View Vacancy - Consular Officer (GRC20.252)
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 Athens is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is looking for a Consular Officer.
The main purpose of job is to provide high quality, professional and efficient consular services to visiting and resident British nationals in Corfu. Be a fully engaged and a proactive member of the Corfu consular team, the Greece/Cyprus Network and the wider Europe South Network, to contribute to the achievement of business plan objectives and full Consular Strategy delivery.
Roles and Responsibilities:
Assistance (60%) – Provide consular assistance to British Nationals in all cases that might arise in the wider consular district. Maintain high level of awareness of consular policy and utilise appropriately and effectively the whole range of IT and other tools necessary to achieve a high standard of customer service, with a view to consular excellence. Print Emergency Travel Documents. Provide appropriate advice and carry out any notarial service, based on the hub/spoke agreement with Athens Consular Section. Cooperate fully with local and wider team, including the Consular Contact Centre and Global Response Centre, if and when a case requires it.
Policy & network projects (10%) – Take responsibility for and lead on implementation of consular policy/network projects, following consultation with Vice Consul, aiming to improve our services. Take part in Greece/Cyprus network and regional projects and events, as and when necessary. Engage appropriately with local and wider regional consular team/s. Share and communicate through local and regional channels.
Influencing and External Stakeholder Management (15%) – Build and maintain relationships with local authorities and services (such as police, prison, court, social services, hospitals, local administration, etc). Be proactive in liaising and partnering with local interlocutors as and when possible, to show a modern and professional service, working to proactively inform and safeguard British nationals.
Corporate management responsibilities (5%) – Manage office cash flow and complete all required transactional returns. Receive customer payments in accordance with FCO regulations. Report to Vice Consul for authorising purposes, as necessary. Ensure all post information is current and visible on appropriate internal and external platforms.
Personal Learning and Development (5%) – Take responsibility for carrying out a Personal Development Plan for the short and medium term, based on business and personal learning needs.
Crisis (5%) - Take responsibility for maintaining and testing crisis IT and other equipment. Ensure information on the Crisis Management Plan is current. Participate in post and network crisis exercises. Be a confident Crisis Hub user.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Greek (both C2 level*);
Good knowledge of Microsoft Office applications;
Excellent communicator, strong outreach and networking skills across multiple interlocutors;
Excellent time management and organisational skills; the ability to work without close supervision;
Willingness and ability to travel occasionally within the wider European consular regional network and to work out of hours at short notice, if required;
Previous experience in a high pressured customer facing role and ability to respond to a wide range of customer needs;
Resilience and resistance to trauma and ability to cope with the challenging nature of consular work.
Professional background in tourism,customer service ,social services or providing support to indiviuals in a vulnerable situation would be an advantage.
Good general knowledge of Greek administration system.
This is full-time position of 37,5 hours per week.
The British Embassy offers a competitive remuneration package, 24 days annual leave entitlement (given pro-rata to staff on fixed-term contracts), a training package and flexible working opportunities. Monthly salary for this position is EUR 1690.60 , currently payable 14 times a year (as per Greek labour law). An individual personal development plan will be agreed with the successful candidate.
The successful candidate will be subject to confirmation of a background and security clearance. Anyone with right of residence and employment in Greece may apply, including all EU / EEA citizens and the family members of EU / EEA nationals exercising a treaty right in Greece.
Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy is subject to terms and conditions service according to Greek employment law. The British Embassy does not sponsor work permits.
Visa / Passport requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Greece and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract. Additional requirements may become necessary pending EU Exit. If requirements change additional eligibility information will be shared during the recruitment process.
* 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 summarise 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 advised that Consular positions at the FCO entail dealing with casework in situations that may involve death, detention, rape, assault, post-mortems, prison visits and highly distressed customers. Candidates should therefore have a high level of resilience to trauma.
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 Diplomatic Missions 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.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
