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Deputy Head of Mission British Embassy Luxembourg


A full-time position as a locally engaged LEI Deputy Head of Mission has become available at the British Embassy in Luxembourg. 

The job-holder’s principal role will be to support the Ambassador across the board in promoting the British Government‘s relations with Luxembourg, in both bilateral and multilateral contexts, including through political and economic reporting, representational duties, press and public affairs handling, resource management (including budget, IT and staff management) and some oversight of consular services and trade and investment activities - all in close and complementary co-operation with the Europe Directorate in the Foreign Office and the British Embassies in Belgium and the Netherlands. A particular focus will be economic and financial reporting, both on local budgetary and economic developments (including Luxembourg’s approach on Eurozone business) and on developments in the international financial community based in Luxembourg. The job-holder will also play a key role in delivering the Embassy’s corporate services programme, ensuring optimum use of resources. 

This is an interesting, challenging and fast-paced role, which will require a significant degree of initiative, self-management and independent contact-building. The job-holder will be expected to conduct (or accompany the Ambassador on) meetings with senior local figures, for example in Government and the business community, and to network confidently on her/his own. They will be required to produce cogent, high-quality reporting and analysis, and undertake lobbying, on a range of political, economic, social, cultural and (occasionally) consular issues. They will play a key role in representing Britain’s public face in Luxembourg, including to the resident British community, and will be expected to develop and maintain a network of useful contacts. 

The job-holder will need to deal confidently and fluently with technical issues facing Luxembourg’s domestic economy (eg budgetary policy, wage indexation, bond markets, regulation of financial services), the wider ramifications of the Eurozone crisis (eg multilateral and domestic governance issues), aspects of global economic trends, and the labour market and social policy. 

The British Embassy is a small, friendly and inclusive mission, committed to the wellbeing and professional development of all staff, and proud of its low staff turnover. The job-holder would be joining a team of five full-time and two part-time staff. There is a strong emphasis on learning and self-development to ensure that staff are fully-equipped to achieve their objectives. The job-holder would work within the mutually supportive networks both of Deputy Heads of British Embassies across the Benelux network, and of Deputy Heads of diplomatic missions in Luxembourg.

Essential skills

  • Experience in political/economic analysis and policy-making;
  • Capacity to provide strategic direction in policy and service delivery;
  • Demonstrated problem-solving skills and sound judgement;
  • Ability to deliver successful outcomes under pressure;
  • Strong interpersonal and influencing skills;
  • Strong organisational and staff/budget management skills;
  • Excellent English (both oral and the ability to draft clear written communications);
  • Operational French and/or Luxembourgish (reading and listening).

Desirable

  • Substantive experience of the international financial services sector.
This position will be filled on an open-ended basis. Gross monthly starting salary: €4365.87.

Applications with a full curriculum vitae and a covering letter, both in English, should be sent to the British Ambassador, 5 blvd Joseph II, L-1840, Luxembourg or to britemb@internet.lu by Friday 9 November 2012. We expect to hold interviews shortly after the closing date with a view to the successful applicant starting work no later than the New Year 2013, subject to vetting, references and administrative processes. 


We apologise that, due to the volume of applications we may receive, only those called for interview will be contacted. 


The British Embassy in Luxembourg is an equal opportunities employer. Applications are welcome from all suitably qualified applicants regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion or sexual orientation.