information in the Additional Information section below.

The British Embassy in Bucharest is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking to recruit a Senior Political Officer. This is a fascinating, multi-faceted and challenging role.

Main purpose of job:

This position will be lead on Justice and Home Affairs issues, a priority for the embassy. The role will ensure delivery of influencing work and high quality reporting. This is a particularly promising time to be working in the Embassy, as we work through post EU exit negotiations. This role will play a key role in supporting implementation of our bilateral Strategic Partnership and our capacity to deliver ambitious plans.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with proven international analytical skills, able to collaborate and engage well with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders.  

We offer the chance to work in an international environment and to become actively involved in key areas of bilateral policy during an extremely important period for the UK. The job involves rewarding, challenging and interesting work as well as travel and personal development opportunities.

This job would particularly suit someone who is seeking to strengthen management skills, and in depth grounding in policy formation and analysis or who sees their future in international public administration.

Roles and responsibilities:

Modern Slavery and Serious Organised Crime (SOC):

• To lead on cooperation between the UK and Romania on tackling Modern Slavery, a key priority for the UK. To collaborate with SOC colleagues, identifying gaps in knowledge and opportunities to influence. To report and analyse these issues and ensure our policies support delivery of the embassy’s business plan and UK objectives. Deliver well-targeted policy driven projects.

Immigration:

• To monitor and report on immigration trends and impact on UK priorities. To establish and leverage diverse range of contacts to inform analysis and support influencing interlocutors.

Management:

• To line manage Political Officer, providing support and guidance on policy and L&D issues.

Domestic politics oversight:

• To contribute to embassy’s coverage of domestic issues, keeping abreast of developments to ensure seamless cover for second Senior Political Officer.

Visits:

• To lead on organising VIP visits to Romania, overseeing design and delivery of visit programme, drawing on views from diverse stakeholders. Working with VIP office to monitor and report on key issues of interest.

Law Enforcement Liaison including CVM:

• To represent the Political team with Law enforcement colleagues and institutions to ensure programmes and projects are aligned. To monitor Romania’s progress against the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience  

• Fluency in English and Romanian (both written and spoken, minimum of C2 level for CEFR framework*);
• A strong academic background;
• Proven analytical skills ideally with a strong emphasis on Justice and Home affairs;
• Experience working on human trafficking or SOC issues is not essential but would be an advantage;
• An ability to deal effectively with senior Romanian, foreign officials and organisations and to represent the embassy externally;
• Proven organisational skills and strong initiative;
• Ability to get up to speed quickly on issues of substance and deliver effective results;

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience  

• Management experience is desirable.

Required competencies

Making Effective Decisions, Leading and Communicating, Collaborating and Partnering, Delivering at Pace

Application deadline

10 May 2020

Grade

B3 (L)

Type of Position

Fixed Term, Full-time

Working hours per week

35

Duration of Post

24 months

Region

Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia

Country/Territory

Romania

Location (City)

Bucharest

Type of Post

British Embassy

Number of vacancies

1

Starting monthly salary (RON)

Gross) (Salary is not negotiable)

Start Date

15 July 2020

Other benefits and conditions of employment  

This is a full-time, fixed-term contract for 24 months (35 hours net per week), which may be extended by a mutual agreement. Working hours are flexible and staff are entitled to time-off-in-lieu for agreed extra hours worked.

The annual leave entitlement is 25 days per year pro rata and the Embassy also enjoys a maximum of 14 Romanian / UK public holidays per year.

Monthly salary isRON gross. In addition, staff are entitled to a 13th month salary pro rata and may receive a performance related bonus at year end. Staff also receive meal vouchers and a monthly subscription to a medical centre. An individual personal development plan will be agreed with the successful candidate, which may include training outside Romania.

For your information whilst the Emergency Ordinanceis in place the job holder will receive a gross monthly compensation bonus of RON 1202.

The successful candidate will be subject to confirmation of a background check and security clearance, and satisfactory completion of a probationary period of up to 45 calendar days.

The job offers travel and personal development opportunities. An individual personal development plan will be agreed with the successful candidate, which may include training outside Romania. Bucharest is a regional L&D hub which provides opportunities to access training and develop new skills.

Visa/Passport requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Romania and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract. Additional requirements may become necessary after 31st December 2020.

Additional information  

Additional Information (due to Covid 19):

• You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign and we are working hard to minimise any disruption

• Interviews will be done remotely if the existing situation determines this to be the right course of action

• Starting date may be delayed depending on circumstances at the time and it will be agreed with the selected candidate.

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

FCO does not pay for travel related expense incurred in interviews (including Security Check) or accept any financial risk, including cancelation or reschedule costs. The FCO will not meet the costs connected with relocation if offered a position.

* Please note Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment  indicates Level C2 as Mastery or proficiency Level which comprehends that a person can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read; can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation; can express themselves spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations. For more information please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your languages skills are going to be assessed.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Local Staff roles with the British Government through this official site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.