View Vacancy – Senior Congressional Adviser, Defence – British Embassy Washington

Main purpose of job:

The Senior Congressional Affairs Officer (Defence) will serve as the lead officer for the British Defence Staff – United States, within the British Embassy, on Congressional issues. The role advises the British Embassy’s Senior Leadership Team, primarily the Defence Attaché and Director USA, on Defence related Congressional issues in order to enable UK officials, both in the U.S. and London, to make informed decisions that help advance UK policy priorities.

The successful candidate will have a sophisticated understanding of US national security strategy and the domestic considerations that impact on US defence policy. The candidate will have an excellent grasp of the links between Congress, the Administration, lobby groups and think tanks, and will be a highly credible interlocutor with contacts in Congress. They will bring an impressive knowledge of Congressional personalities and a wide range of pre-existing relationships to their role. The candidate will be experienced and innovative in planning strategy and outreach, notably being able to spot moments of opportunity or risk for UK interests, emerging trends in Congressional thinking, and rising stars.

The candidate will be an able facilitator, working in support of the Embassy’s subject experts to develop effective strategies for contact with Congress that have demonstrable impact and influence. The jobholder will be an excellent communicator in person and in their written advice. The candidate will be a proven leader, overseeing the output of the team’s Congressional Advisor and developing UK colleagues in terms of their understanding of Congress.

The US Network offers a unique career enhancing opportunity and is committed to supporting its staff through a variety of benefits including generous leave, insurance packages and a highly competitive 401k programme. It also promotes a culture of flexibility which enables people to better maintain wellness through excellent work/life balance. In this role you would be working in a diverse international environment, side-by-side with diplomats, armed forces personnel and other country-based staff operating across the British Government’s network of Consulates and Government Offices in the United States. This network provides a platform for approximately 30 Government departments and agencies to conduct their work in the United States and is made up of over 900 staff with a rich and diverse background, skill sets, and experiences. 

Roles and responsibilities:

• Extensive engagement with key contacts in Congress to advance UK objectives via annual NDAA and Defense Appropriations Bills.
• Development of an annual legislative strategy to ensure UK equities are proactively advanced/defended.
• Development and delivery of targeted short and medium-term strategies to enhance the Embassy’s impact with Congress on defence policy. This will include a focus on defense authorization and appropriations legislation.
• Proactive tracking of developments on the full range of defence policy issues in Congress to provide early warning and swift, contextualised and politically astute analysis to the Embassy in support of subject experts, both on thematic issues, crosscutting trends and on key personalities and groupings in Congress.
• Support wider UK Defence Staff work on reputation and broader departmental strategy and policy development.
• Leadership of the Defence Section (line management of one member of staff) of the British Embassy Congressional team and developing wider understanding of Congress within the Defence Section. Ensure alignment of day-to-day outputs with senior intent and consistency with the Embassy wider policy team.
• Maintenance and development of networks, and networking strategies, to include spotting opportunities for inward and outward visits to DC and London by key officials and politicians.
• Production of a suite of regular reports for senior officials on events, trends and personalities, in addition to reactive reporting on emerging issues.
• Production of written briefing in support of senior official engagements with Congress.
• Proactive engagement in relevant Embassy and London strategy discussions.
• Advocacy for UK interests with US contacts in Congress and more widely.
• The creation of strong professional relationships with colleagues and key stakeholders in the Embassy.
• Maintenance of a firmly non-partisan profile with internal and external stakeholders.
• Flexibility to take on other work within the Political Team and wider Defence Policy Team as required.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

• Line Management of one member of Congressional Team. 

• 5+ years of Congressional experience in a legislative assistant role or higher, with at least 2-3 years of experience in defence/national security issues.
• Significant experience of working on the Hill on a wide range of defence policy subjects.
• Excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills are required. Must be able to represent the Embassy at external meetings and win the confidence of senior US and UK officials.
• Strong networking skills and ability to gain access to key figures.
• Flexibility in a team setting, with an enthusiastic approach to work, is essential. We are looking for evidence of the ability to work well with others on a wide range of issues as a team player and an expert adviser.
• The proven ability to work independently to define challenging objectives based on engagement with internal customers and needs analysis.
• The ability to work resiliently under pressure to deliver objectives, including in the face of changing demands.
• Must be fluent in English (written and spoken).
  
• Legal status to live and work in the US in your own right, from time of application. 
• Must hold at least one of the following passports: US, UK, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand.

US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US has restrictions on the type of visas our non-diplomatic staff may hold. If you are not a US Citizen or a US Permanent Resident, or the dependent of a diplomat (with an EAD card), you may not be eligible for employment with the UK government. We cannot accept student Visas (J1, F or M) nor other forms of work Visas (I, H, P). If you hold a work visa it is best to check on your eligibility to work for a foreign government before applying for a position. The UK Government does not routinely sponsor work visas; the job advertisement will state clearly whether sponsorship is available.

You may refer to our website for additional information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-the-usa.

All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work.