Policy Intern

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.

The British Embassy Helsinki is part of the UK governments global network representing British political, economic, and consular interests overseas. We are now looking for a Policy intern for a fixed-term position for 6 months. This is an excellent opportunity for someone in their early career with an interest in policy, politics and public service to work on important issues and develop their skills and knowledge. Working in the embassy’s political team you will help achieve the UKs goals and objectives in its relationship with Finland, while being exposed to real-life geopolitics, international relations and diplomacy.

To succeed in this role, you should be: interested in UK culture and values, Finnish politics and society, flexible to work on a whole range of tasks from ministerial summits to team admin, and curious and creative to come up with new ideas to tackle complex issues. During your internship you will have the chance to be involved in a variety of tasks and topics covering bilateral relations, EU issues, foreign policy, economics, defence/security and human rights among others. You do not need expertise in all those issues, you just need energy and good humour and experience in at least one of these fields.

What will you be expected to achieve:
– Reporting and analysis (50%): Using your understanding of Finland, you will report on, and analyse, the political goings-on in Finland, from Parliamentary intrigue, to complex policy and EU dynamics. Your reporting will help the embassy’s political team and FCDO headquarters in London have good understanding of the state of Finnish politics so they can make decisions about UK policy.
– Meetings and lobbying (30%): Working with the rest of the political section, you will develop contacts and relationships in the Finnish system (Parliament, government and beyond) so that we can arrange meetings with decision-makers and lobby on UK priorities.
-Admin (10%): Supporting the political team with occasional administrative tasks like booking restaurants and arranging transport.
– Support in ad-hoc tasks (10%): You can support the embassy in other occasional ad hoc tasks when needed.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience:
– A relevant higher education degree (e.g., master’s or applied sciences), either recently completed or nearing completion.
– Fluent Finnish and English (C1 level) communication skills, both written and spoken.
– Good understanding of current affairs and interest in foreign policy.
– Collaborative mindset and the ability to work flexibly, deliver at pace, and stay resilient under pressure.
– Strong organisational and time management skills.
– In-depth knowledge of Finnish politics and society.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience:
– Experience of working in a political or policy-focused role.
– Familiarity with the UK, UK politics and culture.
– Experience in international organizations.

Other benefits and conditions of employment:

This is a full-time, 36.25 week, fixed-term, 6-month internship position.

Staff may be required to work beyond conditioned hours during the week, or at weekends, in such case they are entitled to take time off in lieu. TOIL hours must have prior approval.

The appointment is subject to professional background check, security clearance and the successful completion of a probationary period.

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in Finland are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Finnish employment law and FCDO guidance for Country Based Staff.

Staff at the British Embassy Helsinki who are not subject to Finnish income tax—i.e. non-Finnish nationals—have a reference amount deducted from their gross salary. This abatement reflects the local tax that would otherwise apply, ensuring consistent net pay across roles.

Pension and unemployment contributions are deducted for all staff. Salary payments are reported to the Finnish Income Register in line with legal requirements.

Visa/work permit requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Finland and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country.

The start date mentioned in the advert is just an expected start date. The appointment can start earlier or later depending on several factors.

Additional information:
Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on 13th January 2026.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

The British Embassy will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a position.

Please refer to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. We are looking for a C1 level or equivalent. For more information, please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your languages skills are going to be assessed.

Please ensure that your application is authentically written based on your own experiences. If AI tools are used, their usage must only be limited to specific tasks such as ensuring formatting consistency and keyword relevance. The core content, personal narratives,

Tagged as: Administrative & office work, Research, development & R&D