View Vacancy - Assistant to the Social Secretary
Main purpose of job:
The British Embassy seeks an Assistant to the Social Secretary to assist in all areas of planning, implementing and executing events at the British Ambassador’s Residence. The British Ambassador’s Residence is one of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s most prestigious Residences. It involves a high volume programme of events and visits that require the utmost professional team to aid in this essential part of diplomatic life.
The US Network offers a unique career enhancing opportunity and is committed to supporting its staff through a variety of benefits including generous leave, insurance packages and a highly competitive 401k programme. It also promotes a culture of flexibility which enables people to better maintain wellness through an excellent work/life balance approach that encompasses hybrid working, including working from home and flexible hours, where possible. In this role you would be working in a diverse international environment with UK diplomats, armed forces personnel and other country based staff operating across the British Government’s network of Consulates and Government Offices in the United States. This network provides a platform for approximately 30 Government departments and agencies to conduct their work in the United States and is made up of over 900 staff with a rich and diverse background, skill sets, and experiences.
This position is key part of the team that develops and carries out a busy and exciting schedule of events supporting the Ambassador’s engagements. The jobholder will work with the Social Secretary and the Ambassador’s Residence team, who are an incredibly talented team, as well as with colleagues in the embassy. The jobholder will assist in all aspects of event planning including sending and tracking invitations, planning details and logistics, communicating with the team, set up and check in.
The ideal candidate will be approachable and professional, with a can-do attitude. The job can require nights and weekends, and we are looking for a candidate who is driven to deliver the highest quality event, at pace.
Roles and responsibilities:
- Assist with the preparation and execution of events as directed by the Social Secretary.
- Prepare, sort, and distribute large volumes of invitations and other correspondence.
- Supervise and track responses to events and liaise with other departments and organisations concerning attendance at events.
- Manage guest information database including system updates, record keeping and list maintenance.
- Any other duties as assigned.
- A minimum of 2 years work or equivalent internship experience;
- The successful candidate will have excellent computer skills (particularly with Access, Excel, Word and use of the Internet);
- Must have high level of interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential situations. Position continually requires demonstrated poise, tact and diplomacy;
- Strong communication ability, both written and oral are required. Must be able to interact and communicate with individuals at all levels;
- Candidate must be a team-player and willing to learn and adapt;
- Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to handle the pressure of juggling multiple competing tasks and demands;
- Must be available to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and occasional over-time;
- A strong knowledge of the Washington, DC area is preferred;
- 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.
Learning and development opportunities:
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 to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job.
Working patterns:
Able to accommodate a varied working pattern including regular business hours, a few evening events a week and occasional weekends.
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.
Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.
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.
The British Embassy is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and to creating a diverse working environment, free from discrimination, where everyone is included and treated fairly, based on merit alone. We are an equal opportunity employer, making all employment decisions without regard to race, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other criterion protected by law.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
