International relations officer

International relations officers ensure the development of cooperation between international public organisations and governments. They facilitate communication between their organisation and foreign organisations and develop collaboration strategies, promoting a collaborative relationship beneficial for both parties.

The following job titles also refer to international relations officer:

international relations director
international development officer
international manager
inter governmental cooperation officer

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as international relations officer. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

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.

International relations officer is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to international relations officer.

foreign affairs officer
diplomat
embassy counsellor
ambassador
consul

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of international relations officer. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of international relations officer with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of international relations officer.

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.

These skills are necessary for the role of international relations officer.

Represent the organisation: Act as representative of the institution, company or organisation to the outside world.
Establish collaborative relations: Establish a connection between organisations or individuals which may benefit from communicating with one another in order to facilitate an enduring positive collaborative relationship between both parties.
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.
Perform public relations: Perform public relations (PR) by managing the spread of information between an individual or an organisation and the public.
Keep updated on the political landscape: Read, search, and analyse the political situation of a region as a source of information applicable for different purposes such as information, decision-making, and management, and investments.
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 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.
Build international relations: Build positive communication dynamics with organisations from different countries in order to build a cooperative relationship and optimise information exchange.
Attend meetings: Deal with committees, conventions and meetings in order to follow up strategies, conclude bilateral or multilateral agreements, and facilitate enforcement of such agreements.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of international relations officer. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

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.
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 international relations officer. 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.
Apply conflict management: Take ownership of the handling of all complaints and disputes showing empathy and understanding to achieve resolution. To be fully aware of all Social Responsibility protocols and procedures, and to be able to deal with a problem gambling situation in a professional manner with maturity and empathy.
Speak different languages: Master foreign languages to be able to communicate in one or more foreign languages.
Use different communication channels: Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.
Think analytically: Produce thoughts using logic and reasoning in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Coordinate government activities in foreign institutions: Coordinate the activities of the home country’s government in foreign institutions, such as decentralised government services, resource management, policy management, and other government activities.
Maintain relationships with government agencies: Establish and maintain cordial working relationships with peers in different governmental agencies.
Facilitate official agreement: Facilitate an official agreement between two disputing parties, ensuring that both parties agree on the resolution which has been decided on, as well as writing the necessary documents and ensuring both parties sign it.
Develop promotional tools: Generate promotional material and collaborate in the production of promotional text, videos, photos, etc. Keep previous promotional material organised.
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.
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.
Set organisational policies: Participate in setting organisational policies that cover issues such as participant eligibility, program requirements, and program benefits for the service users.
Ensure cross-department cooperation: Guarantee communication and cooperation with all the entities and teams in a given organisation, according to the company strategy.
Assess risk factors: Determine the influence of economical, political and cultural risk factors and additional issues.
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.

2422 – Policy administration professionals

 

 

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References

1. International relations officer – ESCO