View Vacancy - Head of Corporate Services, (ITA22.520)
The British Consulate-General Milan and British Embassy in Rome are part of a worldwide Government network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas.
We are currently looking for a Head of Corporate Services to provide strategic direction to Corporate Services in Italy; leading an efficient, cost effective and professional team to deliver for staff on the platform in Rome (including UKRep to the UN), Holy See and Milan. The Corporate Services function underpins all of the objectives in our Country Business Plan by providing a safe and secure environment for the Italy Network to deliver its goals.
Working closely with the rest of the senior leadership team, the jobholder will provide corporate, financial and local insight to inform decision making at the Corporate Board and Italy Network Country Board.
Why should you apply?
This is an exciting and fast-moving role, and you will have a chance to work within a central team in the embassy, and in partnership with local and international stakeholders.
We are offering you the opportunity to be part of a friendly and supportive working environment. The British Embassy in Rome is a rewarding and exciting place to work, offering:
- Work-life balance (flexible working; remote working);
- A number of British and Italian public holidays; holidays falling on a Sunday may be compensated with an extra day normally added to the list of public holidays;
- Unique and exciting roles within the worldwide Government network, with opportunities to travel and work overseas, engaging with high level contacts;
- Performance related bonuses;
- Accessible learning and development (L&D) opportunities for everyone, including dedicated L&D days and working groups within the wider network such as Diversity Champions Group, Women & Girl’s Policy Group, Think Green Group are a few examples;
- An equal and diverse workplace.
Main duties and responsibilities:
Strategic Planning and Leadership 30%
- To provide strategic leadership and planning in support of the corporate agenda including the country business plan and risk management.
- Act as trusted advisor to local leadership and partners on the platform ‘horizon scanning’ locally to enable proactive resource and activity planning.
- Manage the platform provision (currently supporting FCDO plus 10 partners) across Italy, influencing at a senior level to maintain and strengthen inclusiveness.
- Actively build and deepen relationships with key stakeholders internally, within regional and global FCDO hubs and with external partners to maintain informed and current corporate knowledge.
- Ensure local policies are reviewed and aligned to global and local requirement and adopted by all partners on the platform.
- Lead and monitor the delivery of services against the local corporate services charter.
People 20%
- Lead on the overall employer proposition, including terms and conditions of service and pay and benefits for country based staff (CBS) across the Italy Network, ensuring compliance with local labour law.
- Provide guidance and act as an escalation point on sensitive staff matters for UK diplomats and CBS, including management issues and dispute resolution, engaging with specialist HR functions where necessary.
- Lead on initial onboarding of UKBS at time of posting, ensuring subsequent team engagement to address all relevant areas ahead of and on arrival.
- Champion and embed a collaborative and inclusive culture.
Delivery 40%
- Manage delivery of the platform through a strong and diverse team based in Rome and Milan, consisting of 38 employees. Line manage and work closely with the HR, Estates, Finance and Security Managers in Rome and the Corporate Services Manager in Milan. Each role is responsible for leading and delivering their area of expertise with oversight from the jobholder.
- Oversee all corporate delivery across finance, HR, protocol and procurement 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 the management of the estate, ensuring that UK and local standards are met through planned and reactive maintenance and in compliance with corporate procedures, including local and UK health and safety regulations and policy.
- Lead on current and planned estates projects at post, working closely with Estates Directorate in London, project teams and managers, and suppliers on progress and delivery.
- Oversee the local delegated budget in accordance with corporate policies to ensure on-budget expenditure and value for money.
- Oversee local security delivery across the posts, through the two Post Security Managers.
- Instil a continuous improvement mentality within the team, leading on corporate projects and the change management required to deliver them.
Resilience 10%
- Respond to operational crisis, acting as a Logistics Manager and flexing team prioritisation as required.
- Ensure cross training within corporate services roles to provide resilience within the teams and across the network.
- Work with the Europe Directorate Network & Resource Team on financial and human resource decisions.
- Ensure welfare, wellbeing and engagement are maintained within the network, and provision of specific support is ongoing e.g. covid support.
- To hold a corporate role/objective outside of day of day work, to contribute to the wider corporate agenda.
Our successful candidate shows:
- Proven experience and ability in leading a dynamic team with changing priorities and with a flexible approach to ensure that business objectives are delivered.
Ability to engage successfully with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels, valuing and promoting diversity.
Leading the team ensuring that the most appropriate and cost effective services are delivered.
The successful candidate will be open to change and have a proven track record in improving service delivery and encouraging a culture of innovation.
The successful candidate will be accustomed to taking responsibility and being accountable for quality outcomes including creating a strong culture of service delivery, ensuring Staff perform effectively during changing and challenging times.
Strong communication skills including C1* level English language skills.
Minimum 3 years of middle management experience working for an international organisation, preferably with direct involvement in HR and/or Finance policy and implementation.
Experience in managing cross-functional teams.
High-levels of discretion, with a resilient, flexible and 'can do' attitude.
Able to challenge and influence senior stakeholders.
It will be a Plus:
Previous experience within a government or international organisation particularly in a role in personnel, estate and budget management.
Italian language at B2 or above on CEFR* or equivalent.
This job will be based in Rome. This is a full-time temporary position with a contract of 11 months.
The annual gross salary is Euro 77,280. The salary is paid monthly 14 times per year including € 10.33 EDR paid 13 times per year, with double salary payments in June and December. If working less than a full calendar year, the additional salary payments will be pro-rata.
Working hours are 35 hrs per week, a high degree of flexibility and autonomy over how your time is organised.
The starting date may be delayed depending on circumstances at the time and this will be agreed with the selected candidate.
The appointment is subject to security clearance, professional background check and the successful completion of a 5 month probationary period. The candidate will need to have/or obtain SC overseas clearance for this role.
All staff employed by the British Embassy are subject to Italian income tax (IRPEF). However the administration of these tax payments will vary depending on nationality.
The successful candidate will be enrolled in the Italian State Social Security Scheme. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local Italian employment law.
Visa/work permit requirements: candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Italy and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract.
Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country.
Please get in touch with us using ufficiopolitico@fcdo.gov.uk if you would like to discuss the job with the hiring manager before submitting your application.
Please be advised that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline” and it 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.
Please also be advised that the British Diplomatic Missions will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a job.
*Please note, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment indicates Level C1 as Mastery or proficiency Level which comprehends that a person can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read; can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation; can express themselves spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations. For more information please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your languages skills are going to be assessed.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
