Political Officer (MENA & Global Partnerships), Politics & Communications Team

United Kingdom Joint Delegation to NATO

Brussels, Belgium

A full time position as a Political Officer in the Politics and Communications Team of the UK Joint Delegation to NATO in Brussels has become available.

This is an exciting opportunity to help implement the decisions of the NATO Wales Summit on the future of NATO's partnerships in the Middle East & North Africa and around the world, representing the UK in committee discussion of these partnerships with Allies and with the partners themselves. You will focus particularly on partnership plans, partnership cooperation activities and other support for those partners.

Working in collaboration with 27 other Allies, partner delegations and NATO's International Staff, you will manage a high profile portfolio in a fast-paced and demanding political-military environment. You will be expected to brief the Permanent Representative, the Military Representative and other high-level UK civilian and military officials, and report the outcomes of meetings including those at Ambassadorial and Ministerial level. You will also contribute to the Team's political analysis.

The post-holder will be expected to be flexible as to other duties within the Delegation as needed, particularly in helping with crisis response.

MAIN ROLES

• Work to deliver UK objectives, and tasking agreed at the Wales Summit, notably on cooperative security and other support to relevant partners;
• Lead on cooperation with the Mediterranean Dialogue (MD), Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) & NATO's Partners across the Globe, as well as other countries in the Middle East and North Africa;
• Establish and maintain contact with stakeholders in NATO, Allies' delegations, UK Government departments and the UK's network of embassies;
• Represent the UK in working-level discussions of relevant partnerships in NATO's Partnerships & Collective Security Committee and Military Committee Working Group, negotiating with Allies and partners to help achieve UK objectives;
• Draft timely, accurate reports of committee meetings, sessions of the North Atlantic Council, Ministerial meetings and other events as necessary;
• Provide succinct, targeted advice and briefing to the UK Permanent Representative and Military Representative;
• Contribute to political analysis by the Politics & Communications Team.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES REQUIRED

Essential Skills

• Experience of working with a wide network of contacts demonstrating lobbying and influencing skills;
• Strong interpersonal and customer focus skills;
• Ability to grasp complex issues quickly and communicate them simply and effectively;
• Excellent drafting skills;
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team and contribute to its outputs;
• Good organisational skills;
• Adaptability under pressure;
• Fluent written and spoken English.

Competencies

• Leading and Communicating;
• Collaborating and Partnering;
• Delivering at Pace;
• Seeing the big picture.

Desirable

• Knowledge of NATO and UK Government institutions and procedures;
• Knowledge of the Middle East and North Africa, and of wider global strategic and security issues;
• Understanding of written and spoken French and/or Arabic.

OTHER INFORMATION

You will join the Politics & Communications Team in the UK Joint Delegation at NATO Headquarters, a truly international setting where you will work with NATO Allies, partner nations and NATO's international civilian and military staffs. On site are restaurants, a staff centre and excellent sports facilities.

The UK Delegation invests in its staff, offering competitive skills development, courses and training opportunities to employees.

You will occasionally be required to work extended hours during peak periods, including in the run-up to Ministerial meetings and Summits, and may be required to travel internationally for short periods.

This position will be subject to satisfactory completion of UK security checks, and will be filled on a fixed term contract.

Gross Monthly Salary: € 2,736.57

Applications with a full CV in English and cover letter outlining how you meet the essential skills should be sent to the Recruitment Officer (brussels.recruitment@fco.go.uk), Corporate Services Benelux (CSB), Avenue d'Auderghem 10, 1040 Brussels by close of business on Monday 6 October 2014.

We expect to hold interviews in the week commencing 13 October 2014. Subject to security clearance and administrative processes, the successful applicant will be expected to start at the beginning of January 2015. Only applicants called for interview will be contacted. Applicants must be legally entitled to work in Belgium.

"The UK Delegation to NATO is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference."

"Staff recruited locally by the UK Delegation to NATO in Belgium are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Belgian employment law."