Political Support Officer, Grade

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

**Main purpose of job**:
Support, coordinate and deliver high quality political reporting and analysis of developments in Maldives, contributing to policy development and helping deliver HMG objectives. Supporting the bilateral relationship with the Maldivian government and developing multilateral cooperation. Support the BHC in political engagements across a range of policy areas, event organisation and social media.
- We reserve the right to review, revise or amend the roles and responsibilities from time to time reflecting the changing needs of business._

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

We are looking for a dynamic and confident person, with good political awareness, to support and deliver HMG priorities in Maldives, under supervision of the Political and Communications Manager.

The job involves ensuring the bilateral relationship with Maldives stays strong, and promoting international cooperation. We need someone who can work with a range of stakeholders, including the government of Maldives, to help deliver UK objectives on issues including democracy, human rights, regional and global issues, environment, climate change, and maritime security through the UK’s wider international support to Maldives. This role will have a specific element of climate and environment but includes the full range of other issues as required.

Excellent self-management and team-working skills will be vital, as is the ability to build co-operative working relationships outside the High Commission with a wide range of contacts as well as colleagues in London and other FCDO posts and like-minded missions.

We are seeking someone who:

- Is energetic and flexible.
- Has good interpersonal skills to enable a good working relationship with external contacts; FCDO teams in the UK and elsewhere, and colleagues in the BHC.
- Understands how their work feeds into policy development and can provide advice on approaches to HMG work in-country.
- Works well under instruction, accurate and able to meet deadlines.

The role reports to the Political and Communications Manager (High Commissioner / Deputy High Commissioner in their absence). Key responsibilities include (but not limited to):
**Political reporting (70%)**:

- Supporting UK’s climate and environment project work, notably the DEFRA led Ocean Country Partnership Programme;
- Identify issues and policy/commercial opportunities and monitor the implementing partners to drive delivery and ensure accountability for better results, in the space of climate and environment.
- Providing political reporting and analysis on developments in Maldives.
- Developing and maintaining relationships with a wide range of contacts across government, parliament, civil society, politics and the media.
- Support in the monitoring of the political situation in Maldives, including through mainstream and social media.
- Support and co-ordinate arrangements for official visits.

**Communications and Public Diplomacy (30%)**:

- Deliver social media engagements under the supervision of the Political and Communications Manager;
- Deliver daily media summaries to BHC;
- Providing advice to BHC colleagues on local sensitivities and ensuring communications are balanced and effective.

**Additional responsibilities**:

- Support the BHC with corporate issues as required;
- Support in arranging logistics for events, visits and travel as required.
- Percentages above are flexible to ensure alignment with business needs and priorities. The role holder will be expected to support wider BHC needs as required.

**Language requirements**:
**Language**: English & Dhivehi
**Level of language required**: Fluent in both, accurate in grammar and writing

**Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed)**:
This role offers significant opportunities for “on the job” learning, in addition to formal opportunities for learning and development, including access to a large range of online training opportunities and in-person learning in the region and/or London.

**Working patterns**: 41 hours per week.

**If the job is suitable for flexible working patterns, please provide details**:
Flexible working, including work from home options are common practice in BHC and are arranged in agreement with the team, line manager, and High Commissioner.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

**Essential on arrival**:

- Some understanding/background in Maldivian politics.
- Established network of contacts in Maldives primarily in the climate and environment sector.
- Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field such as public policy, climate and environment science, international relations, or economics.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Confidence in using social media.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

**Desirable**:

- Programme or project delivery exper