Political and Economic Research Officer

About the role

The Political and Economic Research Officer supports the work of the Policy Section of the Australian High Commission in Accra. The role covers political research and analysis, report writing, liaison with key contacts, visit programme management and representing the High Commission at public events.

Key responsibilities

• Conduct research and analysis on economic, political and foreign policy issues of interest to the Australian Government, using publicly available sources including contacts and the media.
• Monitor the media daily and identify issues of interest to the Australian Government.
• Provide written and verbal reports for the High Commissioner and other staff.
• Build a network of contacts in government, research institutions and NGOs to support the High Commission's research work.
• Support Australian-based officers in discussions with other governments or private industry, which may involve occasional travel to accredited countries outside Ghana.
• Manage and draft correspondence and cables to advance Australia's foreign and trade policy interests.
• Represent the High Commission at conferences, seminars and other events, and arrange programmes for Australian visitors.

Required profile

• Tertiary degree in politics, economics, social science, journalism or a related field.
• Strong understanding of West African economic and trade policy, domestic and foreign policy and legislative processes; knowledge of Australian foreign policy is an advantage.
• Fluent English and French (written and spoken).
• High-level organisational and coordination skills, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to work autonomously and in teams.

Required skills

• Research using the internet and open-source materials, producing high-quality written reports.
• Advanced oral and written communication, including drafting reports, correspondence and emails.
• Understanding of the Ghanaian media environment and of media environments in other accredited countries.

Applications are made by email with a short covering letter, a statement addressing the selection criteria with examples, a CV, copies of academic qualifications and contact details for two referees; hard copies are not accepted. The closing date is 27 April 2015.