Executive Assistant to Political and Public Diplomacy Team

Foreign & Commonwealth Office

Position description

Our daily work relies on the input of dedicated individuals who engage on many different topics and activities. We seek to employ a diverse range of candidates who bring their own talents and perspectives to the role. We have a strong corporate agenda that ensures we create a positive and inclusive working environment where everyone is valued for their contribution.

The British Embassy in Brussels is part of a world-wide network of 230 Diplomatic Posts, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking for a highly motivated Executive Assistant to provide administrative and research support to Political and Public Diplomacy Team.

The Political and Public Diplomacy (PPD) team sits at the heart of the British Embassy to Belgium. The PPD team engages the Government of Belgium and provides reporting, analysis and external communications to support a range of UK interests in Belgium, including economic, security, climate change and foreign policy.

The successful candidate will have a varied portfolio between administrative responsibilities, research, policy support and communications work. This is a job for a team player who is versatile and proactive. They will provide administrative support to the team, including coordinating cross-Embassy initiatives.  They will  organise Embassy events, visits and wider bilateral activity. They will support the team with research and policy work. They will work with the communications team on social media and media monitoring.

This is an exciting opportunity to support the UK’s ambitious agenda in Belgium, at a fascinating time following the UK’s departure from the EU. The role sits as part of a busy team whose focus shifts according to external events and changing political priorities. As such, the job description may be subject to change and may evolve over time in response to changing circumstances. The team has a supportive work culture in which members work flexibly to support each other and share their skills.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Administrative support:

• To manage the administrative requirements for the team, including arranging meetings, managing team travel and budgets, assisting with translation and managing databases;
• To organise visits and events (in-person and virtual) on UK-Belgium bilateral issues;

Research and policy support:

• To support policy officers with online research, data gathering, media monitoring;
• To assist with policy research, including on the Embassy’s Covid-19 response;
• To track and monitor issues relating the UK/BE interests.

Communications:

• To support the Embassy Communications and Public Diplomacy team in promoting the work of the British Embassy;
• To support with social media, covering press conferences and writing press summaries.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Full professional proficiency in English, including excellent writing skills (written and spoken, minimum of C1 level for CEFR framework*);
• Full professional proficiency in French or Dutch, including excellent writing skills (written and spoken, minimum of C1 level for CEFR framework*);
• Proven/previous administration and office management skills, including demonstrating strong team-working skills;
• Ability to deliver at speed;
• Strong IT skills (Microsoft Office / Windows);
• Proven team player with good people skills.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Intermediate French or Dutch language skills in addition to fluency of one;
• Experience in budget management;
• Event management experience.

Application instructions