View Vacancy – Corporate Services Manager (KGZ21.311)

The British Embassy in Bishkek is part of a worldwide network representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking to recruit a Corporate Services Officer Manager (CSM) to manage the corporate services team in the British Embassy Bishkek; to lead an efficient, cost effective and professional team to deliver all services to the partners (from across the UK government) on the platform provided by the British Embassy in Bishkek.

The CSM will ensure that the functioning and management of the corporate services team is robust and compliant in the areas of finance, HR, estates, security and other associated administrative tasks.  The position requires a practical, hands-on approach to ensure the functions and processes are efficient, smooth-running and represent good value for money. 

As the driving force for corporate delivery, the jobholder will support the senior leadership team and management board providing corporate, financial and local insight to inform decision making.

This role will lead and develop a team of 6 corporate staff, with oversight of outsourced service providers.

This is a temporary position for 1 year to cover the absence of the current job holder.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning and Leadership – 10%

• Support of the corporate agenda including the country business plan and risk management;
• Act as trusted advisor to local leadership and partners on the platform ‘horizon scanning’ locally to enable proactive resource and activity planning;
• Manage the platform and support regional teams, promoting inclusiveness at post;
• Maintain relationships with key stakeholders internally, within regional and global hubs and with external partners (at other diplomatic missions, government departments and suppliers) to maintain informed and current corporate knowledge;
• Ensure local policies are reviewed and aligned to global and local requirement and adopted by all partners on the platform;
• Lead and monitor the delivery of services against the local corporate services charter.

People – 20%

• Alongside the DHM, contribute to the overall employer proposition, including terms and conditions of service and pay and benefits for country based staff (CBS), ensuring compliance with local labour law;
• Provide guidance and act as an escalation point on sensitive staff matters for diplomatic and CBS, including management issues and dispute resolution, engaging with specialist HR functions where necessary;
• Champion and embed a collaborative and inclusive culture.

Delivery – 55%

• Manage all corporate delivery across finance, HR, protocol working closely with the regional HR, finance and procurement hubs and the Global Processing Transaction Centre (GTPC).  Ensure full use of self-service access to corporate services and regionalised services;
• Provide careful oversight and management of the admin budget, forecasting and monitoring spend as required. Prepare payroll and tax submission in the absence of the Finance Officer;
• Management of the estate, ensuring that UK and local standards are met through planned and reactive maintenance and in compliance with corporate procedures, including local and UK health and safety regulations and policy;
• Act as the ‘intelligent client’, identifying requirements, appropriate service level agreements and key performance indicators to manage and monitor supplier contracts. (materiality/volume);
• Manage the local delegated budget in accordance with corporate policies to ensure on-budget expenditure and value for money;
• Instil a continuous improvement mentality within the team, implement corporate projects and the change management required to deliver them. 

Resilience – 10%

• Respond to operational crisis, providing leadership and flexing team prioritisation as required;
• Ensure cross training within corporate services roles to provide resilience within the teams and across the region;
• Work with the Regional Corporate Services Lead to plan long term resource and development needs;
• Ensure wellbeing and engagement are maintained within the corporate services team, seeking regular feedback and embedding the values of resilience and respect;
• Provide cover for other corporate services team members when absent.

Line Management 5%

• Provide supportive line management for A2(L) Estates officer and Pro Consul, A2(L) finance officer, S1(L) driver. Provide oversight and guidance as countersigning officer for part time A2(L) Community Liaison Officer, and S1(L) driver.

• Fluent written and spoken English and Russian (minimum level required C1 under the CEFR or equivalent*);
• Minimum 3 years of middle management experience working for international organisation, preferably with direct involvement in HR and /or Finance policy and implementation;
• Graduate degree (Bachelor’s degree or higher education diploma);
• Experience in managing cross functional teams;
• High levels of discretion, with a resilient, flexible and ‘can do’ attitude;
• Able to challenge and influence senior stakeholders;
• Experience in managing suppliers and outsourced service delivery;
• Excellent hands-on knowledge of MS Office.