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.
ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:
the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.
These occupations require some skills and knowledge of embassy counsellor. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of embassy counsellor with a significant experience and/or extensive training.
This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of embassy counsellor.
Foreign affairs policy development: The development processes of foreign affairs policies, such as relevant research methods, relevant legislation, and foreign affairs operations. 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. 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.
These skills are necessary for the role of embassy counsellor.
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. Maintain relations with local representatives: Maintain good relations with representatives of the local scientific, economic and civil society. 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. 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. 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. 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. Respond to enquiries: Respond to enquiries and requests for information from other organisations and members of the public. 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. 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. 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. Advise on foreign affairs policies: Advise governments or other public organisations on the development and implementation of foreign affairs policies.
This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of embassy counsellor. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
Government representation: The legal and public representation methods and procedures of the government during trial cases or for communication purposes, and the specific aspects of the governmental bodies being represented in order to ensure accurate representation. Budgetary principles: Principles of estimating and planning of forecasts for business activity, compile regular budget and reports. Economics: Economic principles and practices, financial and commodity markets, banking and the analysis of financial data. International law: The binding rules and regulations in the relations between states and nations, and legal systems dealing with countries rather than private citizens.
These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of embassy counsellor. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
Apply diplomatic principles: Apply the processes involved in the creation of international treaties by conducting negotiations between representatives of different countries, protecting the home government’s interests, and facilitating compromise. Speak different languages: Master foreign languages to be able to communicate in one or more foreign languages. Manage staff: Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff. Think analytically: Produce thoughts using logic and reasoning in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. Maintain relationships with government agencies: Establish and maintain cordial working relationships with peers in different governmental agencies. Analyse problems for opportunities: Identify and anticipate problems in order to choose a course of action, come up with appropriate solutions or even identify opportunities for further development. Develop international cooperation strategies: Develop plans which ensure a cooperation between international public organisations such as researching different international organisations and their goals and assessing possible alignment with other organisations. Develop defence policies: Develop strategies for the development and implementation of defence policies, for national or international defence organisations and operations, to improve security and to better operate in dangerous situations and against threats. Assess risk factors: Determine the influence of economical, political and cultural risk factors and additional issues. Build international relations: Build positive communication dynamics with organisations from different countries in order to build a cooperative relationship and optimise information exchange. Train employees: Lead and guide employees through a process in which they are taught the necessary skills for the perspective job. Organise activities aimed at introducing the work and systems or improving the performance of individuals and groups in organisational settings. Maintain operational communications: Maintain communications between different departments of an organisation, between the staff, or during specific operations or missions, to ensure that the operation or mission is successful, or that the organisation functions smoothly. Manage government policy implementation: Manage the operations of the implementation of new government policies or changes in existing policies on a national or regional level as well as the staff involved in the implementation procedure.
