External Relations Officer (British Consulate General)

• Job Category: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
• Job Subcategory: Political

General information about the position:

• Required behaviours: Seeing the Big Picture, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing
• Application deadline: 28 June 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): Ho Chi Minh City
• Type of Post: British Consulate General
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Salary Currency: VND
• Salary: VND 36,350,886
• Start Date: 28 August 2023

Main purpose of job:

Based in Ho Chi Minh City, but part of the wider Political Team in the Embassy in Ha Noi, you will be responsible for managing the Consulate’s relations with local and regional government in Ho Chi Minh City and across Vietnam. This will also include reporting on the domestic social, political and economic situation in Vietnam. This job will give you unrivalled access to senior leaders in both the Vietnamese and British governments and an insight into the developing bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

• Monitor, analyse and report on domestic social and political issues, including through media monitoring and a network of contacts.
• Provide verbal and written briefings on emerging issues and in-depth reports on key political organisations/matters, including on issues that will have a long term impact on the UK’s relationship with Vietnam and British business opportunities.
• Develop political networks and understanding of the Party, People’s Committees and People’s Councils of Ho Chi Minh City and Southern Vietnam, including the Mekong region, and the interaction between central and local government in order to best help the UK secure its objectives.
• Systematically identify, understand, engage and influence networks in Vietnamese academia, think tanks and civil society and other similar organisations that have an interest in shaping government policy.
• Work closely with colleagues from across the UK in Vietnam network on various agendas such as strengthening the business environment and monitoring human rights.
• Ensure both inward and outward high level visits are well organized, including arranging programmes, providing briefing and post-visit reporting and interpreting where necessary.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience  

• Evidence of a university degree; evidence of post-graduate study preferred
• Experience in, or academic study of, international relations or a related subject preferred
• Strong interpersonal, networking and communication skills
• Strong initiative and ability to work independently delivering high quality results
• Strong understanding of and ability to operate in the political environment in Vietnam
• Project management skills and experience preferred
• Good IT skills, including a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Native level of written and spoken Vietnamese
• Fluent written and spoken English (IELTS / TOEFL certification preferable)

Other benefits and conditions of employment:

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

• Working in a diplomatic mission
• International policy skills course
• UK Diplomatic Academy foundation learning
• Regional and London-based formal learning opportunities

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.

Disabled and ethnic minority applicants will be invited to interviews if meeting the minimum requirement of the job.

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.

Click HERE to apply