View Vacancy – Transportation Policy Advisor

Main purpose of job:

The British Government’s Embassy in Washington DC has an exciting opportunity for a resourceful and enthusiastic person to join the Transportation Policy team as a Transportation Policy Advisor. This opportunity is a rewarding role which supports and further develops the special relationship between the UK and the US, working at the forefront of international diplomacy and international transportation policy in order to make a real difference globally. 

The US Network offers a unique career enhancing opportunity and is committed to supporting its staff through a variety of benefits including generous leave, insurance packages and a highly competitive 401k programme.  It also promotes a culture of flexibility which enables people to better maintain wellness through an excellent work/life balance approach that encompasses hybrid working, including working from home and flexible hours, where possible.  

In this role you would be working in a diverse international environment side-by-side with UK diplomats, armed forces personnel and other country based staff operating across the British Government’s network of Consulates and Government Offices in the United States. This network provides a platform for approximately 30 Government departments and agencies to conduct their work in the United States and is made up of over 900 staff with a rich and diverse background, skill sets, and experiences. 

Transportation is at the forefront of international and domestic policy agendas, touching areas as diverse as security, sanctions, the supply chain, decarbonisation and designing our future cities. This is a chance to directly contribute to the way in which both Governments collaborate and negotiate on all aspects of transportation policy, including aviation, maritime, automotive, rail, commercial space, the future of transportation and transport decarbonisation. Across all these modes the candidate will develop a network of key contacts – with industry and the US government, within the embassy network and across the British Government – to inform British interests and influence US policy.

The ideal candidate will be a strong communicator, capable of making persuasive and timely verbal and written representations. They will have excellent judgement and will be able to analyse and dissect key policy developments and their impact on UK/US transport. They will be able to work across multiple fast moving areas, and to pitch in where needed. 

Roles and responsibilities:

•    Advocate British interests with a range of key US interlocutors and proactively engage and influence on UK priorities and promote UK policy and/or commercial interests. 
•    Develop and maintain high-level contacts within government, congress, industry, and the NGO community.
•    Analyze and report to the UK on US transportation issues, including aviation, maritime, automotive, rail, commercial space, the future of transportation and transport decarbonisation. 
•    Contribute to UK policy discussions on key transport areas.  
•    Take responsibility for structuring and delivering visits to the US by UK Ministers and senior officials, and deliver projects and events on transportation priorities.
•    Work with British Consulates across the US, as well as with UK Trade and Investment and the UK’s Science and Innovation Network, to deliver UK policy and prosperity objectives on specific focus sectors such as: Commercial Spaceflight and Transport Decarbonisation. 
•    Contribute proactively to policy discussions across the US Network and provide high quality analysis and input to requests for advice.
•    Support the multi-Embassy Maritime Attaché group which meets monthly.
•    Support Embassy consular staff in event of large scale disaster, crisis, or other emergency affecting British nationals.

Essential:

•    Must be able to represent the UK at external meetings and build a strong positive network US and UK officials and other stakeholders.
•    Excellent communication, organizational and interpersonal skills, flexibility in a team setting, ability to work independently and an enthusiastic approach are essential.  
•    Clear and concise oral and written skills are essential, and ability to explain complex issues to diverse audiences.
•    Willingness to travel both domestically and to the UK when needed. 
•    Interest in transportation policy 

Must be a citizen of either the USA, UK, Canada, Australia or New Zealand.

All selected candidates are subject to background checks and for this position will require a UK Government Security Clearance of Security Check (SC(O)) prior to starting work.

Language requirements: 

Language: English

Level of language required: Excellent written and spoken English 

US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US has restrictions on the type of visas our non-diplomatic staff may hold. If you are not a US Citizen or a US Permanent Resident, or the dependent of a diplomat (with an EAD card), you may not be eligible for employment with the UK government. We cannot accept student Visas (J1, F or M) nor other forms of work Visas (I, H, P). If you hold a work visa it is best to check on your eligibility to work for a foreign government before applying for a position. The UK Government does not routinely sponsor work visas; the job advertisement will state clearly whether sponsorship is available.

You may refer to our website for additional information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-the-usa.