View Vacancy - Chief of Staff to High Commissioner - B3

Main purpose of job: 

To support the High Commissioner (and in her absence the Acting High Commissioner) to ensure that her time is spent on the high value and high priority activities and that she has the briefing and material she needs for internal and external meetings and engagement. To manage the HC’s calendar and oversee the Private Office, including the PA/DHC and Residence Manager, acting as the lynchpin between the HC and Senior Management Team, the other members of the Private Office/Residence/Transport and the rest of the mission.   To support the HC and DHC drive cross-mission coherence and cross-cutting activities. 

Roles and responsibilities:

Head of Private Office: 

To ensure an effective Private Office and Residence Team through: liaising and dealing effectively with external stakeholders including diplomatic colleagues, government of Bangladesh and private and civil society contacts, and senior Whitehall contacts;

Effective outreach to cross-mission colleagues, including through Mission senior management, to ensure the HC and DHC’s time is spent on what matters and has most impact; 

Ensuring Private Office routine business – diaries, appointments, briefing for meetings and correspondence is conducted smoothly and effectively;

Ensure cross-mission governance and communications is effective: including acting as Secretary for the senior cross-mission committees such as Senior Leadership Team and Post Security Committee (PSC); and taking responsibility for ensuring cross-mission initiatives led by the HC and DHC are supported;

Manage HC’s email, correspondence, meetings, diary and travel.

Secretariat:

Support HC in her personal role as Network Representative on the FCO Management Board and other FCO senior meetings, coordinating with the Board Secretary, and handling the Board and other papers and correspondence so that the HC has briefing and time necessary for preparation and effective participation in the monthly Board meetings. 

Visits Coordinator: 

Maintain oversight and control of the cross-mission visits calendar ensuring that there is transparency, cohesion and that standards for the visits are met across the mission and ensuring that the HC’s and DHC’s personal involvement in visits is handled effectively.  

Chancery and Crisis Management Support:

Provide higher classification or absence cover for the A2(L) PA/DHC.

Undertake other responsibilities to support Private Office and Chancery, including those requiring cleared UKB support.

Language requirements:  

Language:  English

Level of language required: Mother tongue or equivalent fluency 

Essential on arrival: 

PA Experience working to a senior officer.

Good IT skills and eye for detail.  

The successful candidate will be someone who: 

• Is able to combine friendliness, approachability and empathy with resilience and discretion;
• Is a good communicator, with good drafting and oral presentation skills;
• Able to work independently, and flexibly with excellent organisational skills, able to manage competing demands effectively;
• Has strong interpersonal skills and strong sense of maintaining complete confidentiality at all times;
• Is good at problem solving, able to spot emerging issues and take appropriate proactive measures. 

The successful candidate must meet the mandatory security clearance checks to operate in a confidential area before starting the job. 

The successful candidate must be either British, EU, NATO, US, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand national.  Dual nationals other than those listed above cannot apply. 

Highly Desirable:  experience or knowledge of working inside an international organisation or national government