We have an excellent opportunity for a Political Adviser to join our Political Section, within our Governance and Peace Directorate.
Responsibilities of the Adviser
The Adviser is expected, among other responsibilities, to:
- Preparing briefing materials, policy papers and speeches for the Secretary-General and other senior Secretariat officials in relevant engagements with member countries;
- Supporting meetings of the Secretary-General and other senior officials with heads of government, ministers and high-level officials, and following up decisions taken;
- Supporting Commonwealth meetings organised by GPD, including those of Heads of Government, Foreign Ministers and the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group;
- Deputising for Regional Heads as required in overseeing the work programme of the Section, including in planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation;
- Supporting the Secretary-General’s Good Offices role, by contributing to the work of the Good Offices Section through the monitoring of emerging issues or situations of political tension and conflict, as well as contributing to policy papers and country strategies; and
- Participating in election observation and other missions across the Commonwealth and meeting with relevant external stakeholders, as required.
Please refer to the Job Description for full details of the responsibilities for this position.
To be considered, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- A relevant first degree, such as in political science, international relations or other relevant subject, and a post graduate degree in a relevant subject, such as political science, international law or international relations.
- At least ten years’ experience in an international context, with exposure to intergovernmental processes. Proven skills in research, analysis and excellent writing on political issues, including in providing recommendations to senior management.
- Experience in diplomacy or international relations, as well as project management and demonstratable expertise in one or more of the following regions: Asia, Caribbean, Europe and the Pacific would be desirable.
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 member governments and provides guidance on policymaking, technical assistance and advisory services to Commonwealth member countries. We support governments to help achieve sustainable, inclusive and equitable development.
Please apply by submitting a CV and cover letter. Covering letters should be structured to address the key criteria required in the person specification, giving clear examples.
To join us, you must be a citizen of a Commonwealth country.