View Vacancy - MNL - Vice Consul, B3 (L)

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

The British Embassy Manila is a large diplomatic mission delivering a dynamic and rapidly expanding programme of activity in support of the UK’s objectives on prosperity, security and consular matters. The Embassy is a modern, diverse and inclusive employer where everyone contributes to the Embassy’s CORE Values of Collaboration, Opportunity, Respect and Excellence.

Main purpose of job:

The British Embassy in Manila is part of a global network providing a full range of consular assistance to British people in the Philippines  in line with the Foreign,  Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) published Consular Guidance and Customer Charter, Consular Services Strategy, local procedures, guidance and performance standards. The successful candidate will be working in a fast-paced and complex environment where the ability to work under pressure and provide leadership is vital, as well as having responsibility for driving high standards of service delivery.

The Vice Consul will provide leadership, motivation, strategic direction and oversight of the day to day operations.  The position also includes direct line management and leadership responsibilities.

The Vice Consul has the opportunity to make a direct difference to the lives of British Nationals, often in difficult and challenging circumstances. The job requires dealing with sensitive cases, or responding to crises and stressful events.  Visits to prisons, hospitals and mortuaries, including travel to different parts of the Philippines, will required when COVID restrictions are lifted.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?

Management: As one of 3 Vice-Consuls, you will be responsible for oversight of the day-to-day consular operation in the Philippines. You will be ensure that the Team in Manila deliver the consular strategy, meet key performance targets (KPIs) and audit requirements and deliver a consistent and high level of customer service.  You will line manage 1 or 2 Pro-Consuls (number to be confirmed), providing guidance, support and direction to them, ensuring workloads are allocated equitably. You will motivate and develop the team, ensuring staff are appropriately trained and supported. You will provide support to colleagues who work under pressure and in a challenging environment, contributing to a positive inclusive work environment, which places a strong priority on wellbeing.

Consular Assistance: Lead on high profile and complex assistance cases including:  visiting prisoners, dealing with deaths, hospitalisations, victims of crime and victims of rape or sexual assault. Where necessary, and subject to current COVID restrictions, travel within the Philippines, possibly at short notice, to provide assistance directly to customers. Maintain timely and accurate records using FCDO’s consular casebook system. 

Communication, Outreach and Prevention: Develop and deliver plans to reduce preventable consular incidents in the Philippines, collaborating with the Asia Pacific Regional Prevention Manager and colleagues within the Manila Consular Team.  The current job holder has led on our prevention work in relation to British detainees and prison conditions in the Philippines, but this can be adapted depending on the skills and experience of the successful candidate.  Contribute to pro-active outreach in the Philippines and communication with key external stakeholders, including building partnerships with local authorities, British Groups, the travel industry, other government organisations and likeminded Embassies.  Contribute ideas and suggestions for Embassy social media messaging. Ensure publicly available information on gov.uk, including service provider lists and guidance sheets are accurate and up-dated regularly.

Collaborate with regional consular management and colleagues across the Asia Pacific Region on operational and policy issues, including involvement in regional working groups and ‘championing’ individual assistance or policy areas.

Crisis: As part of the whole of mission approach, you will be expect to play an active role in the Embassy’s crisis preparedness, including contributing the Embassy Crisis Management Plan and acting as an alternate Consular Manager in the event of a major crisis.

Corporate: Play an active part in the corporate life of the Embassy, including joining Embassy Committees where appropriate, to maximise the overall wellbeing of staff.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure): Line management 2 Pro-Consuls (subject to review).

  • Able to lead a multi-skilled team providing motivation, support and development for the team.
  • Ability to resolve conflict and bridge cultural differences in team.
  • Able to display sound judgement and an analytical approach in decision making.
  • Ability to drive high quality service standards and plan and prioritise for a busy team using  sound judgement, critical thinking and problem solving skills, applying procedures and guidance.
  • Output focused – ability to drive delivery through the team, resolving issues fairly and promptly.
  • Extensive experience of working in a customer-facing environment including the ability to support people and team members in traumatic or difficult circumstances.
  • Good self-management and organisational skills with an ability to work under pressure in challenging, stressful situations, demonstrating a high level of personal resilience.
  • Flexible, resilient, patient and able to deal with difficult situations, including working unsocial hours in an emergency.
  • Proven experience of displaying a high level of discretion and responsibility.
  • Ability to liaise with and manage external stakeholder relationships.
  • Experience in completing timely and accurate written information in English.
  • IT proficiency
  • Ability to travel within the Philippines/the wider Asia Pacific region as required.
  • Fluent written and spoken English and Tagalog
  • Proven skills in managing a team.
  • Experience of living in or understanding of the United Kingdom, British people and culture.
  • Previous experience in consular services or in another support providing organisation would be an advantage.
28 September 2021
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Permanent
36
Asia Pacific
Philippines
Manila
British Embassy
1
PHP
Php 52,500.00 per month
8 November 2021

The British Embassy offers a competitive compensation package, 36-hour work week, guaranteed 13th and 14th month pay, 20 days paid annual leave (calculated on Pro-rata basis if joined after 1 January), extensive medical insurance, life insurance and access to a guaranteed 5 days of learning opportunities a year. 

The jobholder must be prepared to undertake work-related national and occasional international travel, including for learning & development purposes.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is committed to developing its staff, working hard to provide a comprehensive L&D offer. Staff have access to a wide variety of online resources and are strongly encouraged to take advantage of all the available opportunities. All new staff undertake a workplace induction and there are a number of mandatory e-learning courses covering areas such as diversity, health and safety, and information management.

The British Embassy has a formal flexible working policy and welcomes requests for flexible working arrangements, including non-standard working hours (however staff have to be available during opening hours to take calls from customers) or compressed hours. Team members can work from home however there are times staff must come to the office to deal with customers face to face. 

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, staff are actively encouraged to work from home to limit movement and exposure to others. This impacts normal team-working configurations and work-related travel, which can be discussed with the hiring manager.

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment checks. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy Manila is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Philippine 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.

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.

Candidates are expected to have a valid NBI Clearance.

All applications must be received before 23:55 Standard Philippine Time on the day of the deadline indicated above. Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core competencies listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time.

Indicated start date is provisional and subject to successful completion of reference and security checks.

To those applicants not shortlisted, we extend our appreciation for considering the British Government as a potential employer.

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.