Science and Innovation Team (SIN) Intern – HM GOVERNMENT – Brasília, DF

Main purpose of job:

Provide administrative, translation and research support to the Science & Innovation Teams in the British Embassy in Brasilia and the British Consulate-General São Paulo.

We are advertising for two intern roles, one based in Brasilia post.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?

Are you interested to see how science is helping to solve some of the world’s most complex problems? Do you want to help build new world class science and innovation collaborations between Brazil and the UK? And do you want to be part of a friendly, energetic team delivering initiatives to promote the social and economic development of Brazil through science and innovation?

The Science & Innovation Team (SIN) in the British Embassy network helps research centres and universities from the UK to find the best partners in Brazil for research collaborations. We foster partnerships and strengthen relations between both countries’ academic communities through workshops, high-level visits, lectures and missions. We also provide the UK government and academics with information on science, technology, research and innovation in Brazil and across Latin America. We are a team of 8 people, 4 based in the British Embassy in Brasilia, and 4 in the British Consulate in São Paulo.

If successful, you will have the opportunity to build your knowledge and skills over a range of tasks and responsibilities including research, drafting reports and press articles, organising visits and events, budget management and office administration. You will have opportunities to develop your organisational abilities and strengthen your oral and written English skills. We will give you on-the-job support and feedback, and, where possible, opportunities to combine your academic interests into your work. We have an active and supportive intern community that offers additional activities to learn and get involved in the diplomatic life of the mission.

You will make an important contribution to the Science Team by taking responsibility for:

Administration Support (40%):

• Digital filing: ensuring key documents are properly organised and recorded;
• Help to translate documents, media reports, emails and ad hoc documents.
• Preparation of team documents, including meeting notes, reports, briefings, contact databases.
• Support to organise events, visits, missions
• Support for the SIN Director and Deputy Director including booking flights and accommodation, arranging meetings, requesting transport.

Communication Support (20%):

• Help to produce a monthly science newsletter for UK government contacts;
• Support media activities to promote the team’s work, including press reports, tweets and blogs.

Research (15%):

• Gather information from government publications, academia and the media for reports to inform UK stakeholders of key scientific developments in Brazil.

Budgeting control and payments (20%):

• Contact supporting companies and services (suppliers);
• Organise and assist payments of outsourced services ensuring Value for Money;
• Support SIN’s Deputy Director on budget management for post and GPF (Global Partnership Fund);

You must be flexible to change between tasks in response to changing priorities. In busy periods, you will need to show that you can work well under pressure.

We need someone who is enthusiastic, pro-active and self-motivated, with great organisational, interpersonal, and communications skills in both English and Portuguese. You must have competent computer skills, particularly MS Outlook and MS Office package.

We invite applications from students in at least their 3rd semester. The candidate should ideally be studying International Relations, Political Sciences, Translation, Communications, Marketing, Administrative (Business Management) or related disciplines.

The British Embassy is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.

Essential on arrival:

• Strong written, communication and organizational skills.
• Evidence of being a strong team player.
• Competence in working with office programmes (Outlook, Word, Excel, and Power-Point).