Policy and Research Officer – Le5 –

The successful applicant will be engaged as a locally engaged staff member by the Australian Embassy, Berlin._ _

**About the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade**

The role of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is to advance the interests of Australia and Australians internationally. This involves strengthening Australia’s security, enhancing Australia’s prosperity, delivering an effective and high-quality overseas aid program and helping Australian travellers and Australians overseas. The department provides foreign, trade and development policy advice to the Australian Government. DFAT also works with other Australian government agencies to drive coordination of Australia’s pursuit of global, regional and bilateral interests.

**About the Position**

Working under limited direction, the Policy Officer supports the Political-Economic team through research, analysis and reporting on foreign, trade, development, climate and multilateral policy in Germany.

**Key responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to**:

- Undertake high-level research, analysis and reporting on issues covered by the Political-Economic team, including German foreign, trade, development, climate and/or multilateral policy.
- Respond to specific tasking from Canberra, including provision of advice and drafting response cables
- Represent the Embassy in meetings with the German government and other external stakeholders on relevant policy issues and report on key outcomes, developments and issues.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a broad range of key stakeholders including German government officials, international organisations, business, other diplomatic missions, academic institutions and Australian Government agencies.
- Develop plans and objectives for short-term tasks of the work area and contribute to strategic planning for longer term initiatives for areas of responsibility.
- Assist with preparation of programs and management of logistics for Ministerial visits and visits by Australian officials.

**Qualifications/Experience**
- Interest in and understanding of German and international policy issues.
- Interest in and understanding of Australia and its foreign and trade policy priorities.
- High-level research and analytical skills.
- Tertiary qualifications in international relations or a related field would be an advantage.
- Excellent written and spoken English communication skills, including the ability to prepare briefing, draft reports and represent the Embassy in English-language meetings.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to liaise with stakeholders and develop and maintain a wide range of productive working relationships.

**Desirable**
- German language skills
- Ability to obtain an Australian Negative Vetting 1 security clearance (open to nationals of Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada and the United States)

**Selection Criteria**

In your written statements, you must include relevant high-level examples from your experience that support your claims against the role. The word limit is strictly 250 words per response. The panel will not assess responses which exceed the word limit.

A. Strong understanding of current international trade, development, climate and multilateral policies, preferably with reference to Germany and Australia.

B. Proven ability to undertake comprehensive independent research and provide high level analysis for stakeholders.

C. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with a proven ability to prepare written material in English to document findings in a logical, succinct and persuasive manner.

D. The ability to build relationships for influence, understand the interests of diverse stakeholders and to build reciprocal and mutually beneficial networks that deliver results.

E. Ability to take initiative, set priorities and organise work effectively and efficiently, and to complete projects and assignments with limited supervision.

We are looking for a Policy and Research Officer to join the team at the Australian Embassy, Berlin.