View Vacancy - CHQ - Executive Assistant to the Consul General, AO

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)
Private Office

Main Purpose of Job:

The British Consulate-General in Chongqing is part of a world-wide network of 230 Posts, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. Our office in Chongqing has 35 staff and represents British interests in South West China, i.e. Chongqing, Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou.

The Executive Assistant reports directly to the Consul-General (CG). The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering effective direct administrative support to the Consul-General and work more widely with the Consulate team to successfully deliver key objectives. In addition to coordinating and managing the CG’s time (e.g. keeping the diary up to date, arranging necessary briefing, tickets, visit programmes etc.), This role offers a great chance to get involved in the Consulate’s full range of activities and the post-holder will build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders, working with partners in the Consulate-General and across the China network.

What the Jobholder will be Expected to Achieve:

Executive Assistant to Consul-General (60%)

  • Forward planning CG’s commitments, diary management, assisting with CG’s budget management
  • Lead on CG’s visits, programmes and events, including close coordination with Corporate Services team on drivers’ time
  • Arrange internal and external meetings
  • Draft and translate letters and speeches
  • Coordinate (or where necessary prepare) briefing for events
  • Assist where possible on bookings, external engagements for Deputy Consul General

Cross-post visits, projects and co-ordination work (10%)

  • Arrange programmes and coordinate visits of VIPs from FCO/Embassy, and other government departments
  • Coordinate activities, events and inquiries mainly from local FAOs and diplomatic missions
  • Establish and maintain links with Chinese stakeholders

Line Manager for Residence Housekeeper (10%)

  • Line Management of Residence Housekeeper
  • Oversight of preparations for Residence functions/post function clean up

Learning and Development (20%)

  • Oversee post L&D strategy
  • Complete post annual learning needs analysis report and L&D plan
  • Implement learning and development events
  • Liaise with Regional Learning and Development Team for L&D visits
  • Identify external learning and development supplier to meet learning needs
  • Work together with network L&D champions on network wide priorities and share best practice

Resources Managed (staff and expenditure): 

  • 1x S3 (Residence Housekeeper)
  • Not budget holder, but maintain oversight of CG credit card expenditures/travel & entertainment budgets
  • Minimum of 2 years of full-time working experience
  • Bachelor’s degree and above
  • Strong IT computer skills using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Office, Internet
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with a strong customer focus
  • Personal drive and the ability to be a self-starter as well as a team player
  • Strong organisational, analytical and time management skills, with very good attention to detail
  • Flexible, resilient under pressure and decisive with a proven track record of delivering results to a high standard within tight deadlines
  • Language Requirements: Excellent / Highly Proficient in English and Mandarin

Proven experience as PA in busy role

Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service, Working Together
25 September 2024
Administrative Officer (AO)
Full-time, Permanent
35
Asia Pacific
China
Chongqing
British Consulate General
1
CNY
Chinese: CNY 11,909 per month | Expat: CNY 16,219 per month
monthly
1 December 2024

We offer a competitive package which includes:

  • Gross monthly salary (before all deductions) of CNY 11,909 for Chinese Nationals paid in 13-month instalments and an abated monthly salary of CNY 16,219 per month for British Nationals and spouses/partners (all nationalities) of diplomats who are ‘W’ (diplomatic) visa holders and meet passport criteria.
  • Insurance plans such as social and housing fund (Chinese Nationals), commercial insurance package including accidental, life, medical and business travel insurance.
  • 22 days annual leave entitlement in pro-rata which increases by 0.5 per full calendar year worked up to maximum of 25 days.
  • We offer different types of compulsory leave in accordance with Chinese law, e.g., Maternity Leave, Paternity Leave, Marriage Leave, Parental leave, etc.
  • In addition to the above compulsory leave, we also offer other types of leaves with pay e.g., Study Leave, Volunteering Leave to support staff who undertakes volunteering activities, Special Paid Leave to deal with emergencies involving a close family member, and more.
  • Employee Assistance Programme which is a confidential service providing help, support and information to staff to resolve and manage situations causing concern whether at work or personal nature is available to staff 24/7

There is also plenty of opportunity to develop on and off the job and establish expertise and build capability. We are strongly supportive of the job holder continuing to develop their professional skills. The Mission encourages a blended learning culture based on the 70/20/10 model which includes e-learning, mentoring, coaching, other development activities and role-specific required trainings. This offer also includes supporting staff members to take part in a 5 days of learning activities each year.

Working Pattern: Full-time, in-office employment. Availability for occasional irregular hours required (for which Time Off in Lieu will be available).

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment and security checks. Staff who are locally recruited by the British Consulate General Chongqing are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Chinese employment law.

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. 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. Any costs related to obtaining or renewing permits and visas are the responsibility of the successful applicant.

Learning and Development Opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

We provide a comprehensive range of learning opportunities to employees on induction, professional development, job shadowing and other soft skills. 

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

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.

Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.
 
Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

To ensure a successful application it is important that you explain how you demonstrate these behaviours, including through your experience. You are strongly advised to read the Success Profiles Civil Service Behaviours Framework, which provides detailed guidance on how the behaviours are defined.

Applicants are encouraged to use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format to prepare specific examples of when they have demonstrated these behaviours in their application. Using the STAR format to provide evidence of your skills and experience in your application and at interview helps to give a structure. You briefly describe the situation in which you showed the behaviour, and then explain your task in addressing the situation, what action you took and the result of this.

For inclusivity and diversity, please remove the following personal information when uploading your CV: name, address, email address, age, date of birth, gender and nationality. 

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.

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.