Policy & Administrative Assistant UKREP

United Kingdom Permanent Representation to the European Union

Brussels, Belgium

A full-time vacancy as described below has arisen in the Trade, Development and Wider World Section of the United Kingdom Representation to the European Union. This is an exciting role at the heart of a friendly, dynamic and busy team, combining administrative duties with the chance to gain policy experience on high-profile trade and foreign policy issues. This role would suit a highly motivated individual.

Any members of the three Missions, including spouses and partners, who wish to be considered for this post, should apply in writing to the Recruitment Officer, CSB (brussels.recruitment@fco.gov.uk). Existing members of the locally engaged staff should inform their Head of Section if they respond to this notice.

Main Role

The successful candidate will provide administrative and policy support to the Trade, Development, and Wider World teams of the External Relations Section in UKREP. Main responsibilities include:

• Administrative support: Co-ordinating team-wide travel and expenses. Providing secretarial support at General Affairs and Foreign Affairs Councils and Development Councils. Managing the team’s electronic and paper filing systems, document retrieval and distribution, preparing briefing packs and answering phones. Support to the Counsellor (head of section) e.g. arranging external meetings, travel and some diary management;
• Policy Support: Preparing for, attending and reporting back on internal and external meetings in the Council and the European Parliament. Working closely with Transatlantic Relations lead, the successful candidate will provide policy support and attend the Council Working Group on Transatlantic Relations (COTRA), including on occasions representing the UK. The successful candidate may also need to provide cover for other working groups as required and undertake ad-hoc policy support for the team. The role includes effective preparation of the meetings, liaising with government departments on the UK position, representing the UK and providing accurate, concise and prompt reports back to London;
• Visits: Arranging programmes and events for high-level visitors;
• Budget: Managing the team’s travel and entertainment budget.

Skills Required

Essential

• Excellent administrative, secretarial and organisational skills;
• Strong communication, teamwork and interpersonal skills;
• Knowledge of EU foreign policy and ideally trade issues;
• An ability to manage and prioritise own workload and deliver results;
• A working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, incl. Outlook, Word and Excel;
• Fluent written and spoken English and strong writing skills;
• A good level of spoken and written French.

Desirable

• Familiarity with UK government structures and/or EU institutions and processes would be an asset.

Additional information

• This position will be filled on a fixed term contract;
• Gross monthly salary: € 2241.27 (plus responsibility allowance).

Application details

Applications with a current CV in English should be sent to Recruitment Officer, CSB British Embassy, Avenue d’Auderghem 10, 1040 Brussels (brussels.recruitment@fco.gov.uk) by 5pm on Wednesday 4 January 2012. Interviews will be held shortly after the closing date with a view to the successful applicant starting work as soon as possible, subject to administrative processes. Only applicants called for interview will be contacted.

The British Missions in Belgium are an equal opportunities employer. Applications are welcome from all suitably qualified applicants regardless of age, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or physical disability. We aim to reflect the diversity of society.