Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Operations and Corporate Services)
Protocol, Visits and Events
Main purpose of job:
To ensure the effective day-to-day operations of the British High Commission in St John’s. This includes acting as a Personal Assistant to the Resident British Commissioner, managing the High Commission’s finances, leading on protocol issues, managing official transport (including line management of the BHC’s driver/labourer), managing the logistics for events hosted by the High Commission, and providing general office administration tasks.
Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:
- Effective management of the Resident British Commissioner’s diary;
- Helping organise meetings and events to promote the High Commission’s objectives;
- Ensuring the High Commission has an effective official transport service;
- Building and maintaining excellent relationships to ensure the efficient running of the High Commission, including with the local authorities;
- Dispatch and receipt of the diplomatic bag;
- Under the guidance of our Corporate Service team in Barbados, to ensure the High Commission’s operates with maximum financial efficiency and that finances, security and health and safety at the mission and Residence are handled in accordance with internal best practice;
- Logistical oversight of events at the High Commission and Residence;
- Supporting the Political and Project Manager on social media and high profile visitors and events;
- Providing basic IT support (for which training will be provided);
- Prompt and accurate responses to correspondence;
- Occasional driving duties;
- Additional administrative tasks as directed.
Resources managed:
Line management of 1 x (S1) full time driver/labourer;
Day-to-day management of office budget.
- As we are a small diplomatic mission the successful candidate must be flexible, pragmatic, and prepared to react positively to change and ready to try new ways of working.
- Excellent organisational and problem-solving skills, calmness under pressure, and clear written and oral communication are key.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and Teams.
- Applicant must be fluent in written and spoken English.
- Must have the legal status to live and work in Antigua and Barbuda.
- Valid and clean driving licence.
- Experience working in a British or international environment would be an advantage.
Making Effective Decisions, Collaborating and Partnering, Delivering Value for Money, Managing a Quality Service
11 October 2021
A2 (L)
Full-time, Permanent
36
Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories
Antigua & Barbuda
St. Johns
British High Commission
1
EC$4484.00
15 November 2021
Learning and development opportunities:
Completion of our internal induction programme, which may include travel to Barbados (subject to local COVID protocols). As part of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, BHC St John’s offers a range of development opportunities, particularly through our online International Academy.
Working patterns:
The standard working hours are 0745-1600hrs Monday to Thursday and 0800-1300hrs Friday.
However, the nature of the High Commission and this role means the successful candidate must be prepared to work flexibly within the total core hours per week (totalling 38hrs including paid breaks). This will likely mean some evening work each week and occasional weekend work, including being able to respond to our security monitoring company outside of office hours when the Resident British Commissioner is off-island. Compensation for out-of-hours duties will be paid subject to local law.
The British Embassy Network offers a strong benefits package. This package includes generous vacation and leave time, flexible working patterns, and an enriching learning and development opportunities.
In 2019, the UK expanded its diplomatic network with twelve new missions, which includes our High Commission near St John’s, which our team moved in to in the middle of 2020. This is an exciting opportunity to be in the heart of the small team furthering UK objectives and interests in Antigua and Barbuda. As a small team, we need staff with a “can do” positive and flexible attitude to ensure our success. A customer-focussed team player with strong inter-personal skills, you will ensure that the office runs smoothly on a daily basis, enabling the British High Commission to achieve its objectives.
The FCDO and our overseas network is recognised as a good employer, with a robust, fair and transparent performance management and appraisal system to which staff bonuses are linked. We have a good learning and development and organisational culture. We treat people with respect and equality and have a policy of zero tolerance for any form of discrimination, bullying, or harassment.
All applicants must be legally able to reside and work in BHC St John’s with the correct visa/status or work permit. Staff members recruited locally by the British High Commission are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law.
Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount. We will conduct checks of references and security clearances. No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.
Please note that: any questions you may have about this position will only be answered during interview, incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted (consider your application unsuccessful if you have not heard from us three weeks after the closing date).
Interviews will be held the week of 25 October 2021.
The British High Commission is an equal opportunities employers and do not discriminate on grounds of ethnic origin, race, religious beliefs, age, disability, gender or sexual orientation.
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