View Vacancy - Head of Corporate Services HEO (01/23 ABI)

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 (Operations and Corporate Services)
Finance

Main purpose of job:

As a member of the Embassy’s senior leadership team, the Head of Corporate Services will oversee the Embassy’s corporate, finance, procurement and human resources policy and operations in Côte d’Ivoire. The role is a busy one that requires delivery across a range of priorities with a high degree of autonomy, accountability and responsibility.

The  Head of Corporate Services will be expected to work independently on a day-to-day basis.
They will be responsible for creating and implementing rigorous, robust and transparent financial and corporate systems, in line with guidance, law and policy. They will produce constructive ideas and solutions for improving business processes and resource management locally, using evidence-based analysis and judgement to solve problems and working with the rest of the senior leadership team to prepare and implement change.

The Head of Corporate Services will role-model best practice and will ensure their team provides an excellent support service to the whole Embassy. They will create an efficient, enabling, collaborative working environment to support the Ambassador and her team to operate effectively and to represent the British government and people with external contacts.

The Head of Corporate Services will provide inclusive, responsive leadership for the Corporate Services team of six people and for the wider Embassy. They will exemplify and advise on best practice in human resources, working closely with the regional hub. They will ensure the correct and timely payments of salaries and social care payments and will ensure that delivery charters, terms and conditions and other policies are up to date, legal and fit for purpose. They will help create a working environment that prioritises wellbeing, encourages a motivated team, and facilitates delivery, collaboration, flexibility, and continuous learning and improvement.

The Head of Corporate Services will lead on budgeting and financial planning and reporting, ensuring deadlines and KPIs are met. They will oversee the management of the estate by the estates officer, ensuring that UK and local standards are met through planned and reactive maintenance and in compliance with corporate procedures, including local and UK health and safety regulations and policy. They will also ensure that the UK’s compliance requirements are met in supplier contracting and procurement activities.

The jobholder will be supported in their work by the Deputy Ambassador and a network of regional hubs. The successful candidate will also establish an extensive network of colleagues and contacts inside and outside the Embassy.

Roles and responsibilities:

Management, Strategic Planning and Leadership (15%)

  • Lead the Corporate Services team, prioritising and allocating work and building a strong culture of high performance, ownership and continuous improvement.
  • Act as a constructive member of the Senior Leadership Committee, and convene and minute these meetings.
  • Provide strategic leadership and planning in support of the corporate agenda including the country business plan and risk management.
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to local leadership and partners on the platform, ‘horizon scanning’ locally to enable proactive resource and activity planning.
  • Manage the platform and support regional teams, influencing at a senior level to maintain and strengthen inclusiveness.
  • Lead and monitor local implementation of the One HMG Corporate Services Charter.
  • Actively build and deepen relationships with key stakeholders internally, within regional and global hubs and with external partners (at other diplomatic missions, government departments and suppliers) to maintain informed and current corporate knowledge.
  • Ensure local policies are reviewed and aligned to global and local requirements and adopted by all partners on the platform.
  • Lead on communicating, supporting and monitoring adherence to corporate and HR guidance, policies and legal obligations.  

Finance and Procurement (30%)

  • Lead on Financial Planning, bidding for sufficient resources for the Embassy to meet its business objectives and, once allocated, advise senior management on using the budget to best effect;
  • Oversee accurate allocation, monitoring, profiling and control of the Embassy’s administration budget throughout the financial year, in line with HMG guidance and values.
  • Assure provision of value for money and fit-for-purpose corporate services in line with the Corporate Services Charter, with commensurate financial controls, processes that are compliant with accounting and procurement procedures and meet key performance indicators (KPIs).
  • Provide strategic direction in developing options for addressing any weaknesses. Ensure compliance with procurement policies and tenders.
  • Ensure timely and high quality delivery of management processes, as measured by the HQ-led annual management assurance process.

People (30%)

  • Lead on the overall employer proposition, including terms and conditions of service and pay and benefits for Country Based staff (CBS), in line with local labour law.
  • Work closely with the regional Human Resources Hub and the Embassy’s Learning and Development (L&D) Champion, implement HR, L&D, performance management, and reward and recognition policies for locally-employed Country-Based Staff;
  • Maintain compliance with UK and Ivorian law and on employment, security and health and safety issues;
  • As HR manager, champion and embed a collaborative, dynamic and inclusive culture. Provide guidance and act as an escalation point on staff matters, including management issues and dispute resolution, engaging with specialist HR functions where necessary. 
  • Ensure cross-training within corporate services roles to provide resilience and cover within the teams and across the region.
  • Work with the Regional Corporate Services Lead to plan long term resource and development needs.
  • Ensure wellbeing and engagement are maintained within the corporate services and wider Embassy team, seeking regular feedback, role-modelling and embedding our values, particularly resilience, inclusion and respect.

Delivery (20%)

  • Oversee all corporate delivery across finance, HR, protocol working closely with the regional HR, finance and procurement hubs and the Global Processing Transaction Centre (GTPC).  Ensure full use of self-service access to corporate services and regionalised services.
  • Direct the management of the estate, ensuring that UK and local standards are met through planned and reactive maintenance and in compliance with corporate procedures, including local and UK health and safety regulations and policy.
  • Act as the ‘intelligent client’, identifying requirements, appropriate service level agreements and key performance indicators to manage and monitor supplier contracts.
  • Oversee the local delegated budget in accordance with corporate policies to ensure accurate forecasts, on-budget expenditure and value for money. 
  • Instil a continuous improvement mentality within the team, leading on corporate projects and the change management required to deliver them. 
  • Other ad hoc tasks as required
  • Continued personal and professional development

Corporate (5%)

  • Contribute to the Embassy’s wider wellbeing and effective functioning

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

  • Fluency in English and French (both oral and written);
  • University degree (or equivalent) in finance, management or a related field; OR a university degree (or equivalent) in combination with at least three years of qualifying experience;
  • Experience in managing and motivating a team;
  • Previous budget management experience;
  • Ability to handle sensitive information (financial, policy and HR) discreetly;
  • Strong problem solving and analytical skills, with an aptitude for delivering results to a high standard within tight deadlines and adapting to changing aims;
  • Resilience and flexibility; ability to deal with setbacks and continue to deliver despite challenges;
  • Strong prioritisation and time management skills;
  • Ability to make decisions using written guidance, sound judgement and evidence;
  • Strong verbal communication skills and ability to communicate confidently with colleagues, stakeholders and customers at all levels;
  • Strong written communication skills; ability to present complex issues, analyse and report on financial information;
  • IT Skills (Microsoft Office including Excel, Outlook, Word and Power Point).

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

c.£800, 000 of operational and programme expenditure and staff line management but as member of Senior Leadership Team, responsibility for wellbeing and delivery of over 20 staff.

  • Minimum 3 years of middle management experience, with direct involvement in HR and /or finance policy and implementation – ideally with an international organisation;
  • Experience in managing cross-functional teams;
  • Experience in managing suppliers and outsourced service delivery;
  • Strong IT skills, especially in Excel, Outlook, Word etc;
  • High levels of discretion, with a resilient, flexible and ‘can do’ attitude;
  • Able to influence, collaborate with and challenge senior stakeholders;
Undergraduate or equivalent qualification in Finance/HR is an added advantage
Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Leadership, Communicating and Influencing, Developing Self and Others
29 March 2023
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Fixed Term, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
12 months
Africa
Côte d'Ivoire
Abidjan
British Embassy
2, 004, 655 XOF
1 June 2023

Learning and development opportunities:

British Embassy Abidjan has a strong learning and development culture, and we encourage an environment of continuous development and improvement. We provide on-the-job learning, online courses and the opportunity to learn from colleagues in the region though shadowing and job swaps – for example the jobholder may attend corporate services conferences or joint training in the region or in London. Colleagues can also bid for resources to undertake professional qualifications that will help them deliver effectively.

Any other information:

The British Embassy Abidjan team is growing quickly at the moment, given the UK government’s increasing focus on Côte d’Ivoire. It is a small and friendly team of around 25 colleagues - the embassy comprises trade, political, corporate services, development and consular teams. The jobholder will report to the Deputy Head of Mission but will work closely with colleagues across the whole Embassy, including the Ambassador, and with regional and HQ teams. This is a new senior role, reflecting the increasing demands on the Corporate Services team given Embassy expansion, and the strategic awareness, autonomy, leadership skills, and judgement expected of the jobholder as the Embassy changes and grows.

  • Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening.
  • Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
  • Employees recruited locally by the British Embassy in Abidjan are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Côte d’Ivoire .
  • All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit.
  • The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to;
  1. Obtain the relevant permit
  2. Pay fees for the permit
  3. Make arrangements to relocate
  4. Meet the costs to relocation
  • The British Embassy/High Commission does not sponsor visas/work permits 
  • Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.    
  • Information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Competency Framework can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework Please note: AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
  • Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
  • The British Embassy will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position
  • Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’.  If during the reserve period of 12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.
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.