View Vacancy – Politics Team Support Officer (BEL20.310)

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The United Kingdom’s Joint Delegation to NATO is the vital link between the UK Government and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Its principal roles are to promote British interests in NATO and to keep UK Ministers and Government Departments informed about NATO discussions and is now looking for a Politics Team Support Officer for the UK Delegation to NATO in Brussels (UKDEL).

You will help ensure the smooth running of the political team at the UK Joint Delegation to NATO, delivering UK objectives in the world’s most successful political-military alliance. Your work will range from administrative support to logistics for inbound visits, and you will have the opportunity to develop policy skills and expertise to support UK objectives at the HQ on defined policy areas.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is the bedrock of the UK’s defence and security. It is undergoing its most significant changes since the Cold War to meet new and more assertive threats in an increasingly complex and uncertain world; and has recently moved into a new headquarters. The UK plays a highly respected leadership role in the Alliance. The growing threat to the international order, and NATO’s increasing political weight and breadth of engagement, is also strengthening the Alliance’s importance to the UK’s foreign policy.

The United Kingdom’s Joint Delegation to NATO (UKDEL NATO) is the vital link between the UK Government and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Its principal roles are to promote British interests in NATO and to keep UK Ministers and Government Departments informed about NATO discussions. The Delegation is looking for an assistant for its political team, which is a mix of local staff and UK-based diplomats.

This is a temporary appointment until 31 March 2021.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• The pace and range of work are increasing. The delegation is a busy team, a mixed community of UK diplomats, Ministry of Defence civilians, military officers and locally-hired employees, operating at a high tempo in a challenging multilateral environment. But it is also a supportive workplace, with a strong focus on learning and development and upholding values of respect, integrity, fairness and inclusivity.

• As with all jobs in the Delegation, we promote an adaptable and responsive approach, which means the jobholder will need to be ready to adapt their focus to deal with changing circumstances and priorities. The jobholder will be a strong team player. Working in a large and diverse mission, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in cross-team issues, and the job holder will be expected to make an active contribution to supporting the effectiveness and wellbeing of the UK delegation and its people, based on their particular interests and experience. We can ensure that it will be fast moving and enjoyable, with plenty of scope for policy development and delivery.

• You will support core office management at the heart of a busy multilateral diplomatic mission. The UK Delegation is joint – it reports directly to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD). The job holder will therefore gain experience of working with civilian and military personnel and have the opportunity to build key Civil Service skills. The position also offers unique insight into the UK’s relationship with NATO – the cornerstone of our security.  

• You will also provide resilience to other UKDEL work including planning senior officials’ visits, and supporting senior officials including the UK Ambassador and UK Military Representative to NATO, including ensuring they are briefed and supported in their own committees when these touch on your policy areas.

• The successful candidate will, jointly with the politics team office manager, predominantly provide administrative support, including horizon-scanning, and assist UK diplomats as they prepare for committees and provide policy advice to senior officials. NATO HQ develops a vast amount of information each day and this requires triage and distribution. You will help to manage the transfer of information for the delegation between various separate IT systems, ensuring the secure handling and distribution of papers (this task is shared with all support staff in the delegation).

• You will also have some policy responsibility, initially for UK objectives on Human Security (including Protection of Civilians), NATO’s Building Integrity Initiative, and the Science for Peace and Security grants. There may also be opportunities to support lead officers on advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda at NATO. This will involve developing expertise, working with NATO staff, NGOs, Whitehall, and the UK’s diplomatic network, and representing the UK in negotiations. There may be opportunities to work on other policy areas, including NATO partnerships with non-Allies, and to cover more senior roles during absences. The focus of your policy work is likely to flex over time according to changing priorities, so you will need to be willing to adapt or shift from these to other areas as needed. Working in a large and diverse mission, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in cross-team issues, and the job holder will be expected to make an active contribution to supporting the effectiveness and wellbeing of the UK delegation and its people, based on their particular interests and experience.

• Proficient user of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook).

• Strong focus on customer needs and stakeholder management.

• Ability to build relationships, in person and remotely.

• Strong communications skills, including fluent written and spoken English.

• High School level and/or two years of relevant work experience.