View Vacancy - Residence & Business Hospitality Manager (BEL19.117)

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 (Residence and Support Staff)
Residence Coordinator

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) diplomatic missions in Benelux are part of a world-wide network of over 200 Posts representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas.

Corporate Services Benelux (CSB), a joint service leading on operational support to the UK diplomatic missions in Brussels and Benelux, is now looking for a Residence & Business Hospitality Manager.

The Residence & Business Hospitality Manager is responsible for the efficient management of the British Residence, ensuring that it contributes fully to UK government priorities, represents value for money, is maintained to the highest possible standard and serves as a showcase for British excellence. The job holder will also be expected to offer guidance on use of business hospitality in other official and Residence locations of the UK Missions.

Reporting to the Deputy Director Corporate Services, the Residence & Business Hospitality Manager is responsible for the overall day-to-day management of the Residence and the planning and co-ordination of events that take place therein.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Residence - to manage all aspects of running the Residence.

  • Corporate leadership to the Residence team of 12 (and potentially increasing to 14), ensuring that staff have strong personal learning and development plans and their job appraisals are carried out in an effective and timely manner;
  • Performance management of Deputy Residence Manager and Head Chef, to include conducting appraisals and identifying training requirements;
  • Act as liaison between Corporate Services Benelux and Facilities Management teams with regard to all renovation/building/maintenance work undertaken at the Residence;
  • Ensure that the furniture, furnishings, domestic equipment and all other official property and personal effects are properly catalogued, maintained and replaced where necessary, in conjunction with Facilities Management Teams;
  • Responsible for Residence budget and accounts, ensuring timely reporting back to Deputy Director Corporate Services Benelux;
  • Ensure that the Residence is used appropriately and with due consideration to the Permanent Representative’s privacy and personal requirements.

Business Hospitality:

  • Liaise with the UK Missions, Private Offices and lead on preparation of the weekly event programme (in consultation with the EU Mission Visits Team);
  • Plan and manage events to ensure professional delivery coupled with the best possible financial outcome for HMG;
  • Liaise with Head Chef on menus for events and private dining, suggesting accompanying wines where appropriate;
  • Liaise with external suppliers to support events, such as catering, event management, A/V, etc.;
  • In conjunction with Deputy Residence & Hospitality Manager, oversee preparation of staff rosters, including hire of additional staff for functions when required;
  • Maintain updated management information on the use of agency staff;
  • Negotiate with suppliers to ensure value for money is achieved in all aspects of procurement;
  • Ensure that publicity material for the Residence is current and relevant, for respective audiences;
  • In conjunction with Deputy Residence & Hospitality Manager and Head Chef, maintain food and beverage levels, undertaking stock control and regular checks;
  • Showcase UK products and ingredients within the Residence, for example through menus, furniture, art displays and toiletries;
  • Ensure during quiet periods the Residence staff are utilised effectively in  terms of forward planning and maintenance of the fabric of the building;
  • Prepare table plans, menus and place cards when required;
  • Lead on maintaining up to date guidance on the use of the British Residence.

General

  • The job holder will need to exercise judgement, having scope for discretion in interpreting and applying rules and policies;
  • They will need to have a considerable knowledge and a full understanding of their work area;
  • They will regularly be expected to work with senior stakeholders (SMS) based within the three Missions.
  • Proven people management skills capable of leading teams;
  • Excellent inter-personal and communication skills, including negotiating with external stakeholders;
  • Ability to complete work to a high standard, under pressure with a focus on attention to detail;
  • Strong project management skills to contribute to major events effectively;
  • Relevant work experience in an international standard hotel, diplomatic residence or equivalent;
  • Experience in managing financial budgets and resources effectively;
  • Flexibility to work some evenings and weekends;
  • Capable of identifying new ways of working and ensuring their smooth implementation;
  • Good IT skills (MS Office, particularly Excel);
  • Excellent written and spoken English.
  • Good working knowledge of French and/or Dutch is desirable but not essential.
25 March 2019
Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Full-time, Flexible working, Permanent
36,25
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Belgium
Brussels
British Embassy
1
EUR
6,245
1 June 2019

This is a permanent full-time contract (for working 5 days over 7 per week, 36.25 hours net).

The monthly salary for this position is €6,245 C5 (L) level (The British Diplomatic Missions in Belgium salaries are not subject to annual indexation).

Please note that Belgian nationals will be paid their salary gross and are expected to comply with their tax obligations through completion of a tax return to the Belgian authorities. Non-Belgian nationals will receive their salary net, minus the deduction of an equivalent level of Belgian tax retained at source. Further information on this will be given to candidates during the recruitment process.

The successful candidates will be subject to professional background checks and security clearance.

Staff recruited locally by the British Diplomatic Missions in Belgium are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Belgian employment law.

Visa/passport requirements: Must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Belgium and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract.


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 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.