View Vacancy - Corporate Services Manager (DNK20.248)

Due to COVID-19, you may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign and we are working hard to minimise any disruption.

The British Embassy in Copenhagen is part of a worldwide network, representing British political & economic and consular interests overseas and is currently looking for a Corporate Services Manager.

The main purpose of this job is to provide strategic direction to corporate services; leading 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 Copenhagen.

As the driving force for corporate delivery, the jobholder will be a core member of the senior leadership team and One HMG Leadership Committee providing corporate, financial and local insight to inform decision making.

This role will lead and develop a diverse team of 12 corporate staff, with oversight of outsourced service provision and contracts.

This role will initially report to the Deputy Head of Mission. However, as part of a proposed restructuring of corporate services (finance, HR, estates, protocol) globally to a functional model, the successful candidate’s line management will likely move to a regional model and they will need to demonstrate a flexible approach to being part of an evolving project.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Delivery (35%)

• Oversee 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;
• Direct the 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;
• Oversee 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, leading on corporate projects and the change management required to deliver them.  

Strategic Planning and Leadership (30%)

• To provide strategic leadership and planning in 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 with the Regional Corporate Services Lead;
• Manage the platform (currently supporting a number of government departments) and support regional teams, influencing at a senior level to maintain and strengthen inclusiveness;
• Actively build and deepen 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%)

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

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 (once established) to plan long term resource and development needs;
• Ensure wellbeing and engagement are maintained within the corporate services team, seeking regular feedback.

Local Requirement (5%)

• LE Staff Payroll (outsourced contract);
• Liaison with heads of Admin in local Copenhagen embassies;
• Crisis preparedness and business continuity planning.

• Fluent level of English;
• Minimum 3 years of middle management experience working for international organisation, preferably with direct involvement in HR and /or Finance policy and implementation;
• Experience in managing cross functional teams;
• Previous budget management experience;
• Experience in managing suppliers and outsourced service delivery;
• Excellent team management skills;
• High levels of discretion, with a resilient, flexible and ‘can do’ attitude;
• Ability to challenge and influence senior stakeholders;
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills, with an aptitude for delivering results to a high standard within tight deadlines and adapting to changing aims;
• Strong IT Skills (Microsoft Office including Excel, Word, Power Point, Outlook and Teams).