Ambassadsekreterare/ Political Section Support Officer

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, 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.
The British Embassy in Sweden is part of a worldwide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking for a Support Officer A2 (L) to ensure the smooth and efficient running of the embassy's political section, providing practical support to colleagues working in the team.
This is a new position created to expand the embassy's capacity to communicate with the Swedish government, population, media, and institutions, and British citizens in Sweden. Our exit from the EU puts a greater responsibility on our embassies in EU Member States, including in Stockholm, to develop and deepen our bilateral relationships, and public-facing communications are a key part of this. The purpose of this role is to work with all teams in the embassy to identify and exploit communications opportunities, covering the whole of Sweden. The job will cover all communications tools, but with a particular emphasis on making best use of social media. Innovation and creativity are key.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
. Support colleagues hosting visits and running events, managing transport, accommodation, venues, catering, etc.;
. Manage the political section budget, monitoring spending, maintaining records and liaising with the embassy accounts manager;
. Manage relationships with suppliers and take responsibility for procurement of office supplies, media and other items;
. General administration and support to political section colleagues. Working with the corporate services team to manage maintenance, cleaning and IT support;
. Provide holiday and sickness absence cover for the Ambassador's PA.
Essential Skills
. Fluent English (both oral and written);
. Intermediate Swedish (both oral and written);
. Good MS Office and IT skills (Windows 10, Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint)
. Evidence of strong organisational skills;
. Proven ability to prioritise, handle multiple tasks and respond quickly to changing circumstances;
. Ability to work under pressure;
. Confidence to engage at all levels of the organization.
Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

. Budget management/monitoring is very desirable (not mandatory);
. Office Management or Event / Visits Management experience is desirable.

Required competencies
Making Effective Decisions, Collaborating and Partnering, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace
Applications

Deadline for applications is 8 February 2019. For further details on this vacancy and information on how to apply, please follow the link on the new FCO Local Staff Vacancies Homepage- here

Additional information

This is a Full-time (40 hours per week), permanent position. Planned start date 9 March
According to the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, locally employed staff should either be Swedish citizens, EU citizens or permanent residents of any nationality registered in the population register when beginning their employment. Registration in the population register is not possible once employment has begun.