View Vacancy - DXB - Visits & Chancery Support Officer (AO)

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. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Chancery

The British Embassy Dubai has a vacancy for a Visits and Chancery Support Officer, job, grade Administrative Officer (AO) on a fixed-term contract for three (3) years.

The jobholder will design and deliver logistics and provide support to visits to the UAE by British Ministers, senior officials, members of the Royal family, and other official visitors. Also, will provide general administration to support the Political and Economic Section, acting as point of contact for incoming / external enquiries, filing and information management, logistical support for internal and external meetings, and other administrative tasks. 

The team is at the heart of our operation and the jobholder can expect to work particularly closely with the Political, Economic, International Trade, Corporate Services, and Senior Leadership Group and other government departments in the offices of the Embassy in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai. 

The jobholder will need to engage confidently and effectively with people at all levels, including key contacts within the UAE Government and business community, and government departments in the UK. Good problem solving and judgement, a keen eye for detail and the ability to deliver results quickly are essential. The jobholder will frequently need to respond to unforeseen obstacles, including last minute changes to visit programmes. 

The jobholder must be available in a full-time capacity to work on site at the British Embassy Dubai.

While this role is based in Dubai, the jobholder will provide support to visits across the whole UAE and will be expected to travel to Abu Dhabi as and when required. 

The jobholder will report to the UAE Central Visits Team Manager but will also provide support to the wider Chancery Team. 

Duties and responsibilities:

Provide logistical and administrative support to ensure the smooth functioning of high-profile official visits to the UAE (40%) 

  • Coordination of high-impact visit programmes (usually working in support of a designated ‘Policy Lead’ and in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders).
  • Making logistics and protocol arrangements for visits
  • Communication of draft and final visit programmes, including keeping Senior Responsible Officers informed of visit arrangements
  • Producing draft visit programmes and circulating these and subsequent updates
  • Working with other Embassy teams to make visit arrangements, particularly Security, Government Relations Officers, and Transport teams
  • Assisting with drafting of Note Verbales and ensuring that all necessary forms and security clearance details are submitted for a visiting party and accompanying Embassy staff
  • Arranging meetings and events, including but not limited to issuing invitations and agendas, managing RSVPs, booking rooms, etc.
  • Maintaining a central record of all visit programmes, briefing packs, and records to inform future visits
  • Provide administrative support to the wider team as required

 Provide administrative support to ensure the smooth functioning of Chancery (40%)

  • Manage and submit Note Verbales and formal Embassy team communications for meetings, invitations and letter deliveries.
  • Working with Embassy teams to assist in the delivery of Embassy events.
  • Provide logistical support for external meetings.
  • Administrative support for the section (including diary management).
  • Responsible for drafting the Chancery ‘week ahead’ newsletter.
  • Lead on departmental inductions for all new Chancery staff including introductory calls.
  • Responsible for management of the sections information management filing system and databases.
  • Maintain and update contacts list and CV’s for the section.
  • Provide general administrative tasks.

Provide wider admin support for special projects and priority Embassy work times administrative support to the Chancery team (including the GSF Project Manager 20%)

  • Admin support to the for the Gulf Strategy Fund (GSF) Project Manager.
  • Admin Support for the Kings Birthday Party.
  • Participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any response to a crisis.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any other response to a crisis affecting UK citizens.  

The FCDO is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We do not discriminate on any basis, including categories protected by law. In keeping with the FCDO’s commitment to disability inclusion in the workplace, hiring managers must incorporate the principles set out in the FCDO Disability Confident scheme job applications in the CBS recruitment process.  Our CBS are recruited by Missions in-country in line with local employment laws.

Key behaviours required:

  • Working Together - Forming effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds; sharing information, resources, and support.
  • Managing a Quality Service - Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.
  • Delivering at Pace - Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
  • Making Effective Decisions- Using evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully considering alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.
  • Communicating and Influencing: Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity, and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses, and opinions of others.

 

  • Minimum two (2) years’ experience in administration support.
  • High-level organisational and coordination skills, including the ability to prioritise, meet deadlines, and proactively identify and resolve potential problems.
  • Demonstrates advanced ability to communicate fluently and effectively in English, both orally and in writing.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills. Able to maintain a range of contacts to build effective working relationships and work closely with senior staff and their contacts.
  • Excellent customer care skills and the ability to respond to a range of customer needs, including at senior levels.
  • Proven record of organisational ability. Ability to prioritise and organise own workload and meet deadlines, while maintaining attention to detail and without compromising the quality of the work.
  • Excellent team player with the ability to work flexibly both in a small team and individually with autonomy.
  • Excellent customer service skills. Demonstrates courtesy and consideration in dealing with telephone callers and other stakeholders.
  • Demonstrate advanced ability to communicate fluently, effectively, and persuasively in English, both orally and in writing.
  • Very good level of IT skills and literacy in Microsoft Office applications (MS Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).

 

  • Previous relevant experience either in an embassy/ foreign diplomatic mission or an international organisation, and/or in the delivery of Corporate Services.
  • Experience working with Government Officials, Ministries and Institutions.
  • Experience of visit and/or event organisation.
  • Arabic language skills.

 

Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Working Together
20 July 2025
Administrative Officer (AO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
40
Middle East & North Africa
United Arab Emirates
Dubai
British Embassy
1
AED
12,952
monthly
1 September 2025

Working hours and remuneration:

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role, which includes 25 days of leave per annum (calculated pro-rata).

The salary for this role is AED 12,952 per month

There are no other allowances payable as part of this package. No accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

This role is for a full-time employment, on a fixed term contract basis for three (3) years, subject to six (6) months’ probationary period. The contract may be extended, subject to satisfactory performance and on on-going business requirement.

The Embassy is open from Monday to Friday from 0700 to 1800 hrs.  The Employee’s normal weekly working hours are forty (40) Monday to Friday (inclusive). This is inclusive of one-hour paid rest break for each five (5) hours worked; the timing of the rest break shall be approved by the Employee’s Line Manager and in accordance with operational requirements.

The jobholder should be flexible in their approach to hours worked as these will be dictated by operational needs and may involve working out of hours (evening and/or weekend), especially during events and visits. Flexible working arrangements may be considered based on operational requirements and agreement with the line manager, and in line with FCDO and Embassy policies.

The jobholder will be based in Dubai but will provide support to visits across the whole UAE and will be expected to travel to Abu Dhabi as and when required.

The Embassy has an active Learning and Development Committee, and the whole of Post is committed to providing the time and resources for staff to develop personally and professionally. The 70/20/10 learning and development model is applied in a flexible manner, with extensive informal and formal opportunities readily available. 

The successful candidate will be required to transfer their visa under the Embassy's sponsorship.

How to apply: 

Interested candidates must ensure that the following is fully completed:   

  1. Fully completed online application form which must include:
  2. Fully completed education details and employment history
  3. Fully completed experience, professional skills and behaviour-based sections in the online application form. Please refrain from the use of AI based tools when completing your application, this is to ensure a fair competition for all candidates and helps maintain the integrity process. If the use of AI is identified, your application will be rejected. 

Please note: It is mandatory that all applicants complete the online application form including the employment and educational details, technical, skills and experience sections and the behaviour-based questions. Applications that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered whilst shortlisting for the next stage.  

Closing date for applications is at 23:55 UAE local time on 20th July 2025. 

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered. 

Internal candidate (i.e., those employed by the British Embassies in Abu Dhabi & Dubai) applying for this position are advised to inform their current line managers upon submission of their application. 

Process: 

The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around two to three months. The security clearance process includes checks available in country and with UK, dependant on the security level required for the role and the candidate's profile and UK footprint. You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign, and we are working hard to minimise any disruption. 

Due to the large number of applications, we receive, only those shortlisted for the next step of the recruitment process will be contacted. 

The start date mentioned in the job advert is tentative and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting procedures before employment can begin. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances. 

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’.  If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate. 

The FCDO operates an agile approach to delivery. To facilitate an agile workforce, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require.  The British Embassy Dubai is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.

 

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.