Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Consular Roles)
Consular
The British Consulate in the Hague is looking for an independent, well-organised and pro-active Pro-Consul/Consular Officer to join an experienced, busy consular team and to ensure a high quality, professional, efficient and modern consular service
The main function of the role is to provide a high level of consular assistance and support to British Nationals in The Netherlands, with special attention on the most vulnerable. The role will also require delivering documentary and notarial services. The successful candidate will be expected to fulfil these aspects of the role whilst also contributing to the Wider Consular Network objectives and whilst actively seeking opportunities to work with wider teams in the British Embassy The Hague to support a positive work environment.
Candidates should note that the different functions of the role will require the candidate to adapt to shifting priorities and operational objectives, whilst maintaining a commitment to excellent customer service.
Roles and Responsibilities
Assistance
- To provide a high level of consular assistance and support to British Nationals, in a range of situations, with special attention to the most vulnerable, such as in cases of hospitalisations, deaths, arrests, rape and sexual assault, financial difficulties, missing persons, child welfare cases.
- To liaise with local contacts, such as police, funeral directors, health professionals, social workers, charities, organisations and town hall officials.
- To update information on case management systems relating to consular cases.
- To process appointments for consular services and manage the online appointment booking system.
- To handle consular correspondence, telephone enquiries and counter enquiries/services in a professional manner.
- To support the Emergency Travel Document Centre by printing Emergency Travel Documents for collection.
- To work alongside internal departments of Consular Directorate, such as Contact Centres, ETD Centres, Global Response Centre to deliver assistance to British Nationals.
- To update and maintain consular content on GOV.UK such as prisoner packs, bereavement packs etc and to ensure that all lists and information is accurate and up to date.
Notarial:
- To prepare paperwork for all documentary and notarial services
- To issue notarial documents for British Nationals in accordance with FCDO guidance
- To take fees and be responsible for cashier duties
Prevention/Outreach:
- To work closely with the Vice Consul to help implement the Prevention objectives for Post.
- To build and maintain strong working relationships with key external stakeholders and internal colleagues to deliver on Prevention Objectives.
- To assist in the organisation of outreach events/meetings with key external stakeholders
Crisis:
- To assist with Post preparation in for Crisis and response to large scale events
- To implement the Crisis Management Plan if required
- To assist with crises which require a consular response i.e deployment and support VC as consular manager in a crisis
Corporate:
- To actively participate in relevant corporate structures as part of a) corporate responsibilities b) personal development
- To participate in delivering the Regional Consular Business Plan and to engage with the Embassy Business Plan
- To have a good awareness of the general Consular Strategy and work according the principles as set out in the strategy.
- To contribute to working and best practice groups.
- Excellent communication, and customer service skills, including an ability to support customers in difficult and traumatic situations;
- Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and external contacts
- Self-motivated and able to work effectively and proactively without close supervision;
- Ability to display a high level of discretion and responsibility;
- Attention to detail, strong analytical perspective and problem solving skills;
- Language skills: fluent oral and written English
- Flexibility, resilience, patience, and the ability to deal with difficult situations, including the ability to work unsocial hours in an emergency or crisis;
- Occasional travel may be required
- Adaptability and positive mind set towards change
- Basic Dutch language;
- Experience of assisting British Nationals overseas;
- Minimum 2 years work experience in either tourism or a customer service role;
- Knowledge of the UK and Dutch administrative, justice & legal systems and social services;
Leading and Communicating, Collaborating and Partnering, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace
9 December 2021
A2 (L)
Temporary
36
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Netherlands
The Hague
British Consulate
1
EUR
3,189.12
3 March 2022
2 March 2023
The successful candidate will initially be offered a 12 month employment contract at grade A2. The base salary for this position is € 3,189.12 gross per month, based on a working week of 36 hours. In addition, an 8% holiday bonus and a monthly working from home allowance are payable. Actual commuter travel expenses up to a limit or a monthly set travel allowance for commuter costs are payable depending on the role and how often office work is needed. The Embassy currently applies a performance based bonus pay model for local staff.
Applicants must be legally entitled to work in The Netherlands.
The successful candidate will undergo a professional background check; Any job offer is also provisional to a successful security clearance check.
The Embassy encourages a culture of continuous learning. All employees have access to the Civil Service Learning platform which gives access to training to improve job specific skills. Employees are entitled to a minimum number of annual training days.
The British Embassy promotes and demonstrates the key values of Professionalism, Respect and Honesty.
Visa/work permit requirements: candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in The Netherlands and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract.
Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in The Netherlands.
The job description is subject to changes and may evolve over time and in response to changing circumstances. The role exists as part of a team and all staff are expected to be flexible in supporting colleagues, particularly at busy times.
The British Embassy promotes and demonstrates the key values of Professionalism, Respect and Honesty.
“Under the terms of the UK/NL Double Taxation Convention (Article 18 1(b)(ii), UK nationals who move to The Netherlands to take up their new role at the Embassy/Consulate and UKB spouse who start working at the Embassy with no previous record of working in the Netherlands since the arrival of the UKB partner they accompany, will be placed on a tax abated salary if deemed to be eligible for Dutch income tax exemption on their salary. Qualifying staff will have no Dutch income tax levied on their salary and will therefore be paid an abated salary reduced by the applicable tax they would have had to pay if that local liability had existed. A tax abated salary ensures a fair and comparable take home pay. Staff on tax abated salaries cannot claim tax benefits in The Netherlands but they are fully and comprehensively covered for social security and deemed to be resident local staff for all intents and purposes.”
Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.
We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.
Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.
Please be advised that the British Diplomatic Missions will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a job.
*Please note for more information on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment levels please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your language skill is going to be assessed.
To help us track our recruitment effort, please indicate on the application form /in your cover letter where (ngotenders.net) you saw this job posting.