Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Private Office
Main Purpose of Job:
Support the High Commissioner across the full range of his policy and corporate responsibilities, including through efficient running of his office, diary and travel management, and helping to co-ordinate key activities across the British High Commission.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
The role is an excellent opportunity for you to develop your competences and build a network within the British High Commission, Pretoria. You will make decisions about where the High Commissioner can add value and make meaningful interventions, and who can carry out work on his behalf.
You will monitor and organise the High Commissioner’s workflow, filtering and prioritising demands on his time and attention, ensuring important/urgent work is actioned or delegated appropriately (including in his absence). You will ensure deadlines are kept, commissioning briefing/papers for meetings and booking travel. You will ensure the efficient running of his office, working closely with senior management and the Residence Manager.
You will line manage and work closely with the A2 PA to deputy High Commissioner, ensuring she is tasked appropriately and covering her leave absences.
This would be a challenging but rewarding role at the centre of a high profile office, and is an ideal place in which to hone a wide range of skills across the competences of Band B. You will have excellent communication and people skills, which will allow you to develop close working relationships within the High Commission, OGDs, other Missions, international organisations and a range of senior external stakeholders. You will demonstrate your Leading and Communicating Skills as a crucial part of a small team within the High Commissioner’s office, including through daily interactions with the High Commissioner.
You will be enthusiastic, resilient and flexible with an ability to prioritise tasks and manage the High Commissioner’s diary with a proactive ‘hands on’ approach. This busy, interesting and challenging role will require strong organisational skills and an ability to think ahead and use your initiative. Key to this is Delivering at Pace and Making Effective Decisions.
The job will include occasional travel to Cape Town to help with major events the High Commissioner hosts there.
Some occasional out of office hours work (eg attending events at the Residence) will be required and TOIL can be claimed for this.
Resources Managed:
PA to Deputy High Commissioner
NB: Preference will be given to applicants who are holders of UK,US,Canadian,Australian or New Zealand passports
- 3 years PA/Executive Assistant experience
- Excellent organisational and planning skills
Working in an overseas mission and knowledge of how the FCDO works
Making Effective Decisions, Leading and Communicating, Collaborating and Partnering, Delivering at Pace
2 June 2021
B3 (L)
Permanent
Africa
South Africa
Pretoria
British High Commission
R 23,997.87
1 August 2021
Learning and development opportunities:
The High Commission has a strong developmental culture, including an active Learning and Development (L&D) programme. Senior management lead by example by delivering regular L&D sessions and taking time out for their own formal L&D. You will be encouraged to contribute and take part. The High Commission fully supports Diplomatic Academy completion.
The British High Commission pays in full for the Key Care Plus option on Discovery Health for staff including spouses/partners and dependants.
- Once you have successfully completed your probation the British High Commission will contribute 9% of your monthly salary to a Provident Fund.
- Annual leave entitlement of 25 days
- Working hours per week of 36.5
- Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening.
- Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
- The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.
- Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Pretoria are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in South Africa.
- All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit.
- The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to;
- Obtain the relevant permit
- Pay fees for the permit
- Make arrangements to relocate
- Meet the costs to relocation
- The British High Commission do not sponsor visas/work permits except where it may be local practice to do so.
- Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.
- Information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Competency Framework can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework Please note: AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
- Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
- Please log into your profile on the application system on a regular basis to review the status of your application.
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