Consulate General of Ireland – Austin, Texas

This competition has now closed.

Senior Attaché Vacancy

The Consulate General of Ireland in Austin represents and promotes Ireland in Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kansas and Kansas City.

The Consulate is seeking a dynamic and highly-motivated officer for the position of Senior Attaché to work on a team that represents and promotes Ireland across Texas. The Attaché will report directly to the Consul General. The Attaché will require strong communications skills and the ability to work under pressure in a busy working environment. The post will provide the successful candidate with experience of working in a diplomatic representation in Austin (Ireland is one of two countries with a Consulate in the state capital).

Role

• Assist Consul General with management of Consulate team and output
• Promote Consulate’s profile regionally and communicate Ireland and Irish issues to a broad range of contacts through various media
• Report and prepare briefs on economic, political and other issues (often working to tight deadlines)
• Represent the Consul General/Consulate at high-level meetings and events
• Establish and maintain relations with key civil society, academic, political, media, economic and Irish community contacts
• Assist in identifying economic development opportunities
• Arrange and support high-level inward and outward visits
• Manage promotional, cultural and consular projects
• Provide consular services to Irish citizens
• Support other activities of the Consulate as required

Position details

Start date: Immediate

Location: Consulate General of Ireland, Austin

Contract duration: Initial twelve-month temporary contract (subject to probation period)

Starting salary: US $50,000 gross per annum (starting salary)

Working hours: 40 hours per week - the officer will also be required to work occasionally outside of normal office hours

Annual Leave: 20 days per annum and public holidays and time-in-lieu for occasional weekend work

Eligibility: Candidates must have a permanent, legal right to reside and work in the USA and will be subject to US employment and taxation law.

Minimum requirements and experience

• University degree
• Minimum of 1 years’ professional experience in a position that includes most of the competencies outlined above under ‘Role’
• Proven communications skills (including ability to provide analysis and draft briefing and texts under tight deadlines)
• Strong knowledge of local political and economic issues, EU affairs and international relations
• Proven networking skills
• Ability to communicate in Spanish is not a prerequisite for the post but a strong advantage
• Permanent legal right to reside and work in the USA

How to apply

Candidates should submit:

1. A resumé of not more than two pages and a covering letter of not more than 500 words either by email to Recruitment[dot]Austin[at]dfa[dot]ie or by post to the address below. All applications should include an e-mail address and a phone number.

2. In their applications, candidates should highlight relevant professional experience that clearly demonstrates the competencies outlined in ‘Role’ and ‘Minimum requirements and experience’ above.

• Closing date for applications: 12.00 noon (Central Time Zone) on Friday, 19 May 2017
• Applications by e-mail or post only to:

Email: Recruitment[dot]Austin[at]dfa[dot]ie
Post: Attaché Application, Consulate General of Ireland, 515 Congress Avenue, #1720, Austin, Texas 78701

• The submission of non-requested information (photographs, certificates or any other large files) will disqualify.

A shortlist of candidates will be prepared based on evidence of qualifications/professional experience relevant to the post outlined in applications. Only shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview. All shortlisted candidates will be required to present the name of at least one manager with whom they have worked within the past two years as a reference.

Information on the post is being communicated publicly through the Consulate’s web and social media channels; the Consulate cannot provide responses to individual phone/e-mail queries received regarding the post or the application process. Canvassing Consulate staff at any stage of the recruitment process will disqualify candidates. The Consulate of Ireland regrets that it cannot provide feedback to applicants at any stage of the application/interview process.

By submitting information electronically, parties accept that data may not be fully secure. Parties may alternatively send their submissions by post to the postal address above. Any personal information submitted will only be used for its intended purposes and will be destroyed when no longer needed. Any other processing or disclosure of personal data is not allowed other than in the exceptional circumstances provided for under the Data Protection Acts.