View Vacancy - Receptionist and Administrative Assistant (02/18 ABI)

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Operations and Corporate Services)
Corporate Services Support

Main purpose of job:

The jobholder will be required to carry out the following key duties:

  • Efficient front and back office management
  • Responding to all telephone calls and customer enquiries in a prompt and professional manner
  • Various administrative tasks
  • Consular support as necessary

Roles and responsibilities: 

  • Respond to all telephone enquiries and manage the answering machine system.
  • Manage and respond to emails in the Embassy mailbox.
  • Receive and send out mail, including by driver delivery.
  • Make hotel or other temporary accommodation bookings for visitors to the Embassy.
  • Keep electronic and paper records and files up to date.
  • Provide support and cover absence of the Ambassador/ Deputy Head of Mission’s Personal Assistant including diary management, setting up meetings and making follow-up calls.
  • Provide general support to Corporates Services Manager on Finance, Estates (property management) and logistics (transport management).
  • Provide support to organize events and receptions, including sending out invitations and  making follow-up calls.
  • Assist the Pro-consul in consular work as required.
  • Other ad hoc administrative duties.
  • Experience in office management.
  • Experience in dealing with the public.
  • Excellent organisational skills.
  • Excellent communication skills, with fluent spoken and written English and French.
  • Excellent IT skills in Microsoft Office.
  • A degree in any business related field is desirable.
  • Minimum of 3 years in an administration role is desirable.
5 December 2018
Administrative Assistant (AA)
Permanent
Africa
Côte d'Ivoire
Abidjan
British Embassy
1
XOF 354,201 to XOF 484,669 plus XOF 25,000 transport allowance
7 January 2019

Learning and development opportunities:

Opportunities for learning and development on the job through attendance at seminars, workshops and training courses. There are further opportunities offered through the Regional Learning and Development Team in Accra. A wide range of e-learning courses are offered by the UK civil service and both on-line and traditional training is offered by the Foreign Office’s Diplomatic Academy.

Working patterns:

The British Embassy’s working hours are:

Monday-Thursday: 0830-1630

Friday: 0830-1430

Occasional evening events to attend which attract TOIL

The British Embassy in Abidjan is a small but dynamic diplomatic mission with a culture that encourages staff to take the initiative, be good team players and willing to support colleagues in other areas of work as necessary. We are a team of thirteen, two of whom are UK diplomats. Good communication and team-working skills are highly desirable. Your role will be essential in providing operational support to the team.


  • Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening.
  • Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
  • Employees recruited locally by the British Embassy in Abidjan are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Ivory Coast.
  • All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit.
  • The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to;
  1. Obtain the relevant permit
  2. Pay fees for the permit
  3. Make arrangements to relocate
  4. Meet the costs to relocation
  • The British Embassy/High Commission does not sponsor visas/work permits except where it may be local practice to do so.
  • Employees who are not eligible to pay local income tax: e.g. certain third-country nationals and spouses/partners of UK diplomats will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
  • Information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Competency Framework can be found on this link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework Please note: AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
  • Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
  • The British Embassy will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.
Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

This opportunity is closed to applications.