View Vacancy - Residence and Events Manager (PRT22.606)

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 (Residence and Support Staff)
Protocol, Visits and Events

The Embassy is looking to recruit a Residence and Events Manager for temporary maternity cover for a period approximately through to September 2024.

The Ambassador’s Residence (the Residence) serves three overlapping functions: it is home to the British Ambassador in Portugal; is used for representational activity; and it provides accommodation for official visitors.  It supports the work of the British Diplomatic Network in Portugal in furthering UK government interests and policy objectives, building and maintaining a network of senior and influential contacts and showcasing the UK.  It is used to host a wide range of events for top level government politicians, business people, cultural leaders and others, delivering in a wide range of formats from small dinners through to an annual reception with hundreds of guests.

The Residence Manager has overall responsibility for ensuring that the Residence and its garden are maintained, and that the events and services it provides to the Ambassador, guests and visitors are delivered to the highest possible standard. The successful candidate will lead and supervise a small but highly capable team of Residence staff, and work closely with the Ambassador, family and with other colleagues in Embassy teams.

This is a demanding but rewarding position that requires excellent inter-personal and organisation skills, great team work and strong customer focus.

 


Roles and responsibilities 

 The core of the role is to ensure the smooth running of the Residence both as a venue for official events (meals, receptions, meetings, etc) and as a family home, delivering to the highest standards of efficiency, sustainability, accuracy and value for money.

 

Residence Management

  • Ensure effective delivery and maintenance of all Residence property and services, including management of the inventories including of silverware, glassware, crockery, linen, Government Art Collection, furniture, and domestic equipment.
  • Ensure the highest standards of cleanliness, hygiene and presentation at all times. 
  • Ensure the Residence and grounds are kept in optimal repair: identify and report repair/improvement work, oversee repairs and maintenance jobs for the Residence and grounds, and liaise with Corporate Services, and the Ambassador/spouse to ensure contractor access to the Residence at convenient times.
  • Manage relevant accounts and purchasing for the Residence, including supplier liaison, quote management, etc, and monitor Residence expenditure, including accounting for pre-approved credit card expenditure in a timely manner.

Events

  • Responsible for oversight, preparation and delivery of official events at the Ambassador’s Residence, in close consultation with the Ambassador and spouse, the respective Embassy teams and other relevant colleagues.  This includes but is not limited to, planning table and flower arrangements, room layout, hiring equipment (eg marquee, audio visual, lighting, heating), and hiring casual event staff, who work under the Residence Manager’s supervision including set-up and post-event clear up and cleaning.
  • In conjunction with the relevant Embassy colleagues, ensure the Residence and all events comply with all necessary Health and Safety rules and wider Embassy guidance.  Work with outside companies and individuals to ensure they fully understand and comply with such rules and guidance.
  • Co-ordinate arrangements for all official visitors staying at the Residence, ensuring that rooms are prepared for overnight guests, and the highest levels of service are provided, and that all visitors receive a warm welcome and are made to feel comfortable and at home. 
  • Purchase supplies for events according to FCDO procurement guidance, and purchase and manage stocks for the Residence (eg cleaning items, pantry stocks), ensuring value for money.  Work with the Residence staff to ensure stocks and supplies are regularly reviewed, and supervise deliveries where needed.

Resources/Staffing

  • Lead and manage a team of 3 Residence staff, and when required casual event staff, providing support and direction as necessary.  Ensure that the Residence staff receive adequate and regular training to undertake their duties.  Manage their performance and complete annual appraisals on time and to prescribed standards.
  • Ensure effective deployment of staff resources, clear forward planning, and flexible delivery in line with operational requirements.
  • The Residence Manager will be expected to undertake other duties that may reasonably be required and which are in accordance with the grading and core competencies of the job.

 

  • Fluent English and Portuguese C level according to CEFR Framework*
  • Experience in running and working in a diplomatic residence, or hotel or restaurant setting, or private residence with a strong customer focus and focus on excellence, as well as financial and personnel resource management.
  • Confident, discreet, trustworthy, adaptable self-starter able to work effectively without supervision.
  • Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills: someone who can negotiate effectively (including with external stakeholders) and deliver under pressure, always treating others with respect.
  • Proven people management skills, capable of leading a team
  • Ability and desire to demonstrate high standards, proactivity, effective prioritisation, and a strong attention to detail.
  • Flexibility in terms of working hours and duties – be prepared to work additional hours in support of events, including evenings and occasional weekends.
  • Strong oral and written communication skills, including understanding the importance of consulting and informing others
  • Good IT skills (including Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel)

      

  • Experience in events management
  • A thorough knowledge and understanding of protocol issues would be extremely advantageous.
  • Full driving licence
  • Multimedia skills and keenness to innovate in use of IT to support Residence Management
Seeing the Big Picture, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
27 November 2022
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Temporary
35
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Portugal
Lisbon
British Embassy
1
EUR
1,990.13
19 December 2022

This is a fixed-term full-time contract as a maternity leave cover through till September 2024 (35 hours net per week) (expected duration of 21 months) subject to a 30 day probation period. 

The British Embassy in Lisbon aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role of € 27,861.82 gross annual salary paid in fourteen instalments; plus a monthly meal allowance of €134.00. This salary is payable if the successful candidate is subject to individual income tax (IRS) in Portugal on the employment income in question. If the successful candidate is not subject to individual income tax (IRS) on their employment income in Portugal, and/or is not taxable elsewhere on such income, he / she will receive the above salary minus a reference amount approximate to the level of Portuguese tax that would be applicable if the income were subject to tax locally. Further information on this will be given to candidates during the recruitment process. 

All staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in Portugal are subject to local Portuguese employment law as well as internal regulations in force at any given time. 

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

All applicants should have the right to live and work in Portugal. The British Embassy does not sponsor work permits. 

The Embassy will not consider applications from existing staff who have not successfully completed their probation period or, in the case of staff on temporary contract who have not yet completed two thirds of their contract. 

Visa / Passport requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Portugal 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.

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 for more information on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment  levels  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.