View Vacancy - Corporate Services Manager

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)
Estates, Finance, HR, Procurement, Corporate Services Support

The British Embassy in Doha is part of a worldwide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is looking to appoint a Corporate Services Manager grade C4 (L).

Main Purpose of the Job:

The British Embassy in Doha is looking for an exceptional, well-organised and efficient person to join our busy and vibrant team to lead our Corporate Services Section. The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate a strong customer focus, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, tact, discretion and an ability to deliver consistently across a broad range of responsibilities.

This role carries great variety and therefore requires a leader comfortable with managing budgets, the embassy estate and its people. The section is responsible for coordinating local human resource matters, budget management and resourcing, premises and transport management and providing a full range of mobilisation services to our diplomatic officers.  The successful candidate will directly line manage four members of staff and countersign for five. You will require strong organisational and management skills and demonstrate an ability to work under pressure and with minimal supervision. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Leadership and Management:

  • Contribute to the senior leadership of the Embassy in support of the Ambassador and Deputy Head of Mission, with a particular focus on supporting front line Embassy activity with a can-do approach.
  • Ensure overall efficient and effective operation of corporate services work. 
  • Continuously review business policies and processes to identify new and more imaginative ways of working and deliver a more effective, efficient and professional operation.
  • Energetic outreach to internal and external stakeholders; managing customer relationships and obtaining value for money and efficiencies for Embassy interests.
  • Provide direction and motivation to the team to deliver a high level service to all customers and stakeholders.
  • Participate in and provide input into internal committees focused on policy development and wider organisational issues – both with local colleagues as well as counterparts in London.
  • Liaise with the locally-employed staff association, as appropriate
  • Lead a Corporate Services team of 10 with an overview of a number of external contractors.

Finance:

  • Oversee management of the Embassy’s budget in accordance with corporate policies to ensure on-budget expenditure and value for money.
  • Oversee the preparation of monthly, annual and ad hoc reports to senior managers on budget management, including budget projections and spending to date.
  • Oversee all other finance related processes to ensure proper financial controls are in place and being followed.
  • Coordinate the Embassy’s Post Management Committee ensuring devolved budget holders actively manage their budgets.
  • Coordinate requests for additional budget funds or refund of surplus funds to/from Regional Finance Hub in Manila.
  • Review and authorise expenditure.
  • Coordinate accounting and finance services to our OneHMG Partners as required (e.g. UK Ministry of Defence, Department for International Trade, etc.).
  • Prepare Medium Term Financial Plans on an annual basis, in line with the Country Business Plan.

Procurement; Oversee:   

  • Work with Regional Procurement Hub in Manila to ensure all Embassy procurement is carried out according to the FCO guidelines.
  • Implementation of existing corporate policies and best practices on procurement, ensuring maximum value for money.
  • Management of external contracts with local suppliers and vendors as necessary.

Human Resources; Oversee: 

  • Work with the regional HR Hub in Abu Dhabi on the implementation of HR policies and procedures, supporting appropriate performance management, assisting on interview panels and assisting on disciplinary panels as required.
  • Work on terms and conditions of service for locally-employed staff and ensure compliance with local labour law.
  • Review and authorise local employment offers, where necessary.
  • Coordination of training with Regional Learning & Development Team in Dubai where appropriate.
  • Oversee locally-employed staff pay scales, ensuring they are reviewed regularly and fairly. 
  • Support with the annual appraisal validation process and performance related pay increases, ensuring full consultation with posts OneHMG Partners. 

Estates; Oversee:

    • Estate management, ensuring the office residential properties and official vehicles are fully operational as required and underpin on-going proactive maintenance’s schedule and value for money.
    • Full compliance with corporate procedures, including local and UK health and safety regulations and policies. 
    • Environmental/sustainability methodologies are integrated into the Embassy. 
    • Work with external service providers to ensure they meet the required levels of high customer service levels and contractual terms are fulfilled.

    Key Competencies:

    • Changing and Improving: People who are effective in this area are responsive, innovative and seek out opportunities to create effective change. It’s about being open to change, suggesting ideas for improvements to the way things are done, and working in ‘smarter’, more focused ways.
    • Delivering Value for Money: Involves the efficient, effective and economic use of taxpayers’ money in the delivery of public services.  It means seeking out and implementing solutions which achieve the best mix of quality and effectiveness for the least outlay.
    • Leading and Communicating: Effectiveness in this area is about leading from the front and communicating with clarity, conviction and enthusiasm. It’s about supporting principles of fairness of opportunity for all and a dedication to a diverse range of citizens.
    • Managing a Quality Service: Effectiveness in this area is about being organised to deliver service objectives and striving to improve the quality of service, taking account of diverse customer needs and requirements.
    • Fluency in English (both oral and written)
    • Minimum of 5 years in a similar role, including managing budgets and HR provision.
    • Finance/Budget Management qualifications
    • Previous HR experience/knowledge
    • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
    • Strong customer focus skills
    • Ability to work with individuals at all levels
    • Able to manage own work load and use initiative
    • Good team player with a positive attitude
    • Good working knowledge of MS Office programmes and be able to adapt to other systems.
    • Experience with Oracle-based accounting systems
    • Project and change management experience
    1 May 2019
    Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
    Fixed Term, Full-time
    38
    24 months
    Middle East & North Africa
    Qatar
    Doha
    British Embassy
    1
    QAR
    23,842
    1 May 2019

    Working Hours and Remuneration:


    The British Embassy offers a competitive remuneration package, including non-negotiable salary of QR 23,042 per calendar month and transportation allowance of QR 800 per calendar month, paid in arrears. The contract will be a full time, fixed term for two years subject to 6-month probationary period.

    The position is offered on a non-sponsored basis and due to the nature of the work, some flexibility on hours will be required.  

    No accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

    Embassy working hours are 7.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday and 7.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. on Thursday. The position holder should be flexible in their approach to hours worked as these will be dictated by operational needs and may involve working out-of-hours.

    Please note that travel to the UK and within the Gulf region (and possibly further afield) may be required for training and logistical purposes.

    The successful candidate will need to commence security clearance procedures through the Embassy.

    Eligibility:

    Applicants must already reside in Qatar and hold the right to live and work there; including those either under spouse sponsorship or can obtain an NOC to transfer existing sponsorship to the British Embassy.

    How to Apply:

    Interested candidates must complete the online application form and answer the motivation for applying.

    ** (Your application must include examples of when you have demonstrated the competencies outlined above in your online application form. Applications that are not complete will be rejected).

    The closing date for applications will be 01 May 2019 by 23:55 Doha time.

    Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.

    Process:

    The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around two months. 

    Due to the large amount of applications the Embassy receives only those shortlisted for interview will be contacted. Short-listed candidates will be invited for an interview.

    The successful candidate will be required to undergo security-vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances, medical clearance and reference checks.

    The British Embassy Doha is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy is subject to Terms and Conditions of service according to local Qatari employment law.

    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.