VUFO NGO Resource Centre
Political Officer, Foreign Policy, EO
View Vacancy - VNM (Hanoi) - Political Officer, Foreign Policy, EO
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 do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.
Job Category: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Job Subcategory: Political
Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)
Main purpose of job:
The position is a core part of the British Embassy Hanoi’s political team, focusing on Vietnam’s foreign and security policy (especially in ASEAN and in international institutions). The job holder will also work closely with, and cover for, Embassy colleagues focusing on domestic political issues. It will involve day-to-day liaison with the Vietnamese government plus analysis and reporting on Vietnam’s bilateral and multilateral action in a way which helps strengthen the UK’s relationship with Vietnam on foreign and security policy issues. The jobholder will also help deliver the programme of events for the the UK-Vietnam 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2023.
Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:
Analyse and report on developments in Vietnam’s foreign policy and its activities in international organisations. The job-holder will follow and report on Vietnam’s activities in international organisations such as the UN and its bodies, and regional for a such as ASEAN, as well as international conferences and seminars on relevant subjects. The job-holder will be responsible for identifying and analysing thematic trends of Vietnam’s approach to deepening its role in international affairs, and for helping to implement the UK-ASEAN Action Plan. The job-holder will be responsible for regular contact with Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UK Mission to ASEAN in Jakarta and other Vietnamese Government ministries and agencies.
Develop and use a wide network of contacts in the Vietnamese government, think-tanks and academic institutions and in other diplomatic missions in order to better understand Vietnam’s foreign policy and role and to share UK thinking on international issues. This role includes arranging lobbying calls by senior UK diplomats on specific topics and themes and recording these.
Help to coordinate the UK’s programme of work to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. This will involve organising events together with other Embasys teams (climate change, defence, trade, immigration) with the Vietnamese Government. This will involve coordinating with the Vietnamese Embassy in London, and coordinating a high number of visits, dialogues and programmes.
Project work to support the UK’s engagement with Vietnam on international issues; bidding for and using Programme Funds to enhance the UK and Vietnam’s shared international agenda, eg through visits, seminars, workshops and conferences.
Contributing to cross cutting issues such as the Vietnam Network Country Business Plan; planning and organising the UK-Vietnam Strategic Dialogue; and organising high level visits. Translation and interpretation.
Budget and Information Management to support best practice of information management within the Network, by: maintaining the team’s outlook contacts database and ensuring it is kept up to date; managing the budget for any programme work; capturing background information on key political figures.
Resources managed (staff and expenditure):
No staff management requirement, but will manage the Embassy’s Foreign Policy team budget for projects and activities.
Essential qualifications, skills and experience
- Understanding of the Vietnamese political system and ability to call on a range of political contacts
- Experience interpreting from Vietnamese-English-Vietnamese
- Strong communication skills with a good knowledge of MS Word, Excel and Outlook
- Researching, analysing and interpreting information
- Ability to organise events, including in collaboration with Vietnamese government contacts
The successful candidate will be expected to embody the UK Civil Service code.
Language requirements:
Language: English/Vietnamese
Level of language required: Fluent Vietnamese and excellent written and spoken English is essential
Required behaviours: Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
Application deadline: 20 February 2023
Grade: Executive Officer (EO)
Type of Position: Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
Working hours per week: 39.5
Region: Asia Pacific
Country/Territory: Vietnam
Location (City): Hanoi
Type of Post: British Embassy
Number of vacancies: 1
Salary Currency: VND
Salary: VND 36,350,886
Start Date: 20 March 2023
Other benefits and conditions of employment
This position is being advertised as a 12 months fixed term position with possibility of renewal in Hanoi.
Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is committed to developing its staff, working hard to provide a comprehensive L&D offer. Staff have access to a wide variety of online resources through the Diplomatic Academy and Civil Service Learning. Staff are strongly encouraged to take advantage of all the available opportunities.
The job-holder will be required to take some specific training courses related to their role. All new staff undertake a workplace induction and there are a number of mandatory e-learning courses covering areas such as diversity, health and safety, and information management.
Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment and security checks. Staff who are locally recruited by the British Embassy are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law.
No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. Visa sponsorship may be possible for non-Vietnamese nationals if meet local requirements.
Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.
Disabled and ethnic minority applicants will be invited to interviews if meeting the minimum requirement of the job.
Working Patterns:
This is a full-time post. The Embassy would be willing to discuss flexible working options. For example, these may include:
- Altered working hours (e.g. starting early or late), provided the post holder was able to make calls with colleagues in the UK when necessary and was able to travel as required.
Additional information
All applications must be received before 23:55 (Local Vietnam Time) on the day of the deadline indicated above.
Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.
All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.
Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate”.
Please check the application centre regularly for any update on your application.
Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.