View Vacancy - Vice Consul, British Embassy, Bogota, Colombia

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 (Consular Roles)
Consular

Main purpose of the 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 Bogota, Colombia.

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 Colombia.

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 Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s (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, and be managed by, the Consular Regional Operations Manager (CROM) based in Bogota, Colombia.

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 onwards) 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 Colombia.
  • 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.

Resources managed

Staff: Line management of 1 x A2(L) Consular Officer, support the management of 3 Honorary Consuls and 6 Consular Agents

Budgets: Manage the Consular section budget for travel and prevention activity (approximately £6,000)


Essential on arrival    

  • 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 across small teams.
  • Initiative, drive and 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 virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions but, travel may be required in the future.
  • Proficiency in MS Office.

 Language requirements

English and Spanish

Level of language required:  CFER C1 (full fluency in English and Spanish (written and verbal) are essential) 


Desirable

  • 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 further information on the full range of services provided by our consular team, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-colombia

 

Changing and Improving
25 May 2022
Executive Officer (EO)
Permanent
35
Latin America and Spanish speaking Caribbean
Colombia
Bogota
British Vice Consulate
1
COP
6,375,717
11 July 2022

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed)

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 FCOGlo 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 FCOGlo 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, but is also being considered in person in London); 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 packages when 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.

Working patterns

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.

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.

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

  • The initial contract probation period is for 3 months with then the possibility of a permanent contract.
  • A full induction programme will be arranged for the successful applicant.
  • The gross salary for this position is COP 6,375,717.
  • Core office hours are 08:30-17:00 Monday to Thursday and 08:30-13:30 on Fridays.

Must have the legal status to live and work in Colombia.

The British Embassy Network offers a strong benefits package. This package includes generous vacation and leave time, flexible working patterns, and enriching learning and development opportunities.

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.