Are you someone who thrives in a fast‑paced organisation, enjoys working closely with senior leaders, and takes pride in making things run smoothly behind the scenes? This is an exciting opportunity to support the Ambassador, senior leadership, and the Embassy’s representational work in a dynamic international environment. 

We are looking for a Private Office & Residence Manager to His Majesty’s Ambassador (HMA) – a trusted and highly visible role at the heart of the British Embassy Skopje.

Who are we?

The British Embassy in Skopje is part of a worldwide network representing UK political, economic, commercial and consular interests overseas. We operate in a dynamic international environment and are a diverse, inclusive organisation where collaboration, trust and professionalism are central to how we work.

Main purpose of the role: 

The Private Office & Residence Manager provides high‑quality administrative, organisational and representational support to the Ambassador and Deputy Head of Mission, while also overseeing the effective management of the Ambassador’s Residence. This role sits at the centre of Embassy operations – enabling senior leadership to operate effectively, coordinating priorities, supporting representational activity, and ensuring the smooth day‑to‑day running of both the Private Office and the Residence.

What you will do

This is a varied and responsible role combining private office coordination, residence management and support to visits and events. You will:

• Manage the Ambassador’s Private Office, including a complex diary, correspondence, travel arrangements and expenses, ensuring priorities are handled efficiently and sensitively.
• Act as a key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, supporting communication, drafting routine correspondence, and issuing formal Notes Verbales on behalf of the Ambassador.
• Oversee the Ambassador’s Residence, coordinating official receptions, lunches and events, working closely with the Residence Housekeeper, external caterers and Corporate Services colleagues.
• Support visits and representational activity, leading logistical coordination for senior visits, programmes and events, ensuring arrangements, timings and protocols are in place.
• Manage people and resources, including line‑managing residence staff, overseeing contracts for external catering services, and managing the Residence entertainment budget and inventories.

Alongside high-level coordination and stakeholder engagement, you will also play an important hands-on role in ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the Ambassador’s office and residence. This includes practical tasks such as welcoming visitors, preparing meeting spaces, supporting events, arranging travel and processing expenses. This role suits someone who is proactive, flexible and takes pride in delivering both strategic and operational support as part of a small, collaborative team.

The role may require occasional out‑of‑hours work and travel in support of representational events or senior visits.

What you will love about this role

• Working at the heart of the Embassy, closely supporting senior leadership and seeing the impact of your work every day.
• A role with variety, visibility and responsibility — no two days are the same.
• Opportunities to build strong relationships across the Embassy and with external partners.
• Exposure to diplomatic operations, protocol and international engagement.
• A supportive organisation that values learning and development, inclusion, and flexible working (where operationally possible).

Our Ideal Candidate shows: 

• Professional proficiency in Macedonian and English, written and spoken (minimum C1 level, according to the CEFR framework);
• Minimum 3 years’ relevant and proven experience supporting senior leaders in a Private Office, executive support, PA, Chief of Staff‑type or similar senior administrative role;
• Excellent organisational and time‑management skills, with the ability to manage complex diaries, competing priorities and tight deadlines in a fast‑paced environment;
• Strong judgement, discretion and integrity, with the confidence to handle sensitive information and work closely with senior stakeholders;
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage confidently with internal and external stakeholders at all levels;
• Experience coordinating events, visits or representational activity, including logistics, programmes and stakeholder coordination;
• Strong drafting and correspondence skills, with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail;
• Ability to work independently and proactively, using initiative while also collaborating effectively as part of a team;
• Strong IT skills, including confidence using MS Outlook, Word, Excel and Microsoft Teams.