View Vacancy - Under Butler

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. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Residence and Support Staff)

Main purpose of job:

  • Food Service - Serve food and drink during meals, clean and polish silver, maintenance of china and cutlery, answer telephone and doorbell, receive and announce guests, maintain firewood, setting fireplaces and lighting fires.
  • Execute Butler (French) Service at all functions, and Silver Service as requested
  •  Set up, removal and prep of all dining/food service requirements.

Roles and responsibilities: 

  • Care and maintenance of the Ambassador’s clothing including packing, unpacking, and ensuring that all parts of the wardrobe: shoes, ties, evening wear are in top condition.
  • Valeting - Pressing and maintaining all of the principle's suits, and trousers as well as polishing and conditioning all of the principle's shoes.
  • Attend to daily set-up and staging of guest suites and Ambassador’s apartment.  Perform valet duties for houseguests. Furniture moving as required.
  • Work closely with the Head butler and Residence Manager to uphold household standards.
  • Support the Head Maid in following up with Maids, and aid extra staff supervision, leading by example in absence of head butler
  • Select and maintain inventory of wine and liqueur cellar.
  • Front of House, meet, greet and farewells to all guests as directed by the Head Butler.  Miscellaneous duties as directed.

Computer skills with basic knowledge of the main Microsoft production
Changing and Improving, Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Working Together
17 July 2025
S2
Full-time, Permanent
40
Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories
United States
Washington
British Embassy
1
USD
$23.16
hourly
11 August 2025

US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US has restrictions on the type of visas our non-diplomatic staff may hold. If you are not a US Citizen or a US Permanent Resident, or the dependent of a diplomat (with an EAD card), you may not be eligible for employment with the UK government. We cannot accept student Visas (J1, F or M) nor other forms of work Visas (I, H, P). If you hold a work visa it is best to check on your eligibility to work for a foreign government before applying for a position.

You may refer to our website for additional information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-the-usa.

All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work.

The British Embassy and its US Network embraces hybrid working. We are an organization that also recognises the critical value of team work and we embrace and endorse collaboration by ensuring that all staff attend the office flexibly yet regularly. 

Please note: The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communicating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).   

The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance.  

Please note that the tax arrangements imposed by the US on staff working for foreign governments, as well as those imposed by the UK Treasury on British and dual nationals working for the UK Government overseas, are atypical. The UK Government cannot withhold taxes (including FICA) on behalf of a US taxpayer.  Instead, a US taxpayer is required to file taxes as if they are self-employed, and a FICA allowance is granted for those required to pay the employer contribution. Certain categories of staff (for example dual UK-US nationals and some visa holders) who work at Consulates General are not subject to US taxes.  For those not subject to US taxes the UK Government reduces gross pay to a level broadly equivalent to taxed net pay. There are also social security implications for dual UK-US nationals. Please keep all this in mind when looking at the salary and the benefits package. If you are offered a job with the UK’s US Network you will be given further tax and social security information relevant to your personal circumstances and place of work; you are advised to consider this information and its impact on your circumstances carefully – potentially with the advice of a tax professional - before accepting a job.

Closing date of receiving applications is before 23:55 (Local Time) on 17 July 2025.

All applicants must fully complete the online application form, including the sections for employment and educational details, experience, and behaviour-based questions. Only those applications that contain all required information will be considered. To ensure the sift process remains anonymous, please do not include any personally identifiable information in your application form.

Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’.  If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.

Please ensure that your application is authentically written based on your own experiences. If AI tools are used, their usage must only be limited to specific tasks such as ensuring formatting consistency and keyword relevance. The core content, personal narratives, and responses to behaviour and skill-based questions must genuinely reflect your professional journey, experiences, and achievements. We place great importance on originality and individual effort throughout the application process. Any form of plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification.


Work at the residence involves a vast programme of events and visits that requires the utmost professional team to aid in this essential part of Diplomatic life.  The under butler is an important position within this highly effective team and reports directly to the Head Butler. This is a live-in position

Working patterns:
Standard 40 hour week, with occasional overtime, late nights and early morning shift work.

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.