View Vacancy – Defence Section Office Team Leader (DEU24.401)

Roles and responsibilities:

• Responsible for leading the Germany DS Office to directly enable its strategic outputs, including the efficient planning, organisation, and execution of all the DS support functions and activities.

• Lead and line manage for the DS Support Team (3 people), including maintaining oversight of and co-ordinating their outputs. 

• Manage and plan a 6-figure Delegated Budget and Imprest Accounts.

• Lead and/or support on bespoke events as the Project Manager for high-level seminars, Ministerial visits, and other engagement activity to promote UK defence across Germany and deepen military co-operation.

• Develop strong networking and partnership relationships with decision makers and intermediaries across Germany and internally across government departments to achieve DS aims and objectives.

• Act as the central coordinator and manager of the DS’s engagement network, including research and analysis of the impact of activities to identify areas for development, as well as create strategies and plans that deliver improved outputs and meet priorities through an agile, joined-up and synchronised approach.

• Identify and tackle barriers against military-to-military co-operation; investigating potential solutions, and assembling the teams and contacts needed to resolve them.

• Lead on internal and external communication for the Germany DS Office; manage the comms contract ensuring value for money, and connect activity to the wider overseas network, and defence-based activity and projects as a part of the wider MoD and Embassy Strategic Communications output.

• Responsible to the Defence Attaché (DA) for DS adherence to corporate governance and risk management.

• Any other duties that may reasonably be required in support of the wider work of the DI and the Embassy, including crisis work.

• Fluency in English (both written and spoken, minimum of C1 level for CEFR*) and good command of German especially reading skills (at least B1 level for CEFR*) 

• Strong leadership and line management skills; the ability to manage and lead diverse groups of employees, fostering collaboration and teamwork within the office.  

• Proven organisational and time management skills; able to manage a wide range of tasks at pace, prioritising as appropriate, using initiative in the processing and analysis of information, and determine how work could be progressed, with a clear idea of the bigger picture.

• Experience of managing projects and/or running large events, including the ability to run multiple projects at once.

• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret complex detail and make well-informed decisions under pressure, contributing to the smooth running of the DS.

• Strong communication, interpersonal, and networking skills; exceptional verbal and written communication skills to interact with employees, clients, and other stakeholders with clarity and professionalism.

• Ability to embrace change and can quickly adjust to evolving business needs, being able to to strategize and identify opportunities for growth and improvement.

• Adept at handling conflicts and promoting a harmonious work environment; must have a track record of resolving disputes with professionalism and tact.

• Proficient in MS Office 365 packages, especially Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Outlook, as well as have the ability to manage data and to adapt to new technologies to streamline office operations.

• MoD Security Check (SC) level of security clearance.