View Vacancy – Political Officer

The British Embassy, Panama City is part of a worldwide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas.

The British Embassy is looking to recruit a Political Officer that will play a key role in the Political and Communications Team, building positive relations with Panamanian elected officials at the local and national level, and strengthening bilateral links between Panama and the UK. The Political Officer will play an active role identifying and engaging with a broad range of external contacts, spotting and reporting on political trends and developments as well as working with a wide variety of teams across the Embassy.

The successful candidate will possess strong analytical and project management skills. The candidate will be responsible for security policy coordination in support of the Embassy’s strategic objectives. The officer will also lead on human rights work, providing high quality analysis to the Political and Communications section and wider embassy.  Beyond this, the position will offer a wide-ranging insight into embassy’s work. The officer will have the ability to work well independently. A high-performing candidate will have opportunities to provide policy support to the embassy across a range of foreign policy issues.

Roles and responsibilities:

Embassy work is constantly shifting to adapt with changing priorities. The following outline of responsibilities serves as a guide for the role; however, the successful candidate must be flexible to take on other areas of work as required.

• Human rights and security: Ensure that reporting is high quality, timely, based on accurate information and local commentary. Provide briefing and information on human rights and security to UK government visitors coming to Panama.  Offer advice about the UK approach to these issues.
• Strategic planning and engagement: Lead on the mapping of influencers across the country and the Embassy’s strategic regional engagement, as well as relations with the National Assembly. Support delivery of these plans by organising and accompanying HMA and other senior officers on visits and through building and nurturing relationships with a broad network of contacts, including Panamanian policy makers, NGOs, civil society organisations and media.
• Project and Programme Management: Deliver specific projects working with and influencing external stakeholders towards the shared objective of a strong bilateral relationship. Projects include the International Programme and Human Rights and Democracy Fund. Act as the policy lead for these priorities.
• To make a corporate contribution to the life of the embassy.

• Strong knowledge or experience of Panamanian political system and local Human Rights situation.
• Experience of working with a wide network of contacts demonstrating negotiation; networking and influencing skills.
• Full professional working capacity in both languages.
• Ability to grasp complex issues quickly and communicate them simply and effectively.
• Excellent briefing and drafting skills.
• Positive and flexible attitude.