Policy Officer – Le5 – Dfat –

The successful applicant will be engaged as a locally engaged staff member at the Australian Embassy, Paris.

**About the DFAT - OECD**

The role of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is to advance the interests of Australia and Australians internationally. This involves strengthening Australia’s security, enhancing Australia’s prosperity, delivering an effective and high-quality overseas aid program, and helping Australian travellers and Australians overseas.

The department provides foreign, trade and development policy advice to the Australian Government. DFAT also works with other Australian government agencies to drive coordination of Australia’s pursuit of global, regional, and bilateral interests.

**About the position**

The policy officer under limited guidance advances DFAT’s policy interests and enhances relationships with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and its member states; influences the OECD’s work program, in a way that promotes Australia’s interests; and helps to shape Australia’s policy and programs. It supports the Counsellor (Development) in planning, management, and implementation of Post objectives.

**The key responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to**:

- Acting as post focal point on a range of thematic issues in the OECD Delegation related to the OECD Development Assistance Committee and its subsidiary bodies, the OECD Development Strategy and other OECD work streams as required.
- Representing and advocating Australia’s positions at meetings of the OECD and other international and bilateral organisations and reporting on outcomes.
- Providing targeted policy advice and recommending policy positions to Canberra and other members of the Delegation
- Developing briefing and policy positions in liaison with Counsellor, DHOM, and Canberra
- Undertaking travel to attend meetings and workshops hosted by OECD and other multilateral and bilateral organisations within Europe.
- Anticipating future opportunities or potential problems around policy issues and raising awareness, accordingly, managing problems as they arise
- Undertaking research and analysing information from various sources to influence Australia’s policy.
- Providing support for high level visits from Canberra
- Providing French-English translation as required

**Qualifications/Experience**
- Understanding of key economic, political, social, and cultural issues in foreign affairs and international development
- Understanding of the OECD’s policy work and demonstrated ability to provide advice to support DFAT’s objectives in the OECD.
- Superior communication skills, including written and oral communication in English, with demonstrated ability to represent Australia and its policy interests in international and multilateral forums and other meetings and with high-level stakeholders.
- Skills and experience undertaking research and analysis.
- Ability to identify issues, risks, opportunities and reporting needs and to provide strategic policy advice.
- Ability to plan, set priorities and work with limited supervision and meet tight deadlines.
- Ability to provide judgement, flexibility, collegiality, and responsiveness.
- Excellent English and good working French

***

**Selection Criteria**

A. Ability to undertake comprehensive research and provide analysis on trade, economic and geopolitical issues affecting Australia’s interests in the OECD.

B. High-level understanding of OECD’s policy work and a demonstrated ability to provide advice and recommendations on policy to senior stakeholders.

C. Well-developed written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills, with the confidence to network and develop and nurture relationships across a broad range of stakeholders.

D. Well-developed planning and organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities and achieve required outcomes with tight deadlines with limited supervision.

We are looking for a enthusiastic Policy Officer to join the team in Paris on a locally engaged contract