Profession embassy counsellor

Embassy counsellors supervise specific sections in an embassy, such as economics, defence or political affairs. They perform advisory functions for the ambassador, and perform diplomatic functions in their section or specialty. They develop policies and implementation methods and supervise the embassy section's staff.

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Personality Type

• Enterprising / Investigative
• Enterprising / Conventional
• Social / Enterprising

Knowledge

• Foreign affairs policy development

  The development processes of foreign affairs policies, such as relevant research methods, relevant legislation, and foreign affairs operations.

• Diplomatic principles

  The practices of facilitating agreements or international treaties with other countries by conducting negotiations and attempting to protect the interests of the home government, as well as facilitating compromise.

• Foreign affairs

  The operations of a foreign affairs department in a government or public organisation and its regulations.

• Government policy implementation

  The procedures related to the application of government policies at all levels of public administration.

Skills

• Advise on foreign affairs policies

  Advise governments or other public organisations on the development and implementation of foreign affairs policies.

• Show intercultural awareness

  Show sensibility towards cultural differences by taking actions which facilitate positive interaction between international organisations, between groups or individuals of different cultures, and to promote integration in a community.

• Develop professional network

  Reach out to and meet up with people in a professional context. Find common ground and use your contacts for mutual benefit. Keep track of the people in your personal professional network and stay up to date on their activities.

• Analyse foreign affairs policies

  Analyse the existing policies for the handling of foreign affairs within a government or public organisation in order to evaluate them and search for improvements.

• Represent national interests

  Represent the national government's and industries' interests concerning various matters such as trade, human rights, development aid, environmental issues and other aspects of the political, economic or scientific cooperation.

• Manage administrative systems

  Ensure administrative systems, processes and databases are efficient and well managed and give the sound basis to work together with the administrative officer/staff/professional.

• Maintain relations with local representatives

  Maintain good relations with representatives of the local scientific, economic and civil society.

• Respond to enquiries

  Respond to enquiries and requests for information from other organisations and members of the public.

• Observe new developments in foreign countries

  Observe political, economic and societal developments in the assigned country, gather and report relevant information to the relevant institution.

• Advise on risk management

  Provide advice on risk management policies and prevention strategies and their implementation, being aware of different kinds of risks to a specific organisation.

• Ensure compliance with policies

  Ensure compliance with legislation and company procedures in respect of health and safety in the workplace and public areas. Ensure awareness and compliance with all company policies in relation to health and safety and equal opportunities in the workplace.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB