View Vacancy – AUH – Senior Political Officer (HEO)

The British Embassy Abu Dhabi has a vacancy for a Senior Political Officer, job grade Higher Executive Officer (HEO) on a fixed-term contract for three (3) years.

This is an interesting and stretching role where the jobholder will make a direct contribution at the heart of the UK’s work in the UAE. It requires excellent communication, collaboration, and the ability to shape the Embassy’s approach through detailed knowledge, analysis and understanding.

The successful candidate will take on a broad portfolio, working on high priority issues for the UK’s co-operation with the UAE. This includes working on shared objectives in International Development, Regional Priorities, and taking ownership of the Embassy’s approach to stakeholder management.

The role sits at the centre of the Embassy’s Political Team, which leads on the key government-to-government relationship between the UK and the UAE. This includes providing strategic leadership on how the UK can take forward shared priorities with the UAE government on high profile activity and objectives. Supporting the engagement of very senior UK government stakeholders with their equally senior counterparts in the UAE government requires a high level of professionalism, strategic thinking and attention to detail.

The jobholder will need to build a strong network of contacts within the UAE to support their understanding and analysis of the local context and political dynamics. 

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 promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.

Duties and responsibilities:

Political analysis

• Provide insight and political analysis to support senior engagements and strategic priorities on areas of UK-UAE collaboration.
• This includes providing high quality oral and written briefing as well as analytical products on both UAE international and domestic priorities.
• Work collaboratively with other colleagues across the UK Embassy in the UAE to share understanding and insight.

Stakeholder management

• Develop a strong network of stakeholders within the UAE to support the UK’s understanding of priorities and opportunities.
• Lead on a stakeholder management approach to support senior engagement with UAE decision makers.

Leadership on regional collaboration

• Take ownership for specific geographic areas of shared UK-UAE priorities to support collaboration on delivery.
• The specific areas are to be agreed with the jobholder, dependent on their expertise and the strategic priorities, but are likely to include for example, support to UK’s engagement on UAE’s approach in Asia, and the Indo-Pacific.

Support on thematic priorities

• Develop a strong understanding of the UK’s approach to international development to support on UK-UAE shared development priorities and humanitarian responses.
• Build an understanding of the linkage between the UAE’s expanding regional presence and UK development and prosperity priorities.

Support on wider Embassy delivery

• Play an active and supportive role to the wider Embassy delivery, taking on responsibility for key activities – such as supporting visits by senior stakeholders, and in support of wider Embassy events – as required.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required.

Key behaviours required:

• Working Together: Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources, and support.
• Making Effective Decisions: Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.
• Delivering at Pace: Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
• Changing and Improving: Seek out opportunities to create effective change and suggest innovative ideas for improvement. Review ways of working, including seeking and providing feedback.

Eligibility

Applicants must be able to obtain an appropriate level of UK Security Clearance and be able to obtain a valid UAE police clearance certificate. Higher clearances can be granted only to certain nationalities. For this reason, candidates must be of British, American, Australian, Canadian, or New Zealand nationality in order to gain and maintain the level of clearance required. 

• Previous experience carrying out high quality political analysis to inform strategic decision making.
• More than 3 years of experience working in, or on politics with a UK or international organisation.
• University degree in International Relations or related subject.
• Strong understanding of Middle Eastern Political dynamics.
• Excellent interpersonal, organisational and communication skills.
• Proven ability to work under own initiative, plan and prioritise tasks.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken. Ability to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely.
• Strong IT skills, including proficiency in MS Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams).

      Language requirements: 

      Language: English
      Level of language required: Fluent spoken and written.