View Vacancy - Household Assistant British Ambassador's Residence in Paris (FRA23.131)

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)
Housekeeper, Waiter/Household Assistant

The British Embassy in Paris is part of a worldwide network, representing British political, economic, commercial and consular interests overseas. We are currently looking for a Residence Household Assistant.

Why should you apply?

Reporting to the Residence Events Manager, and under supervision of the Housekeeper, the successful candidate will play an essential role as a member of the housekeeping team in the British Ambassador’s Residence.
The British Ambassador’s Residence in Paris plays a vital role in Franco-British relations, hosting approximately 560 events a year, welcoming over 16,000 guests annually, and hosting a regular stream of senior British officials as houseguests.
The household assistant’s mission is to provide an exceptional experience to all guests who enter the Residence. Their main duties will include, but will not be limited to: the maintenance of all household laundry, the changeover of guest bedrooms, the cleaning and preparation of both official entertainment rooms and guest bedrooms.
If you love working as part of a team, are motivated to work in a unique and fast-paced environment, and take pride in maintaining a household to a very high standard, we encourage you to apply.

Roles and responsibilities:

  • Maintenance, washing and ironing of the household laundry. This includes linen for all events, for the kitchen and pantry uniforms, and bath and bed linen for all official guest bedrooms. Some sewing when required.
  • Cleaning and preparing rooms across the five floors of the Residence. Cleaning and preparing rooms across the five floors of the Residence. This includes dusting, vacuuming, emptying the bins, waxing and polishing the floors, cleaning toilets and bathrooms, care and maintenance of houseplants and flowers, restocking the various guest tea point areas. 
  • Regular changeover of Residence guest bedrooms for all visitors including very senior officials and VIPs to a very high standard.
  • Responsible for keeping one of the house inventories up to date digitally
  • Occasional front of-house duties at official events to support the wider team, for example, welcoming guests in the vestiaire/cloakroom area on arrival, serving at receptions, and some washing-up duties. 

Our ideal candidate shows:

  • Excellent level of French is essential (both oral and written) C1 Level or equivalent*. English (oral) would be a plus
  • Previous experience working in hotel/hospitality industry or private household
  • Strong knowledge of cleaning techniques and products
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills 
  • Experience of working as part of a team 
  • Organizational and time-management skills 
  • Working knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Excel, and general IT skills 
  • English spoken and written desirable
  • Experience of working with antique furniture and delicate soft furnishings
Seeing the Big Picture, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Working Together
2 April 2023
S1
Full-time, Permanent
35
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
France
Paris
British Embassy
1
EUR
2376 (Gross + overtime as and when necessary)
1 May 2023

This is a full-time and permanent position of 35 hours per week.   

All appointments are subject to professional background check satisfactory security clearance. The successful applicant will be required to provide a copy of his/her passport or national identity card for all nationalities held, an up-to-date criminal record (casier judiciaire) for recent countries of residence (which can be obtained online at https://www.cjn.justice.gouv.fr/cjn/b3/eje20 ), two written proofs of address (utility invoices and/or bank statements) and two references.

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in France are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local French employment law and FCDO guidance for Country Based Staff. The posts we offer are not an entry point into the UK’s Diplomatic Service.

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

Languages: *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.