Temporary vacancy at the Embassy of Ireland in Berlin

Temporary vacancy at the Embassy of Ireland in Berlin
Policy & Research Assistant (m/f)
Application deadline: Friday 18 November 2016

The Embassy of Ireland in Berlin is recruiting a temporary Policy & Research Assistant on a 6 month fixed term contract.

Headed by the Ambassador of Ireland to Germany, the Embassy is responsible for representing and promoting Ireland's interests in Germany, developing the bilateral relations between Ireland and Germany , and working closely with Ireland's state agencies in trade promotion and internal investment. The Ambassador is supported by a team of diplomatic staff and locally-engaged colleagues working in the political, economic, trade, culture, press, consular and administration teams. Information on the Embassy is available at https://www.dfa.ie/germany or by following us on Twitter.

The position and candidate:

This is a demanding role in a busy working environment. The successful candidate will be a highly motivated, energetic and enthusiastic self-starter, who can work independently, on their own initiative, under the supervision of the Embassy Economic & Trade and EU/Foreign Policy officers. The Policy & Research Assistant will undertake research and policy analysis on issues of relevance to Ireland in Germany; track relevant macroeconomic and political developments; represent the Embassy at Federal Ministry (and other) briefings and events; organise events at the Embassy; and develop and maintain an economic and political contacts' database.

On occasion, the Policy & Research Assistant will be expected to attend events outside of official working hours, including at locations outside of Berlin. This could arise during the St. Patrick's Day period, high-level inward visits or trade fairs. As part of the small but vibrant Embassy team, duties will vary from time to time and the position may involve occasional support in another Embassy section. It is very important that the successful candidate has a flexible attitude to work.

The position will involve learning "on the job" but the successful candidate will possess the following requirements, competencies and skills:

• University degree or equivalent level qualification in a relevant field.
• Ideally, relevant professional experience in an office-based, client or public-facing role.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in German and English (ideally a native German or English speaker with at least C1 level proficient in both languages).
• Ability to draft succinct, concise and timely reports.
• Excellent organizational skills, including event management support.
• High level of discretion, commitment, reliability and attention to detail, with thorough follow0through on projects assigned.
• Ability to work well under pressure, priortise tasks and offer solutions.
• High level of motivation, with a willingness to work independently as well as within a team.
• High level of general administrative skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Interviews:

Candidates will be short-listed for interview. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted prior to interview. Shortlisted candidates must be available for interview at the Embassy in Berlin during the week beginning 28 November 2016. Interviewed candidates will be asked about their professional experience, competencies and skills, suitability for the position and interest in working at the Embassy of Ireland. The selection process will include an oral and written language assessment. The Embassy does not refund travel expenses incurred by the interviewee.

How to apply:

Applications must be submitted in English by email to the following email address: ambofficeberlin[at]dfa[dot]ie. The application must contain:

• Cover letter (1 page maximum) addressing the candidate's suitability for the position and interest in working at the Embassy of Ireland;
• CV/résumé (2 pages maximum);
• Two nominated referees with contact details;
• Copies of relevant academic and professional qualifications scanned into one PDF attachment;

The email should contain the subject line Policy & Research Assistant and must be no larger than 8MB. Certificates and degrees in German or English do not need to be translated. The closing date for applications is Friday, 18 November 2016.

Contract details: