View Vacancy - Head of Ambassador’s Office - Maternity cover (POL20.405)

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 (Policy & Political roles)
Chancery

Due to COVID-19, you may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign and we are working hard to minimise any disruption.

The British Embassy in Poland is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking to recruit a Head of Ambassador’s Office.

The main purpose of the job will be to provide support to the Ambassador (HMA) and manage the Ambassador’s Office. The ideal candidate should be able to show initiative within a challenging, often fast-moving policy environment, run a fast-paced, motivated and resilient team and the HMA’s Residence. We are looking for someone with strong management, leadership skills and admin skills who would be able to start in early November/December 2020 and earlier, if possible.

Main duties and responsibilities will include:

  • Strategic management of HMA’s diary and incoming correspondence, working closely with subordinate staff;
  • and programme issues, including making recommendations on priorities;
  • Manage the Office, being a line manager and a leader to 3 staff including HMA’s Residence Manager;
  • Liaise with internal stakeholders (including Heads of Section) and external stakeholders on behalf of HMA;
  • Manage HMA’s budget;
  • Coordinate arrangements of HMA’s meetings, travel and events (including briefings and speeches, etc), and provide initial quality control;
  • Proactively provide internal stakeholders with information on HMA’s and DHM’s engagement and work with other teams on engagement plans for HMA and DHM;
  • Attend internal and external meetings on behalf of HMA;
  • Attend meetings with HMA as and when necessary, record taking;
  • Process HMA’s correspondence (including drafting replies to routine correspondence, and delegating more complex issues to other Embassy teams with clear guidance);
  • Secretary to the Embassy Management Board;
  • Lead on other one-off projects or policy areas;
  • Other admin duties if requested.
  • Fluency in English and Polish (both oral and written, minimum C1/C2 level*);
  • Education to the university level;
  • Proven leadership skills with ability to manage, motivate and coordinate the work of a team;
  • Proven organisational and administrative skills;
  • Ability to manage uncertainty and operate independently with minimal supervision;
  • High analytical skills, ability to see patterns, be a fast thinker and a good decision maker;
  • Flexibility and ability to work under pressure;
  • Good time management skills and ability to deal effectively with multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment;
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
  • Confidence in dealing with senior contacts and colleagues, and strong customer focus;
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
  • Good IT skills, especially database management, MS Outlook, MS Office.
  • Experience in an international organisation or mission;
  • 2/3 years' experience in a similar role.
25 October 2020
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
37.5 net
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Poland
Warsaw
British Embassy
1
PLN
8216
30 November 2020

This is a full-time maternity cover position of 5 days (37.5 net per week) for 12 months (including probation) with possibility for extension.

The gross salary for this position is PLN 8,216 gross per month. Working hours are flexible and staff are entitled to time-off-in-lieu for agreed extra hours worked. The annual leave entitlement is 20 or 26 days per year pro rata and the Embassy also enjoys a maximum of 14 Polish / UK public holidays per year.

Please note that staff members are responsible for paying any income tax required by the local law.

The successful candidate will be subject to the Polish references check and satisfactory completion of a probationary period of three months.

Candidates must have pre-existing right to live and work in Poland for the duration of the job offer in order to apply. The British Embassy does not sponsor work permits.

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in Warsaw are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to Polish employment law.

Visa / Passport requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Poland and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract. Additional requirements may become necessary after 31st December 2020.

Working patterns: BE Warsaw has a strong commitment to work/life balance. Office hours are 8:30 – 16:30, staff are encouraged to leave on time. Flexi-hours are also possible within the Embassy building’s opening hours (0730-1800). We have mobile technology and many staff can work either from the office or home subject to the agreement with the line manager and business needs.

Other benefits: Learning and development opportunities, modern management culture, excellent working environment, engagement in corporate and social life of the Embassy, private medical care, in-house canteen facilities.

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 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 note Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment  indicates Level C2 as Mastery or proficiency Level which comprehends that a person can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read; can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation; can express themselves spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations. 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.

Additional Information (due to Covid 19):

  • You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign and we are working hard to minimise any disruption;
  • Interviews will be done remotely if the existing situation determines this to be the right course of action;

  • Starting date may be delayed depending on circumstances at the time and it will be agreed with the selected candidate.

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.