Senior Congressional Adviser, Defence - British Embassy Washington

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View Vacancy - Senior Congressional Adviser, Defence - British Embassy Washington

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. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.

Job Category

Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)

Job Subcategory

MOD (Ministry of Defence)

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Main purpose of job:

The Senior Congressional Affairs Officer (Defence) will serve as the lead officer for the British Defence Staff - United States, within the British Embassy, on Congressional issues. The role advises the British Embassy's Senior Leadership Team, primarily the Defence Attaché and Director USA, on Defence related Congressional issues in order to enable UK officials, both in the U.S. and London, to make informed decisions that help advance UK policy priorities.

The successful candidate will have a sophisticated understanding of US national security strategy and the domestic considerations that impact on US defence policy. The candidate will have an excellent grasp of the links between Congress, the Administration, lobby groups and think tanks, and will be a highly credible interlocutor with contacts in Congress. They will bring an impressive knowledge of Congressional personalities and a wide range of pre-existing relationships to their role. The candidate will be experienced and innovative in planning strategy and outreach, notably being able to spot moments of opportunity or risk for UK interests, emerging trends in Congressional thinking, and rising stars.

The candidate will be an able facilitator, working in support of the Embassy's subject experts to develop effective strategies for contact with Congress that have demonstrable impact and influence. The jobholder will be an excellent communicator in person and in their written advice. The candidate will be a proven leader, overseeing the output of the team's Congressional Advisor and developing UK colleagues in terms of their understanding of Congress.

The US Network offers a unique career enhancing opportunity and is committed to supporting its staff through a variety of benefits including generous leave, insurance packages and a highly competitive 401k programme. It also promotes a culture of flexibility which enables people to better maintain wellness through excellent work/life balance. In this role you would be working in a diverse international environment, side-by-side with diplomats, armed forces personnel and other country-based staff operating across the British Government's network of Consulates and Government Offices in the United States. This network provides a platform for approximately 30 Government departments and agencies to conduct their work in the United States and is made up of over 900 staff with a rich and diverse background, skill sets, and experiences.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Extensive engagement with key contacts in Congress to advance UK objectives via annual NDAA and Defense Appropriations Bills.
• Development of an annual legislative strategy to ensure UK equities are proactively advanced/defended.
• Development and delivery of targeted short and medium-term strategies to enhance the Embassy's impact with Congress on defence policy. This will include a focus on defense authorization and appropriations legislation.
• Proactive tracking of developments on the full range of defence policy issues in Congress to provide early warning and swift, contextualised and politically astute analysis to the Embassy in support of subject experts, both on thematic issues, crosscutting trends and on key personalities and groupings in Congress.
• Support wider UK Defence Staff work on reputation and broader departmental strategy and policy development.
• Leadership of the Defence Section (line management of one member of staff) of the British Embassy Congressional team and developing wider understanding of Congress within the Defence Section. Ensure alignment of day-to-day outputs with senior intent and consistency with the Embassy wider policy team.
• Maintenance and development of networks, and networking strategies, to include spotting opportunities for inward and outward visits to DC and London by key officials and politicians.
• Production of a suite of regular reports for senior officials on events, trends and personalities, in addition to reactive reporting on emerging issues.
• Production of written briefing in support of senior official engagements with Congress.
• Proactive engagement in relevant Embassy and London strategy discussions.
• Advocacy for UK interests with US contacts in Congress and more widely.
• The creation of strong professional relationships with colleagues and key stakeholders in the Embassy.
• Maintenance of a firmly non-partisan profile with internal and external stakeholders.
• Flexibility to take on other work within the Political Team and wider Defence Policy Team as required.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

• Line Management of one member of Congressional Team.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• 5+ years of Congressional experience in a legislative assistant role or higher, with at least 2-3 years of experience in defence/national security issues.
• Significant experience of working on the Hill on a wide range of defence policy subjects.
• Excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills are required. Must be able to represent the Embassy at external meetings and win the confidence of senior US and UK officials.
• Strong networking skills and ability to gain access to key figures.
• Flexibility in a team setting, with an enthusiastic approach to work, is essential. We are looking for evidence of the ability to work well with others on a wide range of issues as a team player and an expert adviser.
• The proven ability to work independently to define challenging objectives based on engagement with internal customers and needs analysis.
• The ability to work resiliently under pressure to deliver objectives, including in the face of changing demands.
• Must be fluent in English (written and spoken).
• Legal status to live and work in the US in your own right, from time of application.
• Must hold at least one of the following passports: US, UK, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand.

US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US has restrictions on the type of visas our non-diplomatic staff may hold. If you are not a US Citizen or a US Permanent Resident, or the dependent of a diplomat (with an EAD card), you may not be eligible for employment with the UK government. We cannot accept student Visas (J1, F or M) nor other forms of work Visas (I, H, P). If you hold a work visa it is best to check on your eligibility to work for a foreign government before applying for a position. The UK Government does not routinely sponsor work visas; the job advertisement will state clearly whether sponsorship is available.

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.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Experience managing legislative outcomes for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) or Defense Appropriation bills for either a personal office in the House or Senate or the House/Senate Armed Services or Appropriations Committee(s).
• Postgraduate degree.
• Additional experience of working within a relevant part of the Administration.
• Knowledge of UK policy strengths and priorities.

Required behaviours

Communicating and Influencing, Leadership, Making Effective Decisions, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together

Application deadline

3 December 2024

Grade

Senior Executive Officer (SEO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Permanent

Working hours per week

40

Region

Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories

Country/Territory

United States

Location (City)

Washington

Type of Post

British Embassy

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

USD

Salary

$105,882 per annum

Type of Salary

yearly

Start Date

27 January 2025

Other benefits and conditions of employment

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.).

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.

Additional information

Working patterns:

This role is in-person and full time at 40 hours per week but does not require set working hours each day.

Working with colleagues across US and UK time zones will sometimes require a degree of flexibility.

There is an expectation to host and attend events outside of normal working hours, on occasion.

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 of6-12 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 be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.