View Vacancy – BD – Political Assistant, A2 (L)

Main purpose of job:

Working to our ASEAN Co-ordinator, you will be responsible for supporting the whole political team: arranging calls and programmes, conducting research, and keeping track of all the team’s tasking to ensure deadlines are met. You will liaise with other parts of the High Commission, and with contacts in the MFA and in other UK diplomatic missions in this region. You should be customer focused, with good IT skills, and be organised and methodical. You will need to be adaptable and open to taking direction from a variety of colleagues. You may need to account for simple expenditure and deal quickly with routine administrative issues. You will need to be able to write clear and simple emails, in English, and work with little supervision, showing initiative and energy.

Roles and responsibilities: 

Provide budgetary, administrative and project management support across Chancery (the High Commission’s political, economic and ASEAN team). The jobholder will also conduct research to support Chancery reporting. Support the ASEAN Coordinator to organise official visits and events,

Policy Support

• Conduct research and reporting on aspects of Bruneian policy as required e.g. ASEAN, economic, social, trade, foreign and security issues.
• Support at events, including sometimes at the High Commissioner’s Residence or other locations.
• Manage and respond to public enquiries.
• Act as secretary and note-taker for meetings as required.

Events and Visits:

• Arrange ministerial and senior official visits to Brunei, and lead on visits as required.
• Event management, including planning, venue and stakeholder research, compilation of guest lists, invitations and other arrangements.
• Draft short reports as required, eg summarising media reports or government statements.
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Other:

• Provide executive support to Chancery colleagues, for example scheduling meetings and conference calls, and assisting with travel plans and bookings.
• Manage the Political Team’s budgets and purchasing.
• Provide absence cover for Executive Assistant to the High Commissioner
• Other duties as requested.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

Global Procurement Card purchasing and reconciliation

Essential on arrival:     

• Good knowledge of government procedure and cultural sensitivities when engaging with local and international stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal skills and initiative with the ability to work as part of a team
• Flexible, resilient under pressure and decisive with a proven track record of delivering results to a high standard
• Excellent record management and organisation skills
• Professional speaking and telephone manner, IT literate, letter drafting, and report writing skills.
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience working in a policy or executive support role, preferably in a diplomatic mission, government department, or large corporate structure

Language requirements:

Language: English, Malay

Level of language required: Fluent in English, Malay is desirable but not essential