Who are we?

The British Embassy in Vienna is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is looking for a Residence Manager.

Main purpose of the role:

The Residence Manager is responsible for running the British Residence, its events, operations and team. This magnificent 19th century Residence is both home to the Ambassador and his family and the representational centre of the UK’s official hospitality in Austria. As such, the Residence plays host to many key government, business and cultural events and provides accommodation to VIP visitors. On occasion, small scale events may also be held at other venues. 

The successful candidate will be an energetic, passionate and highly organised self-starter who puts diplomatic excellence front and centre of all they do. They will have the creativity to marry historical elegance with the projection of a modern UK, using the house as a vibrant, busy stage with a reputation for first-class diplomatic entertainment in order to influence and convene. They will lead a happy, motivated team; provide for smooth and effective running of the household to the highest standards of efficiency, sustainability and value-for money; and have the vision to advance the UK’s strategic objectives whether through big, prestigious set-piece high-profile events such as the Kings Birthday party with 600+ guests, intimate diplomatic dinners, and innovative conferences that reflect the UK’s values and culture.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• You will lead (with inspiration and kindness), support and develop the Residence team currently comprising of Chef, Events Officer, and three full-time Residence staff.  
• Working closely with the resident Ambassador, other Heads of Mission and key members of the Embassy, you will create and deliver a wide range of memorable events with flair and impact through this team (and additional contracted staff as needed), impressing UK, Austrian and international government, business and cultural figures with the organisation to ensure each event runs to perfection, and the creativity to curate the decor, atmosphere, and presentation to deliver the UK’s objectives and showcase British excellence.  
• You will coordinate arrangements for VIPs and official visitors staying at the Residence, ensuring the highest levels of service are provided, rooms are prepared and their needs are met. And you will oversee the functioning of the Residence as a private diplomatic home.
• You will manage the Residence calendar to ensure the UK gets maximum opportunity and value-for-money from this magnificent building, balancing core diplomatic business with special events throughout the year, managing often short-notice or simultaneous events and official visits, and bringing in operations on time and budget, assessing risks and managing health and safety.
• You will look after the artwork, stock and equipment at the Residence, managing the relevant inventories and records, purchasing supplies and services, and working with the Embassy’s Corporate Services team to ensure all procurement, external hiring, billing and financial management represent value-for-money and meet audit guidelines.
• You will liaise with the security team to ensure effective security of the Residence, and with our Facilities Management company to ensure the Residence and grounds are kept in optimal repair, are fit for purpose, have appropriate contingency arrangements in place, and comply with government requirements.
• You will communicate and co-ordinate effectively across the British missions in Vienna, and gather feedback to maintain the highest standards of performance.
• You will also contribute to the wider objectives of the three missions in Vienna, playing an active role in supporting the Embassy’s positive working environment and the wellbeing of all staff. We are committed to providing a supportive workplace, with a strong focus on learning and development, and upholding values of respect, integrity, fairness and inclusivity.
• You will be a supportive manager; encourage a vibrant learning culture; promote staff engagement and flexible, cross-team working; support improvements in technology; and personify the Embassy’s values.  

The list above is subject to change as the world changes; so you should be agile and able to deal with competing priorities, take crisis in your stride, and expect to undertake other duties that might reasonably be required in accordance with the responsibilities and grading of the role. 

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity!

Our Ideal Candidate shows: 

• Excellent English oral and written (minimum C1 level for CEFR framework *)
• Confidence, discretion, and trustworthiness, and is an adaptable self-starter able to work effectively without supervision
• Previous experience of managing a diverse team with a focus on the ability to motivate and lead;
• Proven experience in event management, including effective budget forecasting and monitoring;
• Experience of stewarding and serving at dinners and large hospitality events;
• Superb organisational and interpersonal skills, ability to juggle multiple tasks while maintaining the highest standards, strong communication and negotiation (including with external stakeholders), and a great eye for detail;
• Financial management skills, including experience of budgets and achieving value for money.
• Excellent customer focus and a strong focus on delivering results, while consulting and working closely with others;
• Resilience to work and deliver under pressure, always treating others with respect;
• The ability to work flexibly in hours and duties, depending on the needs of the Ambassador Embassy team, events and visitors;
• A sound working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams and Edge) and keenness to innovate in use of IT.