Executive Assistant and Research Officer to Dhom

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

**About the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade**

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**

Under general direction, the Executive Assistant and Research Officer provides administrative, research and organisational support to the Deputy Head of Mission (DHOM) / and non-resident Ambassador to Chad, and to officers in the political section.

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

- Provide high-quality organisational and administrative support to the Deputy Head of Mission (DHOM)/ and wider political section, including written and verbal correspondence in both English and French.
- Prepare and manage the DHOM schedule of appointments and assist branch officers in organising meetings. Liaise with government ministries in France and Chad; other diplomatic missions; Australian government departments; and colleagues in the Australian Paris (UNESCO, bilateral and OECD) missions.
- Monitor and report on developments in non-resident countries of accreditation in Africa, including through media and government websites. Undertake general research and financial tasks as required by DHOM and other officers.
- Organise visit programmes for senior Australian officials and assist with the preparation and organisation of ministerial visits.
- Manage travel arrangements including booking flights, accommodation, ground transports and preparing travel forms and acquittals with the corporate services section.
- Manage the administration of DHOM representational and undertake corporate and financial tasks where required, in accordance with the departmental guidelines and legislative requirements.
- Assist with planning and coordination of programs for visiting Australian officials and for provincial visits for the Deputy Head of Mission and Political section staff, including preparation of programs, accommodation and transport arrangements, and meeting requests.
- Provide administrative support to the Deputy Head of Mission and Political section, including attending meetings, functions and provincial visits as required to provide interpreting, analysis, and reporting.
- Serve as back-up to Executive Assistant to the Ambassador to France.

**General Requirements**
- Relevant qualifications and/or experience in office management.
- Superior written and oral communication skills in both English and French.
- An ability to work cohesively in a small and busy team.
- An ability to take initiative, make sound judgements, set priorities, work under pressure with limited supervision and willingness to undertake all aspects of work assigned with a high level of professional skill and integrity.
- Demonstrated experience and proven ability in the provision of high-level administrative support to a senior executive.
- Demonstrated research, analysis, and reporting skills.
- Demonstrated high-level ability to use the Microsoft Office suite of programs.

**Security Requirements**
- This is a security-designated position requiring an Australian NV1 security clearance or ability to gain same. Therefore, applicants must hold citizenship of **Australia, New Zealand, USA, UK, or Canada** to be considered.

**Selection Criteria**

In your written statements, you must include relevant high-level examples from your experience that support your claims against the role. The word limit is strictly 250 words per response to each of the selection criteria. The panel will not assess responses which exceed the word limit. Applications can be submitted in English or French, but at least one of your responses should be in the other language.

A. Proven ability to provide a high level of executive support, with strong organisational skills and attention to detail including effective diary management, event and travel coordination and compiling itineraries.

B. Demonstrated ability to undertake independent research using a variety of sources of data, analyse findings and present accurate reports to senior management in an appropriate manner.

C. Excellent client service skills and strong perseverance to stay calm under pressure and achieve goals when dealing with demanding stakeholders, competing priorities, and unexpected setbacks.

D. Highly developed oral and written communication skills both in French and English, including a proven ability