Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Chancery
The British Embassy in Rabat is seeking a hard working team player to take up the position of Political Assistant grade A2 (L).
Main purpose of the job:
The Political Assistant will provide political and administrative support to the Embassy’s External and Bilateral political team within Chancery. This will include administrative, protocol, secretarial and logistical tasks for the political team, the Deputy Head of Mission and, on occasion acting as the Ambassador’s Personal Assistant.
The jobholder will conduct directed political research, contributing to the production of in-depth political reporting, regular press review and weekly political round-ups. You will be responsible for handling protocol issues, translations, correspondence, general information management, and help with organising Embassy visits and events and Political Team projects. You will also support either the Chevening Programme, including through contributing to the selection of candidates or ad hoc small-scale project work for the political team.
The successful candidate will have strong organisation and communication skills, will be able to prioritise flexibly and use their own initiative to deliver to deadlines. And will have strong people skills with the ability to work collaboratively within a busy team.
Main duties and responsibilities:
- Assist the Political team with general information management, research, fact-finding administrative and other ad hoc support;
- Contribute to producing short regular and ad hoc press summaries for the team;
- Follow-up on high priority visa applications/issues;
- Deliver timely translations from/into English/French;
- Draft and ensure delivery of Chancery correspondence and Note Verbales, providing protocol advice if needed;
- Contribute to organising Embassy visits and events, and Political team projects particularly on logistical arrangements;
- Provide personal assistance and secretarial support to the Deputy Head of Mission, and back-up PA function to the Ambassador;
- Schedule meetings and handle queries, including from senior contacts;
- Provide administrative and logistical support to the Chevening Manager, arrange and participate in candidate selection interviews or support ad hoc policy or project work for the Political team.
The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required. The job description may be reviewed to meet changes in business needs.
Key Competences:
- Delivering at Pace: Effectiveness in this area means focusing on delivering timely performance with energy and taking responsibility and accountability for quality outcomes. It’s about working to agreed goals and activities and dealing with challenges in a responsive and constructive way.
- Collaborating and Partnering: People skilled in this area create and maintain positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside the Civil Service to help get business done.
- Managing a Quality Service: Effectiveness in this area is about being organised to deliver service objectives and striving to improve the quality of service, taking account of diverse customer needs and requirements.
- Changing and Improving: People who are effective in this area are responsive, innovative and seek out opportunities to create effective change.
- High standard of spoken and written English (IELTS score of at least 7 or equivalent). Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication;
- Bilingual level of spoken and written French and Arabic;
- Educated to degree level;
- Confident communication and accurate drafting and writing ability
- Strong organisational skills;
- Previous administrative or secretarial experience;
- Strong people skills with the ability to work collaboratively within a busy team;
- Good customer service skills;
- Ability to work independently, prioritise flexibly and use own initiative to deliver to tight deadlines;
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Teams etc).
- Translation experience;
- Experience of interpreting for official meetings;
- Experience of political reporting/analysis.
Changing and Improving, Collaborating and Partnering, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace
15 September 2021
A2 (L)
Fixed Term, Full-time
38
12 months
Middle East & North Africa
Morocco
Rabat
British Embassy
1
MAD
14,385
1 November 2021
The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role, including a non-negotiable gross salary of MAD 14,385 per month, inclusive of all allowances. However, employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.
The package includes a good level of medical insurance, 21 days of annual leave per annum (on pro rata basis) plus 14 public holidays, access to on-site swimming pool, tennis court and gym facilities.
There are no other allowances payable as part of this package. No accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.
The contract for this position will be for a full-time employment, on a fixed term basis for 1 year, subject to to 3 months probation period initially and can be extended up to another 3 months.
Conditioned working hours for the position are 38 hours per week Monday to Friday. Normal office hours (Mon-Thu 0800-1615, Fri 0800-1300). There may be some requirement for flexible working in order to assist with particular events or other deadlines. The Embassy currently operates a working from home scheme of up to three days per week though this may reduce subject to Covid-19 or other factors. The Embassy encourages flexible working subject to operational need and line manager’s approval. Independent working will be tested as a competence in interviews.
This job could be done as a job share, provided both job share partners were able to meet the requirement to work out of hours as needed for events.
The Embassy has a strong commitment to learning and development and all staff are required to agree a learning and development plan with their line manager.
Eligibility:
Applicants must be legally able to work and live in Morocco with the correct visa/status or work permit.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates must attach the following documents in English when applying online:
- A covering letter
- An updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) and completed online application form.
** (Your application must include examples of when you have demonstrated the competencies outlined above in the cover letter or motivation section in the application form. Applications that do not include this information will be rejected).
All applications must be received before 23:55 (Local Time) on 15 September 2021.
Please note that incomplete applications or applications received after the stated deadline will not be taken into consideration.
Due to the large amount of applications we receive only those shortlisted for assessment/interview will be contacted.
The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security-vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances.
Personal data collected will be treated in strictest confidence under the terms of the UK Data Protection Act and used for recruitment purposes only.
The British Embassy is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy is subject to Terms and Conditions of service according to local Morocco employment law.
To help us track our recruitment effort, please indicate on the application form /in your cover letter where (ngotenders.net) you saw this job posting.