Diplomatic Service Economist

Last updated - 30th March 2011

A career with the Diplomatic Service in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) offers you a lead role in protecting and promoting British interests abroad and advising and supporting ministers in formulating foreign policy.

The Diplomatic Service is looking for economists who can apply their economic skills and knowledge to policy issues in international macroeconmics, trade, financial markets and development – supplying the economic policy element of foreign policy issues. Reporting to ministers and senior government officials, you'll enjoy a uniquely challenging and varied workload, where no two days are the same.

After two years in London working on global economic policy or EU issues, you will go overseas as a diplomat to a key G8 or EU partner, or to a major emerging or developing market. Current examples include jobs in Japan, Mexico and Russia. There you will act as the UK government's eyes and ears on key economic issues and push forward the UK's views of good global governance.

After that you will have a wide range of high-flying international economist jobs to choose from in London and overseas. You will also have the option to move into other foreign policy areas anything from complex arms negotiations in Geneva, to the latest plans to expand the European Union. Whichever path you choose, you can expect to spend a substantial amount of your career overseas.

Applications

If you wish to be considered for the Diplomatic Service economist option you must apply for the first round of the GES scheme. You must also select the Diplomatic Service as your first option. The recruitment process is a combination of the Government Economic Service and the Diplomatic Service reflecting the need for graduates with both economics and wider skills.

Requirements

You must have, or expect to gain in 2012, a 2:1 degree or above or postgraduate degree in economics. Joint or mixed degrees are acceptable, provided that 50% of the course modules are in economics.

As well as having the requisite skills for the GES you will also need to demonstrate that you can, with appropriate training and experience, learn how to build networks of key contacts, which form the core of diplomatic work.

To join the FCO you must be a British citizen. You must have been resident in the UK for at least two of the previous 10 years, at least one year of which must have been a consecutive twelve-month period. Furthermore, to enable to the appropriate security checks to be carried out, you must have resided for at least three consecutive years in one country.

All applicants should be aware that a lack of sufficient background information might preclude an applicant from being granted security clearance. If you hold dual nationality – you are a British citizen and are also a national of another country, you should check on www.fco.gov.uk.

The starting salary for Diplomatic Service Economists is currently £24,759 with additional salary for a relevant MSc or previous experience.

For further information about the Diplomatic Service see www.fco.gov.uk