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View Vacancy – Licensing Officer
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Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)
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MOD (Ministry of Defence)
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Background:
The British Government’s Embassy in Washington DC has an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated and detail-oriented professional to join the British Defence Staff United States (BDSUS) as a Licensing Officer.
The Licensing Officer is one of four members of the Exports, Shipping and Licensing team, which sits within the 15-member Acquisition and Trade team and forms part of the Defence Acquisition and Technology (DAT) Team in BDSUS.
This specialist and influential role support the United Kingdom’s compliance with United States Government (USG) defence export and import control regulations, working at the heart of UK–U.S. defence cooperation and contributing directly to the delivery of UK defence capability
The U.S. Network offers a unique career-enhancing opportunity and is committed to supporting its staff through a range of benefits including generous leave, insurance packages and a highly competitive 401(k) programme. It also promotes a culture of flexibility which enables people to maintain wellbeing through an excellent work/life balance approach, including hybrid working, flexible hours and working from home where possible. In this role, you will work in a diverse international environment alongside UK diplomats, armed forces personnel and other locally engaged staff across the British Government’s network in the United States.
Role Overview:
Working within a complex regulatory environment, the Exports, Shipping and Licensing team is the UK Government’s primary source of expert advice on U.S. defence trade controls. The Licencing Officer provides procedural guidance to MOD UK project teams, Front Line Commands, BDSUS desk officers, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) personnel, other UK Government departments, UK defence contractors and Embassy staff.
You will be responsible for ensuring UK compliance with U.S. licensing requirements for the export, import and transfer of defence articles, dual-use items and defence technical data, including expert scrutiny of UK Government non-transfer and end-use assurances for significant military equipment.
The role also acts as a UK Government’s Empowered Official registered with the U.S. Department of State, managing licensing cases for the temporary import of military hardware into the United States for exercises, trials and related activity, and overseeing defence export licence applications in the limited circumstances where direct UK Government submission is permitted.
In addition, as part of succession planning and strengthening resilience within the team, the Licensing Officer will develop knowledge of MOD shipping and customs compliance processes. They will support the Shipping and Customs Compliance Manager when required and build the expertise needed to ensure continuity of operations.
Ideal Candidate:
Essential: The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in defence, be highly organised, analytical, and confident working within complex regulatory frameworks. Strong stakeholder management skills, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to handle sensitive issues independently are essential.
Desired: experience with ITAR controls or within a regulatory environment is highly desirable. Experience in data reporting and analytics would be desirable, particularly with knowledge of applications such as Microsoft Excel, Power BI etc.
Roles and Tasks:
1. Act as the UK MOD’s authorized applicant and “Empowered Official” for all U.S. export and import licensing applications and formal correspondence.
2. Ensure UK MOD compliance with U.S. regulations, including ITAR and EAR, governing defence hardware and technical data transfers.
3. Manage approvals for temporary import of UK defence materiel into the U.S. for exercises, trials, and similar activities.
4. Provide procedural advice on U.S. licensing controls to MOD project teams, UK Government departments, defence contractors, and embassy personnel.
5. Oversee end-use assurances and compliance for significant defence acquisitions and transfers.
6. Contribute to team data and reporting for Counsellor Defence Acquisition and Trade.
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- Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
- Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to be professional, confident, and able to deal with interlocutors at senior level.
- Team player.
- Excellent organisation skills, ability to multi-task and attention to detail.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Interest of the UK-U.S. defence relationship.
- Able to get gain the necessary security clearance required (we will support your Application for this).
- Flexibility to work a varied schedule.
- Holds one of the following passports: UK, U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand.
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- Experience working in a government or embassy environment.
- Previous experience in a regulatory environment.
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Changing and Improving, Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Working Together
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9 February 2026
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Executive Officer (EO)
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Permanent
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40
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Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories
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United States
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Washington
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British Embassy
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1
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USD
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$68,490
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yearly
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30 March 2026
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You must have the right to live and work in the US in order to take up this role, whether in your own right or as a dependant, and be able to demonstrate that when required. If you are not a US citizen, dual US citizen or US Permanent Resident, it is your responsibility check your eligibility to work for a foreign government in the United States, and specifically to work in this role at this location, and provide proof of your eligibility via an Employment Authorisation Document or other relevant document when required. 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.
The British Embassy and its US Network embraces hybrid working. We are an organization that also recognises the critical value of team work and we embrace and endorse collaboration by ensuring that all staff attend the office flexibly yet regularly.
Please note: The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communicating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).
The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance.
Unique Tax Rules
Please note that the tax arrangements imposed by the US on staff working for foreign governments, as well as those imposed by the UK Treasury on British and dual nationals working for the UK Government overseas, are atypical. The UK Government cannot withhold taxes (including FICA) on behalf of a US taxpayer. Instead, a US taxpayer is required to file taxes as if they are self-employed, and a FICA allowance is granted for those required to pay the employer contribution. Certain categories of staff (for example dual UK-US nationals and some visa holders) who work at Consulates General are not subject to US taxes. For those not subject to US taxes the UK Government reduces gross pay to a level broadly equivalent to taxed net pay. There are also social security implications for dual UK-US nationals. Please keep all this in mind when looking at the salary and the benefits package. If you are offered a job with the UK’s US Network you will be given further tax and social security information relevant to your personal circumstances and place of work; you are advised to consider this information and its impact on your circumstances carefully – potentially with the advice of a tax professional – before accepting a job.
Learning and development opportunities:
The British Embassy and its U.S. Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communicating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).
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Closing date of receiving applications is before 23:55 (Local Time) on 09 February 2026.
All applicants must fully complete the online application form, including the sections for employment and educational details, experience, and behaviour-based questions. Only those applications that contain all required information will be considered. To ensure the sift process remains anonymous, please do not include any personally identifiable information in your application form.
Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.
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.
Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.
Working patterns:
Requires standard working pattern of 40 hours.
Regular contact with colleagues in different time zones.
The British Embassy and its U.S. Network embraces hybrid working. Although this role requires regular office attendance, there is the option to work from home on occasions. We are an organization that also recognises the critical value of teamwork, and we embrace and endorse collaboration by ensuring that all staff attend the office flexibly yet regularly.
Under U.S. State Department requirements, the UK Government in the U.S. may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are U.S. citizens, U.S. Permanent Residents or A visa holders with EAD cards*. If you hold a visa other than an A visa you are not currently eligible to work at our office. Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/government/world/usa. All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work. • A visas are acceptable at the Embassy and Consulates. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas, and British Defence Staff (BDS) outposts accept A or NATO visas
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