View Vacancy - Office Assistant (DEU20.331)

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)
Private Office

Note: Due to COVID-19, you may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign. We are working hard to minimise any disruption. You may find more information in the Additional Information section below.

The British Embassy in Berlin is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. The Embassy is now looking for an Office Assistant to provide administrative and organisational support to the British Embassy’s Private Office (which serves the Ambassador and Deputy Ambassador), as well as providing flexible administrative support to other teams within the Germany network - in particular, the Political Section.

This is a support role at the centre of the Embassy which gives the job holder an excellent overview of British engagement with Germany.

Fluency in German and English is essential. To support the Embassy’s positive working environment, the successful candidate will be encouraged to play an active role in the Embassy’s corporate life and contribute to the wider objectives of the Germany network. A range of learning and development opportunities will also be offered and encouraged.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

  • General administrative duties including dealing with post, handling correspondence and telephone enquiries in English and German, distribution and filing of documents;
  • Arrange meetings and appointments for Private Office when required and receive visitors to the Embassy;
  • Provide timely and efficient secretarial support to the Political Counsellor, including setting up internal and external appointments;
  • Managing and maintaining a contacts database;
  • Provide flexible support ahead of, and during, Embassy events;
  • Carry out ad hoc translation tasks where required, and assist in drafting emails and letters in German;
  • Provide leave cover for the Private Office team;
  • Participate in wider Embassy initiatives as required, including engaging in a corporate role.
  • Proficient in English and German (both written and spoken, minimum of C2 level according to the CEFR framework*);
  • Recent experience in an administrative/secretarial role or similar;
  • Excellent organisational and communication skills;
  • Ability to deliver high quality work within deadlines and under pressure;
  • Customer focus and excellent customer service skills;
  • The ability to work independently but also with colleagues and contacts in the immediate and wider teams as appropriate;
  • Excellent IT skills, especially standard MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Teams and Outlook);
  • Ability to keep confidentiality at all times;
  • Working knowledge of the German political and governmental institutions and structures.
  • Previous experience working in an international environment or in the German political system.
25 October 2020
Administrative Assistant (AA)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
37.5
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Germany
Berlin
British Embassy
1
EUR
€35,616.00 gross per annum rising to approx €40,007.00 gross per annum after a qualifying period in addition to performance related pay (Salary is not negotiable)
1 November 2020

Our Conditions of Employment:

This is a full-time fixed-term position for a contract period of two years, with the possibility of renewal by mutual agreement.

The gross yearly salary is €35,616.00 rising to approx €40,007.00 gross per annum after a qualifying period in addition to performance related pay (salary is not negotiable).

The successful candidate will be subject to professional background check and security clearance. The successful candidate must have pre-existing work authorisation in Germany in order to apply.

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

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

Our Learning & Development environment:

The British Embassy in Berlin has a strong ethos of Learning & Development, including our Learning & Development Week. In addition, there will be many opportunities to attend external seminars and events on relevant issues. This is in addition to the induction programme offered to all Embassy staff.

The successful applicant will be encouraged to be actively involved in the corporate life of the Embassy, contributing to the wider objectives of the British Government’s Germany network and supporting the Embassy’s positive working environment.

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 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 job.

*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 language skill is 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.