View Vacancy - Personal Assistant to HM Ambassador (NOR19.038)

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)
Corporate Services Support

The British Embassy in Oslo is part of a worldwide network representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking to recruit a Personal Assistant to HM Ambassador who will play a key role in the Embassy, supporting the Ambassador in his leadership of the team and external impact with a wide range of stakeholders, including in government and business.

This is a busy and high pressure job, with a range of competing demands. The successful applicant will need to be able to work and take decisions without detailed oversight, and juggle priorities effectively.

The PA to the Ambassador sits at the heart of the Embassy, and needs to have effective links with all teams, as well as high impact with senior external contacts. Confidence, judgement, language skills and teamwork are essential.

Because most correspondence and papers are produced electronically, good knowledge of IT (Microsoft Office 365) and how to use it to best effect is essential.

The PA will need to take the lead on coordinating a large number of events, from small lunches to large receptions. Some experience of hospitality or similar organisational work would be useful.  Other duties may occasionally arise in a busy Embassy and flexibility within a wider team is necessary.

When the Ambassador is away the Deputy Head of Mission becomes Chargé d’Affaires and the PA supports him in this role. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Organise the Ambassador’s diary, calls and visit programmes. Arrange travel, internal and external meetings (including agendas and action points) and reply to invitations. Liaise with other Embassy sections;

  • Manage the Ambassador’s office, including tracking emails, correspondence, filing and keeping the contacts database up-to-date. Effective management of digital information in line with legal requirements. Arrange events at the Residence including the planning and delivery of the annual Queen’s Birthday Party (QBP);

  • In coordination with the Residence Manager; compile guest lists and issue invitations. Manage the Embassy’s top contacts map, and organise proactive outreach. Co-ordinate between Embassy teams and the Residence, and support in person as necessary.

  • Oral and written fluency in English and Norwegian;
  • Minimum 2 years of experience as a Personal Assistant and/or Office management;
  • Experience in engaging with external and senior stakeholders;
  • Strong organisational skills, including an ability to deliver high quality work to deadlines;
  • Effective communication skills for the telephone, correspondence and face-to-face contact;
  • An interest in working collaboratively to develop the strong relationship between the United Kingdom and Norway;
  • Proven IT competence with the full range of Microsoft Office software and other standard office technology.
  • Competent IT experience would be an asset;

  • University Degree.

     

26 February 2019
Administrative Officer (AO)
Full-time, Permanent
35
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Norway
Oslo
British Embassy
1
NOK 37,569
15 March 2019

This is a permanent full-time position, five working days (currently 35 hours net) per week.

The successful candidate will be subject to professional background check, security clearance and 6 months probation period.  

Employees recruited locally by the British Embassy Oslo are subject to terms and conditions of service in accordance with Norwegian employment law.

All applicants must have the right to live and work in Norway. The Embassy does not sponsor work permits.

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 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.