View Vacancy - Vice Consul (FIN21.327)

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 (Consular Roles)
Consular

The British Embassy in Helsinki is part of a worldwide network representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking for a Vice Consul.

The successful applicant will be responsible to deliver first class customer service, through the provision of consular assistance and services to resident and visiting British nationals in Finland. To build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders in local authorities and agencies.  To be a fully engaged and proactive member of Nordic-Baltic-Ireland Consular team and Europe Asia Network, contributing to the delivery of the regional consular business plan and the wider corporate goals of the Embassy. 

Main duties and Responsibilities:

  • To manage the day-to-day operations of the Consular Section in Helsinki, including improving processes to deliver a more efficient service, managing a small budget, and providing a range of fee bearing services and consular assistance to British nationals.

  • Providing assistance to British nationals - including visiting prisoners and hospitalised British nationals. Dealing with bereaved families, child custody issues, people with mental health problems, victims of crime and sexual violence, those in need of financial assistance and welfare advice. Issuing emergency travel documents and providing Notarial and Documentary Services. All in accordance with Consular guidance within the scope of the Consular strategy.  

  • Develop and maintain positive, professional and trusting working relationships with all external stakeholders in Finland to support the delivery of day-to-day consular assistance and crisis response;  monitor trends in case work to identify outreach priorities and lead on all outreach initiatives.  Plan and deliver consular preventative initiatives and communication campaigns, engaging with the Embassy’s communication team and feeding consular messages through Embassy social media channels where appropriate.

  • Provide resilience and support with case handling to colleagues in the NBDN and EuroAsia Consular region; providing remote cover for other posts on an ad hoc basis, and possibly deploying to provide physical services if agreed with the Consular Regional Operations Manager.

  • Ensure the Consular Section is prepared to respond to any consular emergency or crisis.

  • Fluent English and Finnish languages skills, both verbal and written (minimum C1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages*);

  • Previous experience in a customer facing role and ability to respond to a wide range of customer needs.

  • Resilience and resistance to trauma; ability to cope with the challenging nature of consular work.

  • Excellent communicator, strong outreach and networking skills.

  • Excellent time management and organisational skills; capable of working with limited supervision while achieving targets and goals.

  • Willingness and ability to travel occasionally within the wider Euro Asia consular regional network and to work out of hours at short notice if required.

  • Good knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 applications.

  • Professional background in social work and/ or providing support to others would be an advantage

  • Good general knowledge of the Finnish administrative system, including the justice system, laws and regulations, and social services

  • Experience of developing communications campaigns

15 August 2021
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Permanent
36.25
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Finland
Helsinki
British Embassy
1
EUR
€ 4115.19 ( monthly gross)
14 October 2021

This is a full-time permanent contract of 36.25 hours per week. Working hours are Monday – Friday (9.00- 16.45).

The appointment is subject to professional background check, security clearance and the successful completion of a probationary period.

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in Finland are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Finnish employment law and FCDO guidance for Country Based Staff.

Visa/work permit requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Finland and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country.

 

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.

The British Embassy will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a position.

*Please refer to the “Common European Framework of Reference for Languages”. We are looking for a C1 level or equivalent. CEFR indicates Level C1 as mastery or proficiency level which can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning. Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices. For more information please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your languages skills are going to be assessed.

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.