Policy officer Culture and Public Diplomacy (PD)

B. General features of job

• The policy officer is primarily responsible for helping to further develop policy for the Embassy’s Cultural and Public Diplomacy (PD) activities and for drawing up project proposals in the area of culture.
• The policy officer will strongly contribute to updating a whole-of-Embassy PD strategy of the embassy and will be responsible for its implementation.
• The policy officer works directly for and in cooperation with the Embassy leadership. Your line manager will be the Embassy Secretary for Economic Affairs, PD and Culture, who is responsible for overall supervision of projects in the area of culture and PD.
• In general terms the policy officer explores, connects, informs and implements.
• It is possible to have a buddy inside the broad network of the Dutch cultural sector.
• Youth culture and diversity and inclusivity is top of the agenda.
• Buzzwords are co-creation and cultural engagement.

C. Actual duties

Culture

• Develop and maintain a network of contacts in the Ukrainian and Dutch creative and cultural sector to support the implementation of the cultural strategy.
• Discuss with cultural partners possibilities for project funding (public/private).
• Develop a Cultural Heritage Protection policy given the war circumstances taking into consideration the Cultural Emergency Response activities (ex Prins Claus Fund).
• Administer Dutch Visitors Programme together with e.g. DutchCulture, MondriaanFund and Communication Department (MFA).
• Support Dutch language education and promotion in Ukraine.
• Explore new trends (NewGen, Sustainability), connect and inform the network.

(Social) Media

• Develop and sustain a network of contacts in Ukrainian media to support the Embassy’s communications.
• Advice the Embassy leadership and – to a lesser extend – other diplomats about possible PD activities (online, offline, podcasts, video, (media) appearances).
• Raise Media awareness inside the Embassy
• Writing an updated whole-of-Embassy PD strategy and ensure its implementation.
• Coordinating and developing content for the Embassy’s social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In) that are in line with the current PD-strategy.

General

• Administer the project cycle for cultural and PD-related projects.

D. Description of result areas:

• NL and the Embassy activities, policy priorities and achievements relevant to Ukraine are well known by UA decision makers and public
• Organization with local partners of several PD events a year.
• Develop and maintain an excellent cultural and creative sector network in Ukraine and The Netherlands.
• Effective implementation of NL cultural and public diplomacy projects that contribute to NL policy objectives.

Working environment

The Netherlands Embassy in Kyiv promotes and implements bilateral cooperation between the Netherlands and Ukraine with the aim to strengthen bilateral ties and strengthen political stability, security and economic growth in Ukraine.

The Netherlands embassy in Kyiv has some 30 staff members. The Embassy is organized in a political, military, economic/agricultural, consular and administrative section and has several specialized attaches. Within the Embassy the ‘one team’-way of working is promoted, through crosscutting reporting, activities and information sharing. The policy officer for Culture and PD will be part of the political cluster of the Embassy, and will work directly for the Embassy leadership.

E. Job requirements

Level of education: university level

Level of experience: at least 3 years relevant working experience required

• Experience with working in the cultural domain and with/in Ukrainian media.
• Experience and affinity with shaping PD strategies, managing social media accounts and advising about PD opportunities.
• Skill in translating insights and information into advice, plans and reports and in assessing their policy and financial implications.
• Technical skills to work hands on with camera’s, lighting and teleprompters – or willingness to learn.
• Experience with project management.
• Excellent knowledge of English and Ukrainian is a must. Knowledge of Dutch is an asset and advantage.
• Experience with story telling.

F. Contacts

• In this job you have close working contacts with the Embassy leadership and with all policy officers (diplomatic staff and local staff) in all the policy clusters of the embassy: political, defence, economic, reconstruction and consular.
• With partners of the cultural network of the Embassy and colleagues at the Dutch ministries of Foreign Affairs and the ministry of Education, Culture and Science.
• With partners at Dutch Culture and the so called cultural funds like Eye, Mondriaan, NL FilmFund, Dutch Foundation for Literature, Podium Arts, Creative Industries fund NL, The NewInstitute
• With Ukrainian cultural and media representatives.

G. Staff member profile

We are looking for an enthusiastic and creative team player who loves to shape the image of The Netherlands and of our Embassy in Ukraine.  You enjoy working in cultural and creative industry networks and you have an interest in culture, art, history, museums, music, new media and literature. You are a keen user of social media and you know how they work and how to reach big audiences and keep the attention and have influence. At the same time you have the discipline to deal with all the administrative and financial details that come with project work. You should be flexible, pro-active and enjoy working with other colleagues in Ukraine, The Netherlands and with other Dutch Embassies and you have  well-developed organizational, administrative and communication skills.

H. Other information

The Embassy conducts an active diversity policy and engages in an inclusive organization. We do this by optimally deploying and exploiting the differences of people by striving for diversity in cultural background, age, gender etc. in the composition of teams, and in the assumption of new talent. We appreciate diversity of thought.

I. For application

CV's and motivation letters can be sent to KIE-EA@minbuza.nl with the title " PD, Culture Policy Officer".  Application deadline:  28 February 2023.