Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Policy & Political roles)
Political
Main purpose of job:
Based at the High Commission in Port Louis, the Political Officer will support the delivery of high quality analysis and reporting on all aspects of Mauritius’s domestic policy for a senior readership at Post and in London, as directed by the Head of Mission and his deputy. You will have specific responsibility for reporting on Mauritian domestic and foreign policy as well as on other areas in line with business needs. You will also act as the as Press spokesperson for the High Commission and be called upon to devise communications strategy for traditional press and social media. You will also be responsible for the administration of the UK’s Chevening Scholarship programme in Mauritius.
Roles and responsibilities:
Politics: 85%
- Provide timely, insightful political analysis on Mauritius domestic affairs, including but not limited to significant political developments, elections, Cabinet appointments and relevant domestic and foreign policy changes. Build and maintain a network of civil, political and academic opinion makers in Mauritius to inform reporting.
- Support lobbying requests from lead UK policy departments, alongside the High Commissioner (HC) and Deputy High Commissioner (DHC).
Press, Chevening & Projects: 13%
- Act as British High Commission spokesperson for press briefings, draft press releases and other related material and ensure maximum impact of centrally produced material. Support the organisation of events in coordination with Residence Manager and Deputy High Commissioner. Design and implement creative communications campaigns and social media strategies, linked to the High Commission’s objectives, including working closely with Economic and Trade colleagues.
- Lead on the Chevening Scholarship Programme in Mauritius, including devising strategies to maximise applications, coordinate and conduct interviews, selection of candidates and lead on relations with ex-scholars, organising alumni events and ensuring contribution to UK policy objectives.
- To take the overall lead on projects, keeping budget profiles, ensuring purchasing guidelines are followed and helping develop and assess project ideas under available funding channels.
- Take lead responsibility for visits, arranging programmes and travel arrangements for incoming visitors.
IT/Corporate backup: 2%
- Act as Deputy Information Technology Support Officer (ITSO). Act as back up operator for sound system at the Residence for official functions.
Resources managed (staff and expenditure):
Bilateral funds as allocated by International Programme Fund (amounts can vary but as a guide have in previous years been around the £40-50,000 mark)
Press budget of 1300 MUR per month and online subscription fees of 4000 MUR p/a
- Media awareness
- Communications skills
- Foreign Policy skills
- Political / media analysis
- Fluency in written and spoken: English, French and Creole
- Project Management skills
Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Collaborating and Partnering, Delivering at Pace
12 October 2020
B3 (L)
Fixed Term
36
12 months
Africa
Mauritius
Port Louis
British High Commission
1
MUR 45, 084.27
1 November 2020
Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):
Hyperion/Prism expert user
Project and Programme Management
Information Technology Support Induction training
Diplomatic Academy Foundation Level training
Working patterns:
We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.
- Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening.
- Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
- The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.
- Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Post are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Country.
- All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit.
- The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to;
Obtain the relevant permit
Pay fees for the permit
Make arrangements to relocate
Meet the costs to relocation
- The British High Commission do not sponsor visas/work permits except where it may be local practice to do so.
- Employees who are not eligible to pay local income tax: e.g. certain third-country nationals and spouses/partners of UK diplomats will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
- Information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Competency Framework can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework Please note: AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
- Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
- Please log into your profile on the application system on a regular basis to review the status of your application.
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