The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require. Job Category UK Mission Job Subcategory UKMIS (UK Mission to the European Union) Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)
The UK Mission to the European Union (UKMis) is part of a worldwide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. UKMis aims to strengthen the relationship between the UK and EU and collaborate on key policy areas including foreign policy, economic relations and climate change.
Our daily work relies on the input of dedicated individuals who engage on many different topics and activities. We seek to employ a diverse range of candidates who bring their own talents and perspectives to the role. We have a strong corporate agenda that ensures we create a positive and inclusive working environment where everyone is valued for their contribution.
The UK Mission to the European Union (UKMis Brussels) ensures the UK’s interests are promoted and explained to EU member states and the EU institutions. UKMis Brussels works on the full range of UK government business, with its staff drawn from a wide range of departments, agencies across Whitehall and Country Based colleagues.
UKMis Brussels is part of a world-wide network of 230 Diplomatic Posts, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking to recruit a full-time Assistant to the Foreign Policy Director & Business Support Officer to assist in the delivery of its corporate and policy work.
Are you the driving force who can keep our team running smoothly, managing high‑level diaries, travel, events, budgets, and stakeholder engagement?
Are you able to juggle competing priorities, adapt quickly, and deliver flawless support under pressure?
The job holder must be highly organised, forward thinking and able to work to a high degree of accuracy under time pressure. A team player is essential, as is flexibility. This may include assisting other sections in UKMis on an ad-hoc basis, as well as contributing to UKMis wider corporate life.
Roles and responsibilities:
The job holder will be expected to support and lead on tasks that help the team and the organisation function, making sure everyone is supported and organised to do their job effectively.
This will involve being flexible, willing and able to help out with a wide variety of tasks which will include, but are not limited to:
1. Assistant to the Foreign Policy Director - managing the diary of the Foreign Policy Director including handling visitors, arranging travel, visit programmes, organising meetings and hospitality. Dealing with written and telephone enquiries, managing correspondence, e-mail traffic, commissioning briefing for meetings, document creation, keeping records of meetings and general administration. Working closely with the Director and policy officers to ensure diaries do not conflict.
2. Working in partnership with the team’s other business support officers, you will also be expected to support:-
3. Team Based Administration – organisation of internal team meetings, office management, organisation of internal team building sessions / away days, etc;
4. Staffing Coordination – Working with the UKMis corporate team to ensure team HR information is kept up to date. Ensure all team members are aware of and follow UKMis induction procedures both as staff and line managers;
5. Corporate compliance – this will include regular reviews of completion rates of mandatory FCDO training and accurate record keeping of compliance databases – including for FCDO crisis preparedness;
6. Budget Management – monitoring and forecasting of local budget allocation;
7. IT - Ensuring distribution lists and MS Team storage are reviewed regularly. Ensuring all colleagues in their sections have updated Outlook/MS Teams/UKMis intranet profiles. Enable all team members to run effective meetings, including in hybrid format - supporting use of technology;
8. Internal Communications - supporting smooth internal communications by proactively signposting colleagues to relevant content and ensuring content is up to date;
9. Visits and Events - coordinate programmes and logistical support for visits/events, including virtual events such as webinars;
10. Stakeholder Management, and Event Attendance - providing targeted read-outs of stakeholder and EU institution events for London and Brussels-based policy leads.
11. Policy leads. Keep accurate and up to date databases of key stakeholders in line with data protection rules. Where appropriate, deputise for policy officers, occasionally representing the UK at external events.
Essential qualifications, skills and experience
12. Full professional proficiency in English, including excellent writing skills (written and spoken, minimum of C1 level for CEFR framework*).
13. Solid experience as administrative, executive assistant, or business support role at senior level.
14. Excellent planning and organisational skills with proven ability to prioritise tasks;
15. Demonstrated experience in organising travel, events, and meetings.
16. Flexible approach and team player;
17. Previous experience of overseeing and managing budgets effectively.
18. Keen interest in and awareness of current foreign policy issues.
19. Comfortable using Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, MS Teams, PowerPoint etc.) plus Office 365 (Outlook) and Webex.
Desirable qualifications, skills and experience
20. Upper intermediate user in French (more critical) and/or Dutch, including confident writing skills (written and spoken, minimum of B2 level for CEFR framework*);
Required behaviours Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together Application deadline 9 October 2025 Grade Administrative Officer (AO) Type of Position Full-time, Permanent Working hours per week 36.25 Region Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia Country/Territory Belgium Location (City) UK Mission to the European Union (UKMIS), Brussels Type of Post UK Delegation Number of vacancies 1 Salary Currency EUR Salary 4,518.13 Type of Salary monthly Start Date 5 January 2026 Other benefits and conditions of employment
This is a full-time, permanent contract for 5 working days (36.25 hours net) per week.
The monthly gross salary for this position is €4,518.13, AO level. In addition, we offer an extensive salary package, which includes a 13th month, luncheon vouchers, pension scheme, optional hospitalisation insurance (subject to monthly employee contribution), reimbursement of public transport and a lot more. We offer more days of annual leave than the Belgian requirements.
Please note that Belgian nationals will be paid their salary gross and are expected to comply with their tax obligations through completion of a tax return to the Belgian authorities. Non-Belgian nationals will receive their salary net, minus the deduction of an equivalent level of Belgian tax retained at source. Further information on this will be given to candidates during the recruitment process.
Staff recruited locally by the British Diplomatic Missions in Belgium are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Belgian employment law.
The successful candidates will be subject to professional background checks and security clearance.
Passport: officers are expected to be in possession of a passport due to the possibility that they may be asked to undertake business travel.
Visa/work permit requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Belgium and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract.
Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country.
Working patterns: This post is a full-time position UKMis but promotes flexible working opportunities. Most staff can work from home one day per week, subject to agreement with the line manager. UKMis operates usual office working hours though some occasional working outside these hours may be necessary to attend events or to support colleagues visiting from the UK. Any time worked outside normal hours can be compensated with a Time Off In Lieu (TOIL) system.
The UKMis Learning & Development (L&D) Committee coordinates an extensive L&D programme for all staff. Its members maintain a regular drumbeat of knowledge-building activity through an annual core curriculum, and lead on organising optional in-house French and Dutch classes. Our current UKMis L&D priorities are: Impactful Diplomacy and Professional Skills and Building our Expertise on the EU and UK-EU relations.
UKMis has a strong L&D culture and is committed to creating opportunities to stretch or develop particular skills for individuals, including language learning, attending conferences for professional development, and training for upskilling. Our internal L&D Committee and team leaders have an annual budget to which all colleagues can bid for funding to support their L&D activity.
This role includes a reserve period of 12 months. If a similar role becomes available during this time, appointable candidates may be considered in merit order without the need to reapply.