View Vacancy - BK - Community Liaison Officer (CLO), A2 (L)
Main purpose of job:
The main purpose of this job is to support the partners and families of staff posted* to the Embassy in Bangkok, before their arrival and during their time at the Embassy.
You will work closely with the Deputy Ambassador and management team, but will need to be able to manage your own workload and identify what needs to be done, to ensure that partners and family members are getting the support they need, and to contribute to a sense of community among Embassy staff.
You will need to be approachable and sympathetic, but also robust where necessary, for example to manage people’s expectations of what you are able to help them with. You may be the recipient of confidential/sensitive information so you must have strong interpersonal skills to be discreet and observe complete confidentiality. And you’ll need to be willing to tell senior management at the Embassy if you think that there is something which needs to be addressed.
Other elements of the role include gathering information (eg on educational options, cost of living) and participating in events organisation. So you will also need to be organised and able to plan longer-term pieces of work around the day-to-day elements of the role.
*this includes UK-based staff from the Foreign Office and other UK government departments, who are in Bangkok for full postings or temporary duties, as well as Locally Engaged Staff on flexible deployment – around 50 staff in total
Roles and responsibilities:
Welfare and community support
- Ensuring a smooth arrival and integration into the Embassy community for posted* staff and families
- Providing a short orientation to Bangkok and the Embassy community and following up to ensure that the settling in process is working
- Acting as a source of formal and informal support and onward referral for posted* family members where questions, problems and difficulties arise, including advising on how to seek further help for sensitive personal issues (NB: the CLO is not expected to play a counselling role); maintaining confidentiality over sensitive/personal issues
- Advocate for posted* staff and families in addressing issues of importance with Embassy management, including participating as the family/community representative on the Embassy Board of Management, Post Housing Committee, Health & Safety Committee, and as the chief link between Post and Diplomatic Service Families Association in London (who work with the FCO to implement and monitor policies affecting families)
- Supporting and advising Deputy Ambassador in ensuring positive cohesion and welfare across the Embassy community
Information gathering and management
- Collating and sharing information on issues of concern to posted* staff, spouses and families, including children’s education; spouse/partner education, career and training opportunities; social and recreational opportunities, medical facilities
- Researching relevant information and completing corporate returns and reports as required, including School and Nursery Information Sheets of authorised schools at Post; Schools Information Sheet (SIS); DSFA Spouse and Partner Annual Employment Report; Post report; Cost of Living Allowance survey; annual school fees estimate
- Keeping the information above up to date and ensuring it is accessible to staff as necessary
Education support
- Supporting UK-based staff to secure places at schools, including provision of information in advance, giving clear notice of deadlines and liaising with the schools as necessary
- Checking and authorisation of education invoices
Other
- Lead on organising of Embassy social and charity events (ie non official events) including Christmas and Songkran events
- Participate in organisation of key Embassy-wide official events such as annual awayday and QBP (=national day event)
- Leading the welfare team in a crisis, ensuring staff are trained and equipped, organising all rotas for shift work, and maintaining an up to date contact list for UKB dependents. Act as a line of communication between Embassy management and families on emergency planning
*this includes UK-based staff from the Foreign Office and other UK government departments, who are in Bangkok for full postings or temporary duties, as well as Locally Engaged Staff on flexible deployment – around 50 staff in total
Essential on arrival:
- Experience of living & working in a foreign country and the challenges this brings
- Proven record of taking responsibility, using initiative and working independently; excellent organisational and planning skills
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills; good understanding of the importance of confidentiality
- Excellent written and spoken English
- Cultural sensitivity and awareness
- Good advocacy and influencing skills
- Good IT skills
- A positive attitude and resilience to the challenges of living and working in Bangkok
- Knowledge of Bangkok and Thailand
- A good understanding of issues arising from overseas relocation
- Ability to navigate complex corporate policies
- Knowledge of FCO policies and procedures
- Welfare support experience
The British Embassy offers a competitive remuneration package, including salary (will be abated for those not liable to tax), benefits, a leave entitlement, Health Insurance and comprehensive development programme based upon business need and individual staff requirements.
The British Embassy Bangkok encourages all staff to develop their capabilities, through both formal training (courses) and informal (job-shadowing, coaching, on-the-job training etc). The majority of our formal L&D opportunities are drawn from FCO resources. All staff are encouraged to share their skills and experience with colleagues, through informal training (‘lunch & learn’) or coaching/mentoring. All staff are eligible for 5 L&D days a year.
Full time role (36 hours/week, Monday to Friday). Flexible working available (Embassy core hours are 1000-1600 Mon-Thurs and 1000-1300 Friday).
In crisis/emergency situations work as required to support the Embassy response (sometimes on a shift pattern working unsociable hours)
The hiring manager is happy to consider a range of working patterns, including job-sharing, flexible working or part-time working – and would be very happy to speak with any candidates considering applying on this basis.
Please note that your application must be submitted before 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.
Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. We regret to advise that we will only be contacting short-listed candidates. Applicants called for an interview will be assessed on the core competencies listed above.
Indicated start date is provisional and subject to successful completion of reference and security checks.
To those applicants not short-listed, we extend our appreciation for considering the British Government as a potential employer.
The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances.
We recommend all applicants to understand the Civil Service competences before applying for any role and in preparation for interviews. For more information, you can visit our website - https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-embassy-bangkok/about/recruitment.
Kindly check your application centre or email regularly for any update on the status of your application.
British Embassy Bangkok Relocation
In July 2020 the Embassy will be moving from the current premises on Wireless Rd to new accommodation in the Sathorn area.
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, 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.
Embassy Vision and Values:
VISION: What do we want to build?
A better, safer, more prosperous world for Britons and Thais alike.
MISSION: How will we achieve this?
By championing UK values and delivering tangible benefits to individuals, businesses and society: through quality service, effective partnerships and local expertise.
VALUES: that underpin our work
Courage: In our approach to our work: supporting innovation, creativity and taking calculated risks in solving problems; encouraging challenge and welcoming diverse perspectives; honesty in acknowledging and learning from mistakes.
Ambition: In the challenge we set ourselves: Striving to be excellent in the quality of service we deliver; inspiring our teams, colleagues, customers and stakeholders; passionate about our purpose.
Generosity: Of spirit: kindness in our daily actions and conversations; openness to differing cultures, ideas and opinions; understanding of differing styles and honest mistakes to build a culture of support.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
