Foreign & Commonwealth Office

Position description

An exciting opportunity has arisen to work in the UK Mission to the UN. The successful candidate will work as a Senior Policy Adviser in the Africa and Peacekeeping team. They will represent the UK at the UN on a range of issues, conducting negotiations at the Security Council, and on occasion in the General Assembly. The successful candidate will also represent the UK on relevant Security Council Working Groups.

The post holder will join a team of six covering African issues on the Security Council agenda, including Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Mali and the Sahel, as well as UN relations with the African Union (AU), and the UN’s regional African offices. The team also leads on thematic peacekeeping issues and peacekeeping reform. The current job-holder covers a range of files including Protection of Civilians and atrocity prevention, climate change and security, Burundi, Central Africa and the Lake Chad Basin. As a member of the UK Mission’s Political Section, the successful candidate will also work closely with military, development, peacebuilding, human rights and humanitarian colleagues across the mission.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:
This is a policy development and delivery role, heavily focused on influencing the UN Secretariat, other Member States and NGOs.  Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, those outlined below:

• Negotiating Security Council products; drafting UK-proposed texts and chairing negotiations; reporting views of other Council members and the UN Secretariat; representing the UK on Security Council Working Groups; advising HQ on tactics to best deliver UK policy objectives in the Security Council.
• Working with colleagues in the UK Mission, and colleagues across the UK network of diplomatic missions and from other UK Government departments, to make full use of UK Government influence across the UN to deliver UK policy objectives on Africa and peacekeeping, and to provide strategic advice to London in developing UK policy on African dossiers.
• Delivering UK policy objectives at the UN on thematic issues such as protection of civilians, atrocity prevention, and climate change and security.
• Briefing the UK Permanent Representative and Deputy Permanent Representative for, and reporting on, Security Council and other high-level meetings on issues on a variety of Africa and peacekeeping dossiers.
• Working flexibly across the team and the wider Political Section to provide cover for colleagues where needed.
This is a challenging role with the opportunity to lead on high profile Security Council issues and to develop specific expertise on Africa and conflict issues.  The portfolio will evolve as the job-holder gains experience in the role.  You will work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment and must be willing to support other team members and priorities as needed.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• An undergraduate or postgraduate degree in a relevant field;
• At least four years of relevant work experience;
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to work independently as well as collaboratively as part of a larger team;
• Ability to work flexibly and adapt to changing priorities across a range of tasks and responsibilities that require long-term planning, as well as reaction to urgent day-to-day developments;
• Proven track record of influencing a wide range of stakeholders;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to deliver at pace.

Under US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Permanent Residents or A visa holders with EAD cards*. If you hold a visa other than an A visa you are not currently eligible to work at our office.  Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/government/world/usa.  All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work.
*A visas are acceptable at the Embassy and Consulates. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas, and British Defense Staff (BDS) outposts accept A or NATO visas.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Prior experience of work in public service or not-for-profit environments;
• Knowledge of the work of the UN, particularly regarding peace and security issues;
• Knowledge of conflict trends in Africa;
• Familiarity with the UK Government’s foreign policy priorities.