View Vacancy - CGZ - Consular Officer

As a member of the Consular Section, you will be a part of the team that is responsible for ensuring a high quality consular service is delivered to British nationals in Guangzhou’s Consular districts: the provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Hunan and Hainan. You will work closely with the Pro Consul and assist him in delivering the section’s objectives under the Consular Strategy and the China Business Plan.

This is a key supporting role helping to provide the full range of Consular services including assistance to vulnerable British Nationals, Notarial and Documentary services and prevention and outreach work.

The successful applicant will provide an effective counter service to our customers and administrative support to the team. Our Notarial and Documentary services include processing affirmations/affidavits, oaths and Emergency Travel Documents.  You may be required to support the other posts in the China Network in these areas.

The successful applicant will also help on assistance cases. These can include hospitalisations, detentions, the death of British nationals and issues around mental health. In certain circumstances, e.g. during staff shortage and/or for personal development, the jobholder may be involved in the more challenging aspects of these cases. They will need to engage with the Chinese government departments including Public Security Departments (PSDs) and Foreign Affairs Office (FAOs), as well as other partners and stakeholders to relay information and seek clarity.  

The successful applicant will also be a member of the Consular Crisis Team and assist in the preparation and response to any crisis.

There will be opportunities to travel within China for assistance cases and outreach visits. There will be occasional travels overseas for Consular training.

As the majority of our customers are British nationals and the successful applicant will need to frequently interact with the Chinese authorities, a high-degree of fluency in English and Mandarin (both written and spoken), are essential.  The selection process will include a language test.

Notarial and documentary services for British nationals – 35%

• Timely processing and organisation of Notarial and Documentary services
• Issuing Emergency Travel Documents

Excellent office management and administrative support to the Consular Team, including: – 30%

• Paper files and shared area organised and up-to-date
• Team Calendar and Contacts kept up-to-date
• Key information for customers up-to-date
• Compiling accurate management information statistics
• Logistical support for assistance cases and outreach/prevention activities

Consular assistance to distressed British nationals – 25%

• Provide information to British nationals requiring consular services and assistance, in person, on the phone and by e-mail
• Provide support by arranging consular visits including to prisons, detention centres and hospitals and accompanying a UK diplomat when required

Crisis Preparedness: The jobholder will be a member of the Consular Crisis Team – 5%

• Active involvement in the Consulate’s schedule of crisis training and exercising
• Contribute to the Consular part of the crisis planning
• Provide Consular assistance to affected British nationals in crises

Prevention and Outreach – 5%

• Arrange the logistics of prevention/outreach initiatives with the Chinese government departments, including the local police, the Public Security Bureaus, the PSDs and the FAOs, friendly missions and other partners
• Translation and interpretation for managers

• Excellent administrative skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Team player and ability to work alone   
• IT skills (Word, Excel, Outlook)