View Vacancy - Consular Officer

Main purpose of job:

As part of the Americas Consular Team, the Consular Officer will be expected to deliver a high quality consular service to British nationals in Colombia and to provide effective support to ensure the smooth running of the Consular Section according to best practice. The Consular Officer will be responsible for dealing professionally with consular assistance cases and all consular fee-related matters. The job holder will also assist the Head of Section with Prevention projects and consular elements of crisis management.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Consular Assistance: Providing assistance to British & other entitled nationals as per current guidelines. This could include visiting British nationals in hospital, or in jail, and providing support to family members following bereavement, a child abduction or custody matter, and providing advice and assistance following a rape or sexual assault. Creating and updating case files on the corporate database and managing cases to a satisfactory conclusion. Keeping the Head of Section informed of developments in cases. Informing the Consular Regional Operations Manager/Consular Regional Director of high profile/complex cases. Ensuring that Consular Business Targets (CBT’s) for all cases are met. Exceptionally, participating in call out arrangements for emergency cases out of hours (including weekends) when our Global Response Centre in London requests local support. Processing Emergency Travel Documents and providing notarial and other documentary services, as well as dealing with fees collected. Answering the telephone and responding to, written and face to face customer enquiries. Arranging appointments and managing the electronic appointments calendar.

• Consular Prevention: Assist the Head of Section in the delivery of the prevention programme in Bogota, as well as managing a prevention project, which may include travel to other regions in Colombia. To advise and inform internal and external stakeholders on our wider consular priorities. Managing updating the consular database of contacts in Bogota and the Regions, as well as identifying new contacts and stakeholders.

• Consular Crisis: Working with the Head of Section on the consular elements of Post’s Consular Management Plan, to ensure effective preparation, response and recovery in the event of a crisis.

• Regional Responsibilities: The Consular team in Bogota is part of the Americas Consular Network; as such there is the opportunity to provide regional resilience in Posts within the Network.

• Training and Corporate Activities: Participating in training courses and regional conferences, e-learning, and self-development. Represent consular section at Embassy meetings and attendance at other corporate activities is required.

• The successful candidate must have 1+ years of relevant work experience (to include working with the public).
• A relevant Bachelor's Degree, or equivalent experience in a relevant field, is required.
• Proven track record of excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Must have good organisational skills and the ability to work efficiently and accurately under pressure.
• Empathy and the ability to handle personal issues/information and deal with staff and clients in a friendly and sensitive manner.
• A good knowledge of multi-cultural Britain, its language, and geography.
• Working knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite.

• Language: Excellent English and working knowledge of Spanish.