What are the responsibilities and job description for the Global Issues Officer, British Consulate General Chicago position at Foreign & Commonwealth Office?
The ‘Global Issues Officer’ role is part of a new cadre of individuals which the British Government is deploying in our Consulates General network to support our regional engagement in the United States. These individuals will be responsible for providing reporting and analysis on some of the key thematic issues between the United Kingdom and United States, delivered from a sub-national perspective: both state and city level. In addition to this, they will also be closely involved in the wider operations of the Consulates themselves, supporting on high level visits, organising public diplomacy events, and the wider corporate functioning of the office.
As a new role, the successful candidate should expect to be flexible on the core tasks and requirements as the work evolves, doing so with a high degree of initiative in identifying areas of UK interest. They will also be working closely with existing networks within the Consulate, as well as policy teams based in the Embassy in Washington, DC. The initial range of work is likely to include:
- Economic Security: examining the core issues affecting regional US approaches to economic security, including: supply chain resilience; perspectives on inward and outbound investment; approaches to competition policy; local regulations and legislation which impact on UK-US economic engagement; support on implementation of various State level Memoranda of Understanding (MOU)
- Supporting Global Campaigns: supporting the delivery of key UK prosperity and thematic campaigns, engaging with local stakeholders, and providing policy reporting and analysis on impact and outcomes;
- Bio Economy: engaging with the bio-economy community with a view to supporting UK-US collaboration and trade in this area including: key agricultural partners; agricultural technology firms and policy makers; bio-energy; and prominent research institutions in the field;
- Economic and Social policy: supporting the Embassy’s economic team in providing local coverage of economic and social developments, including engaging with local labour unions and their chapters; fostering educational and academic links. Global Issues Officers will necessarily cover a broad range of topics, and the successful candidate is unlikely to have expertise in every field. The successful candidate will, however, be able to demonstrate clear competencies and skills in the following areas:
- Network Development: being able to engage a broad spectrum of stakeholders and develop positive relationships in support of our policy goals;
- Analysis and Reporting: able to synthesise a range of data and inputs to present clear reporting and analysis to senior stakeholders, taking account of UK policy perspectives and interests;
- Team Working: engaging constructively and effectively within the Consulate team specifically, but also with wider UK policy stakeholders;
- Adaptability and Resilience: Global Issues Officers will be a core part of the wider Consulate team, and as such should be ready to engage across a broad portfolio of UK interests.
This role will be based in the British Consulate General in Chicago. The jobholder will therefore work across 14 States including the whole of the Midwest (Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin) as well as Colorado and Kentucky. Colleagues will work closely with the UK Government Offices in Colorado and Minneapolis.
Opportunity to bid into network-wide discretionary funding
- Proven ability to create and maintain networks of key contacts;
- Excellent written and verbal skills
- Proactive and self-starter
- Ability to engage professionally with senior stakeholders across a wide range of sectors
- Understanding of key policy issues relevant to the region (see above)
- Understanding of the UK government and political system.
- Programme management skills
Language requirements:
Language: English
Level of language required: Fluent
Working Patterns:
This role is 40 hours a week.
The British Embassy and its US Network embraces hybrid working You are required to work from the office 3 days a week. We are an organization that also recognises the critical value of teamwork, and we embrace and endorse collaboration by ensuring that all staff attend the office flexibly yet regularly.
Learning and development opportunities:
The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communicating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).
Benefits Summary:
The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance.
We offer:
- Generous leave package plus public holidays
- Generous 401k matching
- Excellent healthcare options
- Paid sick leave
- Generous parental leave policy
- A great work-life balance including flexible start and finish times and a hybrid working model with staff splitting their time between working from home and the office
- Short-term disability, long-term disability and life insurance coverage
- High quality L&D services with global sessions and events every day to help you develop and meet organisational needs, including up to 5 days paid leave each year to pursue your professional development
- Inclusivity is one of our core values and we strive to treat everyone openly, fairly and equally. All new team members learn about how they can contribute to an inclusive environment and the importance of diversity and inclusion
Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.
Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6-12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.
Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, e.g. some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.
The British Embassy is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and to creating a diverse working environment, free from discrimination, where everyone is included and treated fairly, based on merit alone. We are an equal opportunity employer, making all employment decisions without regard to race, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other criterion protected by law.
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.
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.
Salary : $81,100