View Vacancy - Community Liaison and Staff Welfare Officer

Main purpose of job

To provide a broad range of support services and advice to staff across the UK Mission and British Consulate Offices (including both diplomats from the UK and locally engaged staff), and their families/ partners/ dependents; contribute to management policy and staff initiatives on staff welfare issues; support the Mission’s Senior Leadership Team in contributing towards the overall well-being of all staff (UK diplomats and locally engaged) in the Mission.

Roles and responsibilities

The Community Liaison and Staff Welfare Officer is part of the New York Corporate Services Team supporting the UK Mission and British Consulate-General offices. The individual will also work closely with the Deputy Head of Missions for the two posts and participate in Mission-wide staff committees, where they will be expected to help improve and challenge Corporate Services policy and practice where necessary. The Officer will provide a personal, sensitive and well-informed service to staff and their families.

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide a broad range of support services and advice to NY staff (UK diplomats and locally engaged), and their families/ partners/ dependents, including on:

-          pre-posting information, including maintaining the New York Post Report and other internal staff information documents;

-          preparation for UK Based postings to and arrival in New York, including advice on housing, education and healthcare options, and membership of the Mission’s Housing Committee;

-          support for staff arrivals in New York, covering both life in the city, accessing schools, healthcare providers and community benefits (including support to families), and induction to the Office;

-          terms & conditions, benefits, including processing Education & Overseas Allowances returns to HQ, and advice on social/ community life and activities, and membership of the Mission Social Committee;

-          visas and immigration status rules and procedures.

To research, develop and maintain relations with external contacts and service providers in support of delivering the best service and advice possible in the above areas.

• Contribute to management policy and staff initiatives on diversity, inclusion, working practices, working environment, and family friendly policies, including tying into the work of the Office’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and Green Team.
• To support the Mission’s Senior Leadership Team in contributing towards the overall well-being of all staff in the Mission, and their families/ partners/ dependents.
• To liaise with the Community Liaison Officer (CLO) in Washington, the FCO’s global CLO Network, the CLO and Diplomatic Service Families Association teams at HQ in London, and others as necessary, to bring best practice, new thinking & innovation and lessons learned to the Mission’s work and policies on staff welfare.
  

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• First-rate inter-personal skills, with exceptional ability to deal empathetically with people in a positive, proactive and supportive manner, even under pressure.
• Strong networking, collaborative and teamwork skills with colleagues, managers and a broad range of external contacts and partners.
• Presenting and speaking confidently at meetings, including with senior staff.
• 2-4 years of related work experience
• Proficient with Microsoft Office (experience with bespoke human resources IT systems is an advantage).

It would be desirable if the jobholder had experience of working with diplomats, knowledge of the practicalities of working and living in New York and/or the UK.

The jobholder must have an adaptable and energetic approach, with a willingness to learn and work flexibly across a broad range of issues that affect staff, including new areas not covered above which might emerge during the individual’s time in the role. Portfolios and responsibilities can also be adjusted within the Mission so the successful candidate will be one who is flexible and open to change to their role and continuous improvement. All staff in the Mission take on ad hoc tasks, new work which emerges unexpectedly and help other teams on work which is not part of their usual role at times of pressure and increased workload, so the successful candidate will be flexible, collaborative and willing to help others in their work enthusiastically.

Under US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Permanent Residents or A visa holders with EAD cards*. If you hold a visa other than an A visa you are not currently eligible to work at our office.  Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/government/world/usa. All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work. 
*A visas are acceptable at the Embassy and Consulates. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas, and British Defense Staff (BDS) outposts accept A or NATO visas.