International Policy Officer

Position description

In DHSC, we are proud of our purpose – to enable everyone to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. To achieve this, and create a great place to work, we have four values: we are inclusive, we constantly improve, we challenge, and we are agile. If this sounds like an environment you’d like to work in, we’d love to hear from you.

The International directorate sits within the Global and Public Health Group and works to strengthen global health systems and partnerships to improve global health outcomes. Our vision is to keep people’s health safe at home and overseas by building strong relationships with our national and international partners. The directorate:

1. Leads on DHSC’s engagement with multilateral organisations such as the World Health Organisation, the G7, and the UN General Assembly.
2. Leads the UK’s government engagement on global health issues, including bilateral engagement with other countries.
3. Shapes the overarching strategic narrative on global health that supports the coordination of international activity across government.
4. Delivers life-saving interventions via its Official Development Assistance (ODA) programmes tackling anti-microbial resistance and improving global health security.

This role sits within the Multilateral team in the directorate. The Multilateral team leads the UK’s representation at, and DHSC’s engagement with, the World Health Organisation and the health remits of other organisations and groups including the G7, G20, Commonwealth, Human Rights Council, UN General Assembly, and the World Economic Forum. The team works closely with colleagues across the directorate and with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to deliver our global health priorities.

You will be joining the team at a time when the UK and other WHO Member States are working to conclude a once in a generation multilateral negotiation to agree a new Pandemic Accord. This a new piece of international law being developed at the World Health Organization to improve global cooperation and accountability to prevent, prepare for and respond to pandemic threats.

DHSC is committed to being an inclusive employer which values and celebrates diversity. We encourage applications from candidates of all educational, professional and social backgrounds and of all genders, ethnicities and sexual orientations as well as disabled backgrounds, as it is important that our workforce and policies reflect the society, we live in.

Job description

Working in a joint DHSC – FCDO negotiating team, you will work closely with policy officials, lawyers and diplomats to drive cross-cutting policy development. You will be responsible for making sure that the UK has clear negotiating positions that deliver on Ministers’ priorities, and support Ministers to provide updates on negotiations and respond to public and parliamentary requests.

You will work across a range of global health priorities and policies. Building and maintaining close and effective working relationships within and outside of the UK Civil Service will be essential. You will have exposure to Ministers and senior leaders, delivering quality briefings and providing advice ahead of negotiations. You will also provide live advice to negotiators during meetings, to respond to the positions of other countries. 

The primary responsibility for this role will be to ensure that the UK is prepared for international negotiations. This will include:

– Co-ordinating senior policy advisors across DHSC, FCDO and other government departments at pace, to ensure that the UK has clear positions on the negotiating text and is prepared to respond to other countries’ positions.

– Leading policy development on complex issues to inform UK negotiating positions, advising Ministers and senior officials accordingly and providing advice to negotiators during live negotiations. This will require sound judgement on domestic and international considerations.

– Building strong, effective relationships with senior policy advisors, lawyers, the Devolved Administrations and the Crown Dependencies.

You may also be required to work flexibility across the team to support other multilateral priorities.

There will be opportunities for you to task manage others, for example providing support to the team’s Executive Officer (EO) to develop high quality correspondence and responses to Parliamentary Questions and Freedom of Information requests.

Working in a joint DHSC – FCDO negotiating team, you will work closely with policy officials, lawyers and diplomats to drive cross-cutting policy development. You will be responsible for making sure that the UK has clear negotiating positions that deliver on Ministers’ priorities, and support Ministers to provide updates on negotiations and respond to public and parliamentary requests.

You will work across a range of global health priorities and policies. Building and maintaining close and effective working relationships within and outside of the UK Civil Service will be essential. You will have exposure to Ministers and senior leaders, delivering quality briefings and providing advice ahead of negotiations. You will also provide live advice to negotiators during meetings, to respond to the positions of other countries. 

The primary responsibility for this role will be to ensure that the UK is prepared for international negotiations. This will include:

– Co-ordinating senior policy advisors across DHSC, FCDO and other government departments at pace, to ensure that the UK has clear positions on the negotiating text and is prepared to respond to other countries’ positions.

– Leading policy development on complex issues to inform UK negotiating positions, advising Ministers and senior officials accordingly and providing advice to negotiators during live negotiations. This will require sound judgement on domestic and international considerations.

– Building strong, effective relationships with senior policy advisors, lawyers, the Devolved Administrations and the Crown Dependencies.

You may also be required to work flexibility across the team to support other multilateral priorities.

There will be opportunities for you to task manage others, for example providing support to the team’s Executive Officer (EO) to develop high quality correspondence and responses to Parliamentary Questions and Freedom of Information requests.

Your normal place of work will be your contractual primary workplace, usually either London or Leeds.  Within DHSC we offer non-contractual hybrid working. The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time spent in the office, enabling in person interaction and collaboration and enhancing team working, learning, and support. 

You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas and some travel may be required across the DHSC estate. 

Opportunities for some working from home may be available; other flexible working options may be discussed with the hiring manager in line with individual circumstances and business need. There may be opportunities for international travel. Please note that some evening and weekend working may be required to accommodate international negotiations/timetables.

There are a limited number of DHSC colleagues who have existing agreed homeworking contracts resulting from Our Future Estate Programme 2023-2024. Colleagues covered by these arrangements are eligible to apply for this role whilst continuing their agreed existing home working arrangement. Occasional travel to DHSC offices or other locations may still be required according to business need. Travel and subsistence will be provided in line with the pre-agreed homeworker arrangements. 

Person specification

Key Skills and Experience Required:

– Experience of working through complex issues to find effective solutions.
– Ability to quickly establish strong working relationships between internal and external stakeholders.
– Strong organisational skills and experience in managing multiple priorities with similar deadlines. 
– Ability to work calmly under pressure and respond to changing demands and priorities.
– Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt your communication style to different audiences.
– Experience and interest in global health and/or international relations.

Behaviours

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on tendersglobal.net