View Vacancy - Vice Consul

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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Consular Roles)
Consular

Main purpose of job

We are seeking a dynamic and customer oriented Consular Services Manager (Vice  Consul) to join and manage the team based in the British Embassy Santiago, Chile.

The successful applicant will lead day-to-day consular operations, manage and deliver a targeted prevention programme to advise and inform on our wider consular priorities and ensure the provision of high quality consular support to British nationals in Chile.

The role will involve interaction with members of the public, local, regional and UK authorities as well as colleagues across the Americas Consular Network in order to fulfil the delivery of the FCDO’s Consular Strategy. As a Head of Section, the role will also require collaboration across the Embassy, including engagement with senior management on a regular basis.

The Vice-Consul will report to the Consular Regional Operations Manager (CROM) based in Bogota, Colombia for Consular day to day business and guidance, but will be line managed by the Deputy Head of Mission in Santiago.


Roles and responsibilities

  • Oversee and provide guidance to the Consular team, including the Honorary Consuls and Consular Agents;
  • Ensure service delivery, audit requirements, and case management exceed the minimum expected standards and are in line with the Consular Strategy 2021 and FCDO Consular Guidance;
  • Conduct a strategic review of active casework; liaising with UK, Post and regional stakeholders as appropriate to effectively manage high profile and/or complex cases;
  • Monitor casework trends, making recommendations and adjustment to casework management and/or prevention activity as appropriate in consultation with key stakeholders;
  • Provide consular assistance in accordance with current guidelines including, but not limited to, visiting British nationals in hospital or jail, providing support following bereavement, child custody matters, sexual assault, and cases involving mental health issues. Provide reports and coordinate strategy discussions with senior leadership on high profile cases.
  • Work with the Political Section to ensure accurate travel advice for Chile;
  • Proactively identify, manage, deliver and evaluate prevention activities; working in conjunction with political and other internal teams. This will include representation at events and public speaking duties;
  • Develop and maintain positive relationships with local authorities (e.g. police, prison service, immigration, hospitals, and children’s services), key stakeholders (e.g. travel and tourism industry, support groups, NGOs) and other diplomatic missions;
  • Resolving customer concerns effectively and fairly, pre-empting these where possible; reviewing the consular service offering at Post and the customer journey utilised on case management;
  • Bid for and manage the consular budget ensuring that resources are profiled accurately, used effectively and in accordance with published guidance. Highlight concerns and leverage opportunities to maximise spend in a timely manner;
  • Lead on Consular aspects of the whole of mission crisis response, including ensuring emergency equipment is tested regularly and fit for purpose. Ensure the Consular team is fully trained and assist the Honorary Consuls’ Line Manager in ensuring they take relevant training and understand their role in a crisis. Respond to crisis events as necessary;
  • Work with  colleagues in the Americas Consular Region contributing as necessary to help shape the development and application of consular strategy and policy in the network, provide resilience and share best practice;
  • Provide out of hours assistance to emergency consular cases as appropriate.
  • A strong team player with previous management experience.
  • 3+ years of relevant work experience (to include working with the public and staff management skills). 
  • Excellent communication skills; both written and oral, including the ability to communicate at all levels
  • Proactive, adaptable and the ability to work accross small teams.
  • Initiative, drive & determination with superior problem solving skills, sound judgement, common sense and the ability to remain calm under pressure.
  • Proven ability to prioritise, effectively manage and execute multiple tasks.
  • Proven ability to demonstrate initiative and self-motivation
  • The successful candidate must be available to attend a training course within the first 3 months of employment. At present, this may be delivered virutally due to COVID-19 restrictions but, travel may be required in the future.
  • Proficiency in MS Office
  • A relevant Bachelor's Degree
  • Experience in public speaking duties
  • Experience of managing outreach programmes including undertaking a wide variety of public speaking duties.
  • A good knowledge of multi-cultural Britain, its language, and geography.

 

For the full range of services provided by our consular team visit https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-chile

20 September 2021
Executive Officer (EO)
Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
36
Latin America and Spanish speaking Caribbean
Chile
Santiago
British Embassy
CLP
Monthly: CLP 1,901,451 plus lunch allowance CLP 74,000
28 November 2021

Resources managed

Staff: Line management of 1 x A2(L) Consular Officer, support the management of the Honorary Consuls and Consular Agents

Budgets: Manage the Consular section budget for travel and prevention activity.


Learning and development opportunities

  • Core Consular Mandatory Training: e-learning and self-study – Introduction to Consular work, Wellbeing, Resilience and Stress, Supporting Vulnerable People, Safeguarding Children, Assistance Guidance and other modules as set out on FCDO Glo for Consular Officers at the time of hiring.
  • Other FCDO Mandatory Training: Responsible for Information , Diversity at Work, Health & Safety Awareness, Unconscious Bias, Disability Awareness, LBGT Awareness  and other modules as set out on FCDO Glo for Consular Officers at the time of hiring.
  • Delivering Consular Services: Essential Assistance Work (one-week long mandatory course which is currently virtually delivered due to the COVID-19 pandemic); induction to the Consular IT systems,  Delivering Digital Consular Services, Effective Digital Content  and other modules as set out on the FCDO’s digital learning platform for Consular Officers at the time of hiring.
  • Additional Consular and Crisis Management : variety of e-learning, workshops and videos will be provided
  • Induction segments: reading, discussion and mentorship
  • Good Line Management learning packageshen safe to travel and when available, the provision of ad-hoc support to Consular Sections in other British Embassies / High Commissions in the Americas

The role brings the opportunity to acquire knowledge of consular policy and practice. In addition, it offers the chance to develop wider applicable skills, for example in stakeholder management and good line management. The Americas Consular Network places great emphasis on promoting L&D - additional opportunities can be bid for through both the Post and Consular L & D programme.

The role is open to anyone with the independent right to reside and work in Chile.

  • The initial contract period is for 6 months with the possibility of renewal.
  • A full induction programme will be arranged for the successful applicant.
  • The gross salary for this position is CLP 1,901,451 per month plus  a monthly CLP 74,000 lunch allowance
  • Core office hours are  9:00 – 17:30 Monday -Thursday and 9:00am -1:00pm on Fridays

Working patterns

If the job is suitable for flexible working patterns, please provide details:  Ordinarily, the customer-facing nature of consular service delivery may restrict limit flexible working patterns such as working from home.  Adjustments are in place for remote working at the time of recruitment due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will be kept under review. This can be discussed after the successful completion of the probationary period.

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.