View Vacancy – Community Liaison Officer (Ottawa)

Main purpose of job:

The main purpose of the role will be to provide support and advice on welfare matters and family administration for all UK-based officers and their families.

This (part-time) role is primarily to help newly arrived staff and their families settle in and find their feet as quickly as possible, contacting them before they arrive in Ottawa to help with the preparations for their posting, and maintaining that contact once they’re here. The jobholder supports a smooth transition to post by connect families with the right teams here in Ottawa and ensuring all new arrivals have the information they need. This includes maintaining a welcome pack, topic specific information sheets and generally having an understanding of family life in Ottawa. They will also provide support to the Estates Team to ensure accommodation is ready for new UK-based arrivals. The jobholder works most closely with the Corporate Services team, but will get to know everyone at the Post.

The jobholder helps facilitate community events (but is not responsible for running them!) and keeps UK-based staff and families informed of what is going on in the city, including through regular updates of the Guide to Living in Ottawa, the Post Report and the Families Contact List.

The jobholder is responsible for maintaining up to date information on health, schooling, employment issues and local amenities, including reports to the Diplomatic Service Families Association (DSFA) as necessary.  On occasion, this can also involve research into eg schooling provision close to the four UK Consulates-General (Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver).  They are also the DSFA Liaison Officer, which includes conducting the regular cost of living survey.

They are the champion for families in the Canada network on High Commission corporate and social committees, and with London. They also act as British High Commission Liaison Officer with Ottawa based social groups and friendly foreign missions.

This is a really important role in the network, and we are looking for someone who is good at building and maintaining relationships with a wide range of people.  The jobholder will need to manage a diverse community, all with different needs and expectations of life at Post.  Your experience of overseas life will be invaluable.

This is a brilliant opportunity to become a key part of the BHC community in a diverse, fulfilling and dynamic role.

Essential on arrival:

• Familiarity with life in the UK and an understanding of living in a foreign country.
  
• Self-starter, capable of working autonomously with light oversight.
  
• Strong interpersonal skills, capable of interacting effectively with colleagues and external stakeholders.
  
• Adaptable and well-organized with strong time-management skills.
  
• A can-do attitude.

Must have the legal status to live and work in Canada.