View Vacancy – Congressional Advisor (Trade & Climate Change)


The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)

Political

Main purpose of job:

The British Embassy is looking for a driven individual to join our Political Section as a Congressional Adviser. The two major issue areas covered by this position are Trade and Climate Change, but the successful applicant will also advise a range of colleagues, up to and including the Ambassador, on Energy, Transport, Science and Innovation, as well as helping to chart the Embassy’s wider political strategy on the Hill.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?


The Mission

With the ultimate goal of preserving and extending the UK-US Special Relationship, the British Embassy seeks to be one of the most dynamic and influential foreign missions in Washington, D.C. An active Congressional engagement strategy, spearheaded by the Ambassador, is a critical part of this agenda.

The Role

The Embassy’s Congressional Team sits within its Political Section and comprises four Congressional Advisers. Each Adviser serves as the principal point of contact on Congressional matters to the one of more of the Embassy’s policy teams. This role advises two sections: Global Issues (Energy, Climate Change, Transport, Science and Innovation) and Economic & Trade (Economic and Social Policy, G7, Trade and Agriculture). Other Advisers focus on Foreign and Security Policy and Defence.

The core function of the role is to advise these teams on Congressional strategy, identifying where UK Government policy priorities are likely to require Congressional buy-in; helping to craft engagement plans to achieve this; and spotting items on Congress’ agenda that are likely to be of relevance (both as opportunities and risks) to UK interests. The Congressional Advisers also support the work of the wider Political Section, e.g. in reporting on elections and broader political dynamics.


The Candidate Profile

To achieve this, the successful candidate will need to have:

  • A rich understanding of the relevant Congressional committees of jurisdiction and the legislative process;
  • A background in relevant policy issues (at least one of trade/economics/climate/energy);
  • A keen understanding of party/political dynamics;
  • An existing network of contacts in Hill offices and committees, gained from working on Capitol Hill, an NGO, or a lobbying firm; and
  • Demonstrated experience in tracking legislation and Hill activity in order to identify upcoming threats and opportunities.

Beyond these core skills, the successful candidate will need to demonstrate their capacity to be a credible interlocutor for a range of senior stakeholders, including the Ambassador (who the job-holder will staff in relevant Hill meetings) and visiting UK Government Officials, including Ministers (Chancellor, Secretary of State for International Trade, Business and Energy Minister, COP President, G7 Sherpa etc). Given the access the role grants at this level, the Adviser will need to demonstrate poise when working with senior officials, feel comfortable engaging Members of Congress, communicate clearly and persuasively, and be vigilant in staying on top of current political and legislative events.

Writing reports and official diplomatic telegrams (cables) to officials in London is a central part of the Congressional Adviser’s daily work. The written work of the Political Section in DC is some of the most read in the entire Foreign Office, often by senior readers at the highest levels, so the successful applicant must be able to write about events, policy and legislation analytically, accurately and quickly. When the post-holder is required to make the case for a particular course of action to a senior official, they must be able to make a clear argument, support it with relevant evidence, and draw well founded conclusions.

The Political Section is a tight-knit group that works together in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate will be someone who thrives in a team; enjoys working with others; sees opportunity in collaborating with new individuals across the Embassy and UK Government, and will be willing to support team members to advance our common goal of promoting UK priorities and managing potential legislative and political risks. Individual officers have a good degree of autonomy, but the successful candidate will need to have experience of and be comfortable with working in a hierarchy, which will include supporting on the basics of Hill engagement (e.g. assisting in setting up meetings for Ministerial visits) and covering for other team members where necessary.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

No staff. No expenditure.

  • Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree required
  • Three to five years of relevant experience, including recent experience working on the Hill
  • Demonstrated expertise in at least one of the following fields: Trade, Economics, Climate, Energy
  • Must be able to represent the Embassy at external meetings and win the confidence of senior US and UK officials and other stakeholders
  • Strong knowledge of the US political system and key figures within the Congressional environment
  • Flexibility in a team setting, with an enthusiastic approach to work
  • Ability to work independently and a proven track record of showing initiative and delivering results
  • Strong networking skills and ability to gain access to key figures
  • Excellent oral communicating and drafting skills and an ability to explain complicated policy issues in a succinct manner for a non-specialist audience in the UK
  • Ability to travel (as external circumstances allow)

  • Graduate degree in a related field
  • Working level contacts with relevant Congressional committees
  • Experience of working directly to a senior principal, such as Member of Congress

Making Effective Decisions, Collaborating and Partnering, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace




28 February 2021

C4 (L)

Full-time, Permanent

40

North America, Caribbean and British Overseas Territories

United States

Washington

British Embassy

1

$85,686




19 April 2021

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.

The post-holder will have access to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s Learning and Development programmes, including its Diplomatic Academy. Colleagues in the Embassy and across the UK’s Network in the United States also hold regular masterclasses on a range of subjects relevant to international relations, security, economics, trade etc.

Although the focus of the job is in Washington, D.C., during their tenure, the post-holder will likely have an opportunity to travel to London and to at least one of the Embassy’s Consulates across the US, to help further their objectives.

Occasional working from home may be possible but constant links to cross government contacts in the Embassy will be key in delivering this role. Currently the embassy has in place working from home requirements due to the current pandemic. 

The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance.

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.

Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.

Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.

The British Embassy is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and to creating a diverse working environment, free from discrimination, where everyone is included and treated fairly, based on merit alone. We are an equal opportunity employer, making all employment decisions without regard to race, gender, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other criterion protected by law.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Local Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

To help us with our recruitment effort, please indicate on the application form /in your cover letter where (ngotenders.net) you saw this job posting.

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