View Vacancy - SRR - Deputy Head of Corporate Services (HEO)

The British Embassy Riyadh has a vacancy for a Deputy Head of Corporate for a fixed-term contract of two (2) years.

The main purpose of the job is to provide strategic direction to Corporate Services, leading an efficient, cost effective, and professional team to deliver all services to the KSA Network and to Partners Across Government (PAGs) on the KSA platform.

As a leader in corporate delivery, the jobholder will require excellent management, interpersonal and communication skills, tact, discretion, and an ability to deliver consistently across a broad range of responsibilities. The jobholder will be required to show an understanding for and sensitivity in handling Embassy and host government requirements.

In particular, we are looking for a skilled manager able to bring the best out of their staff and able to organise the work and team to ensure delivery whilst adhering to Embassy protocol and standards. 

Duties and responsibilities:

- Strategic planning and leadership

• Design, develop independently, and implement Corporate Services with agreement from Senior Management to delivery strategy; disseminating key messages, improve stakeholder networks; engage Senior Managers and One HMG Partners and lead effective corporate communications campaigns.
• Lead engagement with Partners Across Government (PAGs) to deliver specific corporate policies.
• Provide advice to Senior Management and PAGs on complex corporate issues.
• 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 remain informed and maintain corporate knowledge.
• Review and refine business cases drafted by the team to support Network priorities and to lead on securing financial approval.
• Engage, analyse, and report on developments in Corporate Services policy, highlighting opportunities to the Head of Corporate Services (HCS) and Senior Management Team (SMT).
• Inform and steer Corporate Services communications across the Network. Lead and deliver Corporate Services communication strategy.
• Research and draft local policies to ensure they are aligned to global and local requirements and adopted by all PAGs on platform.
• Lead and monitor the delivery of services against the local Corporate Services Charter.

- Delivery

• Deliver Corporate Services Strategy across the Network; specifically those related to policy, finance, improvement plans, reviews of terms and conditions of service (TACOS), compliance reviews, and customer service.
• Oversee corporate delivery across Finance, HR, and Protocol, working closely with the Regional HR, Finance, and Procurement Hubs and the Global Transaction Processing Centre (GTPC). Ensure full use of self-service access to Corporate Services and regionalised services.
• Direct and lead the management of the Estate, ensuring that UK and local standards are met through planned and re-active 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 (SLAs), and key performance indicators (KPIs) to manage and monitor supplier contracts.
• Oversee the local delegated budget in accordance with corporate policies to ensure 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.
• First direct liaison for staff associations and committees.
• Lead and manage CS reports to deliver quality customer service to internal stakeholders.
• Submit policies/ processes within working practises and regulations with freedom to exercise discretion, with reviews to be incorporated into the long-term strategy and the work will be reviewed by the HCS and SMT.

- Finance and compliance

• Monitor ACCA compliance risks and contribute regular reporting to the HCS and SMT.
• Oversee compliance to ACCA requirements to ensure Network compliance.
• Report to HCS, SMT, and a range of governance boards across the Network to improve CS activity.
• Lead on opportunities for savings across the Network, submitting recommendations and proposals to the HCS.
• Oversee and develop a strategy for internal audit requirements and compliance to Data Protection Requests.

- People

• Lead on the overall employer proposition, including terms and conditions of service (TACOS) and pay and benefits for County Based Staff (CBS), adhering to compliance in line with local labour law.
• Provide guidance, and act as an escalation point on sensitive staff matters for diplomatic and CBS, including management issues and dispute resolution, engaging with specialist HR functions where necessary.
• Champion and embed a collaborative and inclusive culture.
• Lead on complex Government Relations cases, meeting with Senior MFA representatives to resolve complex cases or issues.

- Local requirement

• Lead CBS payroll in line with the Pay and Benefits Hub, highlighting any anomalies and accurately maintaining audit information.
• Crisis preparedness and continuity planning.
• Corporate objective – Research, develop and implement a long-term Health and Safety strategy, improving compliance within the Network.
• Oversee compliance to Health and Safety improvement plans and policies across the Network.

- Resilience

• Respond to operational crisis, providing leadership and flexing team prioritisation as required.
• Ensure cross training within Corporate Services roles to provide resilience within the teams and across the region.
• Work with the HCS to plan and establish resource and development needs.
• Ensure wellbeing and engagement are maintained within the CS Team, seeking regular feedback.
• Provide cover for the HCS when required. Ad-hoc tasks as and when required requested by the HCS.

- Resources

• Day-to-day and direct line management of six (6) members of staff.
• Oversight and team management of 15 members of staff.
• Escalation point and advisor for complex cases.
• Effectively allocating work, prioritisation, and performance management of the team.
• Training development, coaching and mentoring of the team and staff
• Oversight of Network budget of 4 million.

The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be flexible as specific responsibilities could change in the future, and this would be at the discretion of the Line Manager and Senior Management.

The jobholder may also take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any other response to a crisis affecting UK citizens. 

Key behaviours required:

• Managing a Quality Service - Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.
• Making Effective Decisions - Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.
• Seeing the Big Picture - Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider Civil Service priorities and ensure work is in the national interest.
• Changing and Improving - Seek out opportunities to create effective change and suggest innovative ideas for improvement. Review ways of working, including seeking and providing feedback.
• Communicating and Influencing - Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others.

• Minimum of 6-10 years’ middle management, experience preferably with direct involvement in HR and/ or finance policy and implementation.
• Minimum of 6-10 years’ experience in managing cross-functional teams.
• Minimum of 6-10 years’ budget management experience.
• Experience in managing suppliers and outsource delivery.
• At least a bachelor’s degree in finance, management, HR, or a related field.
• A confident communicator with excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to engage at all levels internally and with external stakeholders. Ability to challenge and influence senior stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both verbal and spoken. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication.
• Strong customer service skills to manage competing priorities. Demonstrates courtesy and consideration in dealing with all stakeholders. Able to show discretion in handling any sensitive matters, with the trust of all involved.
• Good interpersonal skills and team player with willingness to work across boundaries. Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with contacts and colleagues.
• Excellent team management skills. Resilient, and flexible, and demonstrates a ‘can do’ attitude.
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills and resourcefulness in solving problems. Ability to anticipate and take initiative to avoid problems or fix them, and to use information and experience to solve problems effectively. Able to work independently and react calmly to situations that may arise, without constant supervision.
• Strong organisational skills and keen attention to detail. Ability to effectively work under tight deadlines and in a fast-paced environment and adapting to changing aims without compromising the quality of the work.
• Strong IT skills and proficiency in MS Office tools, particularly Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.