View Vacancy - Chief of Staff to the British High Commissioner

Main purpose of job:

The British High Commission is seeking a Chief of Staff to the High Commissioner. This is a busy job at the heart of an important diplomatic mission in Ottawa. It offers a unique insight into the whole range of diplomatic activity and the opportunity to play a part in the dynamic partnership between Canada and the United Kingdom.

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

The job holder will provide support to the High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner. Both travel extensively in Canada, and the job holder therefore has responsibility for dealing with business in their absence, often interacting with senior contacts. This is a job which demands resilience, tact and discretion and a professional, proactive approach to people, problems and programmes.  Key responsibilities include:

• Acting as gatekeeper for the High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner, filtering calls, correspondence and requests to ensure that their time is used to the best effect. This requires a good understanding of the High Commission’s work across the political, security and trade spheres and the toughness to say no when needed.
• Managing two busy diaries: prioritising, liaising with contacts from the Prime Minister’s office to CEOs and journalists. The Chief of Staff will offer help in assessing which requests need to be agreed, and which events to attend, consulting staff across the network.
• Ensuring that the High Commissioner/Deputy High Commissioner are properly prepared for their meetings, assembling material with assistance from subject experts.
• Proving administrative support for the High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner. This involves drafting letters and replies, making often complex travel arrangements and preparing expense reports.
• Working with the Residence Manager to deliver an ambitious and exciting programme of events at Earnscliffe, the High Commissioner’s residence.
• Acting as the focal point for the High Commissioner’s communication with the Canada network, drafting messages, picking up issues of interest and concern and planning when to hold all staff meetings.
• The above list is not exhaustive, and there is scope for the right candidate to further shape the role.

• Excellent organisational skills and ability to work under pressure and to deadlines. Being able to prioritise is essential;
• Political sensitivity, discretion and trustworthiness;
• Excellent team-working and interpersonal skills;
• Ability to take responsibility for decisions and to act independently;
• Strong oral and written communication skills, and the confidence to interact with very senior interlocutors;
• IT literacy – confidence using Outlook mailbox and calendar is critical, and familiarity with the wider MS Office suite including MS Teams and SharePoint is desirable;
• Must have the legal status to live and work in Canada.