Officer/Assistant to the UK Ambassador to EU Political Security Committee UKREP

United Kingdom Permanent Representation to the European Union

Brussels, Belgium

Staff Vacancy

A full time vacancy will shortly arise for an Officer as Assistant to the UK Ambassador to the EU’s Political Security Committee (PSC). The job will involve supporting the Ambassador in all aspects of his responsibilities, including as a member of UKREP’s senior management team and leader of about a third of its staff. Any member 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).

Main Role

The successful applicant will support the Ambassador in all his functions, notably by:

• Office Administration: managing all aspects of his email inbox, diary, transport, clerical tasks, finance, information flows, commissioning briefing for meetings, document creation, keeping records of meetings, and monitoring follow-up as necessary;
• Business Hospitality: including liaising with the UKREP Residence team to arrange events in support of UK visitors (Ministers, officials, parliamentarians), important relationships (senior EU and international officials, other PSC Ambassadors etc);
• PSC Support: working with the PSC desk officer (“Nicolaidis”) to manage the rapidly changing PSC agenda, and to ensure that all the necessary information is available to him to perform effectively in PSC and in run up to Councils;
• Managing Relations: with the wider team in Brussels and London: ensuring good two-way communication with the External Relations Section in UKREP; co-ordinating the regular teleconferences with Whitehall;
• Undertaking Projects: on behalf of the Ambassador: research and information gathering, supporting the Ambassador in delivering personal and corporate initiatives;
• Flexibility: given the nature of the PSC’s responsibilities for EU crisis management and supporting the monthly FAC meetings of EU foreign ministers, the post-holder will on occasion be asked to work outside conditioned hours.

Skills Required

A high standard of efficiency, self-motivation and initiative is necessary to perform effectively in this diverse and dynamic post where deadlines are frequently short and pressures on colleagues high.

Essential

• Excellent organisational and office management skills;
• Excellent interpersonal skills – including the confidence to be firm with colleagues whilst retaining respect;
• Team working skills and willingness to “muck in”;
• Good IT (Microsoft Office and Outlook) skills;
• Effective drafting skills;
• Ability to manage and prioritise own workload and act on own initiative;
• Discretion and good judgement;
• Fluent written and spoken English;
• Practical spoken French (or the prospect of achieving this quickly).

Desirable

• Previous experience of successful office management;
• Experience of co-ordinating and managing projects;
• Experience of dealing with senior people;
• Experience of budget management;
• Basic knowledge of FCO systems and corporate operations.

This position will be filled on a fixed term contract.

Gross monthly salary: €2286.10

Applications with a CV and a one-page covering letter with supporting statement in English should be sent to the Recruitment Officer, CSB, Ave d’Auderghem 10, 1040 Brussels (brussels.recruitment@fco.gov.uk) by 11 November 2012. Include your full name in the message title and your email and attachments must not exceed 300kB in size.

Applicants must be legally entitled to work in Belgium.

Only applicants selected for interview will be contacted with the intention to interviewing early November with a view to the successful candidate starting asap thereafter.

The British Missions in Brussels 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.