Main purpose of job:

We are seeking a dynamic and customer-oriented Vice Consul, who will manage the consular section as well as having responsibility for some corporate services functions in the British Embassy Montevideo, Uruguay. 

The Americas Consular Network provides high quality, professional, empathetic services to British nationals. We provide tailored support to the most vulnerable, encourage British nationals to take personal responsibility, work with stakeholders to reduce risks and are ready to scale and flex our response in a crisis. The jobholder will play an important role in this network, not only as a Vice Consul responsible for day-to-day consular operations in Uruguay, but by providing support to other consular sections in the network where there is a business need. 

The role will involve interaction with members of the public, local and UK authorities, as well as colleagues across the Americas and London in order to fulfil the delivery of the UK’s Consular Strategy. As a Head of Section, the role will also require collaboration across the Embassy, including regular engagement with senior management, line management of one staff member who works on Consular and Corporate Services and of the Honorary Consul in Uruguay. 

The successful candidate will contribute to the running of the embassy, as part of the Corporate Services team, with responsibility for Human Resources. This will include recruitment, terms and conditions for Country Based Staff (CBS), training and development and performance management. 

The Vice-Consul will be managed by the Deputy Head of Mission (DHM) but will also report to the Consular Regional Operations Manager (CROM) based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. 

Roles and responsibilities:

• Oversee and provide guidance to the Consular team in Montevideo, and to the wider network. Ensure service delivery, audit requirements, and case management exceed the minimum expected standards and are in line with the Consular Strategy, Consular Charter and FCDO Consular Guidance; 
• Provide consular assistance in accordance with current guidelines including, but not limited to, visiting British nationals in hospital, jail or mortuary, providing support following bereavement, child custody matters, sexual assault, and cases involving mental health issues. Provide reports and coordinate strategy discussions with senior leadership on high profile cases. Produce Emergency Travel Documents and do ad hoc notarial work.  
• Proactively identify, manage, deliver and evaluate prevention activities; working in conjunction with political, other internal teams and key external stakeholders. This will include representation at events, public speaking duties and project management. Work with senior leadership to ensure accurate travel advice for Uruguay. 
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with local authorities (e.g. police, prison service, immigration, Ombudsman, hospitals, ministries and children’s services), key stakeholders (e.g. travel and tourism industry, support groups, NGOs) and other diplomatic missions;  
• Bid for and manage the consular budget ensuring that resources are profiled accurately, used effectively and in accordance with guidance.  
• Lead on Consular aspects of the whole of mission crisis response. Ensure the Consular team is fully trained and assist the Honorary Consul in ensuring they take relevant training and understand their role in a crisis. Respond to crisis events as necessary; 
• Work with colleagues in the Americas Consular Region contributing as necessary to help shape the development and Application of consular strategy and policy in the network, provide resilience when necessary both virtually and in person by travelling to other posts in the region to work on a temporary basis;  
• Lead on Human Resources for the Corporate Services team.  Provide advice to teams across the office on recruitment and terms and conditions for Country Based Staff (CBS) and interns.  
• Manage the learning and development (L&D) officer for the embassy. Identify training opportunities, manage an L&D budget and bids for using this budget.  
• Work with the senior leadership team to coordinate the embassy’s crisis response; keep key crisis documents updated, place staff into appropriate roles and manage crisis training to ensure crisis readiness. 

Resources managed: 

Staff: Line management of 1 x AO(L) Pro-Consul/Corporate Services officer and management of 1 Honorary Consul 

Budgets: Manage the Consular section budget for travel and prevention activity 

• A team player with previous management experience. 
• Substantial demonstrated work experience (to include supporting/working with the public and staff management skills).  
• Experience in human resources, with a sound understanding of HR best practice.
• Excellent communication skills; both written and oral, including the ability to communicate at all levels. 
• Proactive, flexible, adaptable and the ability to work across small teams. 
• Initiative, drive & determination with superior problem-solving skills, sound judgement, common sense, and the ability to remain calm and focused under pressure. 
• Proven ability to prioritise, effectively manage and execute several tasks. 
• Proven ability to demonstrate initiative and self-motivation, self-starter 
• The successful candidate must be available to attend a virtual training course within the first 3 months of employment and then a weeklong in-person training course in the UK within the first 6-8 months of the job starting. 
• Proficiency in MS Office.
• Budget management experience. 

Language requirements: 

Language: English and Spanish 
Level of language required: Fluent