The British Government’s Mission to the United Nations in New York has an exciting opportunity for a dynamic, proactive, agile and enterprising person to join the Management Reform and Finance Section as the Senior Policy Adviser – International Appointments. This is a rewarding role, which supports and advances UK’s priorities in the United Nations through implementation of the UK Government strategy on International Appointments across international organisations. As a secondary function this role also supports negotiations in the UN General Assembly’s Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budget).

This is opportunity to drive implementation of the UK International Appointment’s strategy that supports high-quality leadership at the UN, facilitates appropriate British representation at senior levels and encourages UN leaders with aligned values and priorities. There are also linked responsibilities to support work on British representation and overall gender balance at entry, mid and senior levels across the United Nations.  The jobholder will lead work on senior appointments, including building and maintaining a network of contacts, providing policy advice and written/oral updates, including briefing to the UK Permanent Representative and/or Deputy Permanent Representative on appointments and topics in their portfolio, supporting and advocating for UK candidates for UN jobs at all levels, in particular Director level and above. The jobholder will also represent the UK in Fifth Committee negotiations on a range of issues.

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate their abilities in working with others, delivering results at pace, communicating and influencing, strategic awareness, problem solving and judgement. There may be scope for the portfolio to grow as the jobholder gains experience in the role.  You will work in a fast-paced and changing environment and must be willing to support other team members and priorities as needed. You will be a proactive networker – able to build relations across the whole UN system to gather information and keep up to date on internal UN appointments developments. There is significant scope for innovation and creativity in this role and you will be expected to be a problem solver and a doer, able to work both independently and as part of the FCDO Appointments team which works across four locations. 

The UK Mission to the United Nations offers a unique career enhancing opportunity and is committed to supporting its staff through a variety of benefits including generous leave, insurance packages and a highly competitive 401k programme.  It also promotes a culture of flexibility, which enables people to better maintain wellness through an excellent work/life balance approach that encompasses hybrid working, including remote working and flexible hours, where possible.  In this role you would be working in a diverse international environment working with UK diplomats and other country-based staff, armed forces personnel, UK government officials based in the UK and across the UK overseas network, foreign diplomats, and UN officials. 

Roles and responsibilities:

• Implementing an Appointment’s strategy that supports high-quality leadership, facilitates appropriate British representation at senior levels and encourages UN leaders with aligned values and priorities
• Maintaining and developing relationships with senior contact points in UN Human Resources departments and with senior decision-makers on Appointments for all UN entities based in New York.
• Gathering information and tips from across the UN system, Member States and related entities on Senior Appointments development and opportunities.
• Establishing a robust system to identify job openings, mapping appointments coming up in the near future and working with policy teams to identify UK priority positions.
• Keeping UK Government up to date on information about appointments decisions throughout the recruitment process.
• Supporting efforts to proactivity identify suitable candidates for vacancies in international organisations in New York.
• Arrange activities and events to build contacts between British Nationals in the UN system and the UK Mission.
• Provide support and advocate for UK candidates for UN system job in New York at all levels, but particularly at the Director level and above as needed.
• Manage the UK Government’s Junior Professional Officer Programme in New York.
• Advance UK work on UN reform and effectiveness, including by representing the UK in Fifth Committee negotiations on a range of issues.
• Deliver Mission-wide objectives, for example, leading programmes for senior visitors during the UN General Assembly High-Level week and serving on staff committees.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

The jobholder will be responsible for managing UK-funded programme activities in support of the Secretary-General’s gender parity strategy and the UK Government’s Junior Professional Officer Programme.

• Prior substantive experience in a similar role.
• Experience of work in a fast-paced, professional office environment.
• Knowledge of the United Nations System.
• Excellent written and oral communication, particularly with senior people.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Strong organizational, project and time management skills, with very good attention to detail.
• Excellent networking skills with the ability to develop and maintain long-lasting and load-bearing relationships at all levels.
• Flexible and resilient under pressure, and decisive, with a proven track record of delivering results to a high standard within tight deadlines.
• Willingness to work additional hours as necessary, especially during peak periods in March, May and December.

Language requirements: 

Language: English
Level of language required: fluent

Please note: Under US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Permanent Residents, A and NATO visa holders with EAD cards, and L2 visa holders with an up-to-date I-94 form.

Visa sponsorship for this role may be considered but cannot be guaranteed. Please be clear on your application if you do not have the right to work in the US and/or would require visa sponsorship to undertake this role. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) may sponsor a G visa in exceptional circumstances.

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.