Senior Policy Officer – Global Health (CHEG24.292) At UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.

Job Category

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)

Job Subcategory

Policy

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Who are we?

The United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations in Geneva represents the interests and policies of the United Kingdom at the UN and is now recruiting for a Senior Policy Officer – Global Health role.

The UK Mission in Geneva prioritises dignity and respect at work. We value respect, inclusiveness, empowerment, teamwork and kindness.

Main purpose of job:

The global health team is a small and dynamic team representing the United Kingdom’s interests in the Geneva-based global health organisations, including the World Health Organization, Gavi, the Global Fund, UNAIDS and Unitaid. The team is recruiting a motivated and experienced Senior Global Health Policy Officer to co-lead the UK Mission’s work on selected global health policy areas in line with mission priorities but likely including: WHO institutional and governance reforms, including prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and pandemic preparedness and response.

This is a part-time role (with a working pattern to be agreed) as part of a job-share with an existing valued member of the team.

Roles and responsibilities:

This role is an excellent opportunity to promote a high priority portfolio for the UK mission and will give the successful candidate the opportunity to develop policy and negotiation skills at expert level. The role will require strategic vision, political awareness and a strong drive to get things done, suiting someone who wants to build their diplomatic and multilateral skills. The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate their abilities in working with others (including a commitment to an effective job-share), delivering results at pace, communicating and influencing, and problem solving and judgement. You will work in a fast-paced and changing environment and must be willing to support other team members and priorities, including outside your portfolio, as needed.

The candidate will be joining a Mission that centres itself on the values of Respect, Inclusiveness, Empowerment, Teamwork, and Kindness. These values sit at the core of the Mission, and all colleagues in the Mission are encouraged to demonstrate and to hold each other to account for these values.

• To negotiate persuasively and effectively on behalf of the UK on policy areas within the portfolio, drawing on instructions provided by lead policy teams in London.
• To establish a network of contacts and counterparts working on global health issues in Geneva and use it to drive progress on the portfolio in line with UK objectives.
• To provide high-quality briefing and policy advice to the Permanent Representative, Deputy Permanent Representative, and London policy teams on areas within the portfolio.
• To work with a network of colleagues working on health across the UK government to report on stakeholder priorities, develop UK positions, and advance global health priorities.
• To support UK Ministerial and Civil Servant engagement and visit programmes, briefings and reports. As well as support cross-mission visits, events, engagements and corporate activities as required.

The unpredictable and rapidly-changing nature of the Global Health portfolio means that the exact portfolio of the job will be subject to change in line with team priorities and a willingness to adapt, learn rapidly and reprioritise according to evolving UK priorities is essential.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

Our ideal candidate shows:

• Full professional proficiency in English (written and spoken, minimum of C1 level for CEFR framework*);
• Proven ability through previous work experience to build strong networks and relationships and use these to effectively deliver your objectives;
• Previous work experience in health, development, humanitarian, UN governance or similar;
• Strong negotiating and/or influencing skills, ideally within a multilateral or global health context;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including an ability to speak confidently in external meetings and public (e.g. delivering interventions on behalf of the UK during negotiations or panel debates);
• Strong interest and engagement on global health issues;
• Proven track record of working well as part of a team and a commitment to working effectively as part of a job-share.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

Nice to have:

• Working experience or expertise in global health;
• Previous experience leading or driving policy;
• French or another UN language.

Required behaviours

Communicating and Influencing, Leadership, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together

Application deadline

1 September 2024

Grade

Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

Type of Position

Permanent, Part-Time

Working hours per week

16

Region

Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia

Country/Territory

Switzerland

Location (City)

UK Mission to the Office of the United Nations, Geneva

Type of Post

UK Delegation

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

CHF

Start Date

4 November 2024

Other benefits and conditions of employment

This is a permanent, part-time contract (40%).

This role is 40% as part of a job-share with an existing team member. The exact pattern is subject to discussion with the successful candidate and will be agreed based on the operational requirements of the team and taking into account personal circumstances wherever possible.

The mission and team are supportive of ensuring a good work-life balance, including protecting family time and caring responsibilities wherever possible. There is also times during the year when long working hours are required (notably the WHO government meetings including the world health assembly).

When weekend or evening working is required, some “time off in lieu” is offered during quieter periods.

All applicants should have permission to live and work in Switzerland.

Applicants that have the right to live and work in Geneva and don’t require a visa sponsorship are: Nationals from United Kingdom, European Union and EFTA, along with Nationals of: Brunei Darussalam, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Principality of Andorra, Principality of Monaco, San Marino, Singapore and Vatican.

Where applicable, we encourage successful applicants (if from Europe or the UK) to obtain an Insurance Card (EHIC or GHIC) prior to entering Switzerland.

The Mission offers a contribution to the payment of travel insurance for the duration of internship, in place of Private Swiss Health Insurance that includes health & accident cover for all interns.

The final appointment and commencement of internship will be dependent upon successful security clearance.

Learning & Development:

The mission and team strongly support continuous professional development for all employees. There are significant opportunities to learn “on the job” in areas relevant to the role and to the wider team’s – and mission’s – work, including potential for work-shadowing other colleagues and leading on cross-mission corporate initiatives.

The UK government provides a broad range of dedicated learning and development opportunities, including workshops and courses in areas directly relevant to this role. Some funding for tailored learning and development opportunities is also available.

Additional information

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”. We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

Please be advised that the UK Mission will not be able to support any cost during the Recruitment and Selection process, Security Check nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a job.

*Please note for more information on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment levels please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your language skill is going to be assessed.