Foreign Affairs Adviser

Job specification

Job Title: Foreign Affairs Adviser

Responsible to: Head of the Advisers Unit

Salary: £42,565

Tenure: Permanent contract

Hours: 40 hours per week full-time. 

Location: Westminster, London. 
 

Job description

Join our dynamic team of Political Advisers at this exciting moment, following our historic General Election result, to lead on Foreign Affairs and Defence and develop election-winning policies, messages and campaigns for the Liberal Democrats.

You will work closely with the Party Leader, the Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, the Defence spokesperson and other key spokespeople, as well as colleagues in the party’s communications, policy and campaigns teams and in both Houses of Parliament.

You will have responsibility for certain policy issues, primarily Foreign Affairs, and help to ensure we take the right positions by building relationships with external organisations and helping to formulate new policies.

You will help spokespeople to craft and deliver effective messages to communicate both our policies and our values to the public.

We are looking for someone with very good knowledge of UK politics, an understanding of campaigning, the media and how Parliament works and sound political judgement. You will need to be able to juggle competing priorities and deliver at speed.

We strongly encourage applications from candidates who would need to work flexibly or remotely. Applications are especially encouraged from people in groups that are under-represented in politics.

Key responsibilities

1. Provide expert advice on agreed policy areas to the party’s spokespeople.
2. Work with the Leader and spokespeople to identify political opportunities and develop effective policies and messages to maximise those opportunities.
3. Brief MPs and other spokespeople for media appearances.
4. Write speeches, op-eds and media comments for spokespeople.
5. Work with colleagues and spokespeople to develop issue-based campaigns for the party to run.
6. Work with Parliamentary spokespeople to respond to legislation relevant to agreed policy areas, including identifying political priorities.
7. Conduct research to generate media stories that are able to garner both national and regional coverage to promote, support and benefit the party.
8. Work with the party’s policy unit and working groups to develop new policies.
9. Build links with external advocacy and campaign groups in order to promote key issues, campaigns and policy relevant to the party’s priorities.

Person specification

We are looking for an experienced candidate who will be able to combine an understanding of UK politics, policy, campaigning, the media and the workings of both Houses of Parliament.

This position would suit a dynamic, highly-organised individual with sound political judgement and who thrives in a fast-paced and often pressured environment.

We are looking for someone who is able to hit the ground running, who is excited to play a leading role in a team shaping how the Liberal Democrats move forward following our historic General Election result. 

Successful candidates will need to show they have the confidence to take initiative and make quick judgements, the ability to juggle a demanding workload, and to be a team player.

The successful candidate will have a thorough understanding of the current political environment and the key discussions the country and the Liberal Democrats will need to engage in over the coming months and years.

We strongly encourage applications from candidates who would need to work flexibly or remotely. Applications are especially encouraged from people in groups that are under-represented in politics.

Essential skills and experience

The ideal candidate will be able to show knowledge of, or previous relevant experience that demonstrates:

• An in-depth understanding of UK politics, and the personal drive to keep constantly up to date and well briefed.
• Knowledge and experience of working on policy and/or campaigns.
• A strong understanding of both Houses of Parliament.
• Prior experience, knowledge or understanding of foreign affairs.
• A track record of being able to cover and understand complex and detailed topics.
• The ability to cope with strict deadlines.
• Confidence, knowledge and ability to directly brief and advise senior politicians and senior journalists.
• An understanding of what’s needed to promote the party’s policies and campaigns across multiple sectors and platforms, including online.
• A clear commitment to the ideals and values of the Liberal Democrats.

Desirable skills and experience

• Prior experience of work in politics, public policy, public affairs, campaigns or journalism.
• Prior experience, knowledge or understanding of defence, development or Europe policy.
• Prior experience, knowledge or understanding of the work of the Liberal Democrats.

How to apply

Please read the full job description here. For questions and further details, and to submit an application, please email recruitment@libdems.org.uk by 16 August 2024, attaching:

1. A copy of your CV, including complete work history
2. A Covering Letter: no more than 2 pages of A4 in length, indicating clearly how your experience and skills meet the criteria stated in the job and person specification. Please also write your name on top of your supporting statement.
3. A completed diversity monitoring form.
4. Please ensure we have the means to contact you by phone and email.

We will be reviewing applications as they come in and reserve the right to appoint prior to the closing date.

We will not notify applicants if their application has been unsuccessful at the shortlisting stage.

The Party believes it is essential to foster equity, equality, diversion and inclusion within our workforce. We want our employees to thrive in an environment where everyone is welcome and supported in order to achieve their potential. It is important to celebrate what makes us unique and that you feel valued, appreciated and free to be who you are.