View Vacancy - Head of Corporate Services- C5, Colombo

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 (Operations and Corporate Services)
Corporate Services Support

"Note: It is mandatory for all applicants to complete the online application form including the employment and educational details, motivational segment and competency questions. The applications which completed all required fields will only be thoroughly reviewed by us. Forms that are incomplete in any aspect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.’’

Please note that due to Covid-19 outbreak, the start date of employment mentioned in the advert is tentative. All recruitment campaigns will remain open for applications and we will progress with the recruitment process as swiftly as possible.  We will be in touch with you for the interviews/ should there be further updates on the application. However, under the given circumstances, kindly expect some delay in response. Please reach out to SAAD.Recruit@fco.gov.uk, if you have any further questions.

Main Purpose of the job:

The Head of Corporate Services is a key leadership and management role in the British High Commission, Colombo, with responsibility for corporate services.  You will motivate, lead and build the capacity of a professional team delivering Human Resources, estate and facilities, logistics, security, IT, finance and procurement for the UK government’s platform and activities in Sri Lanka.  You will help build the High Commission’s positive corporate culture in line with our values.

You will also be responsible for preparing and delivering major corporate change programmes and improving our service and delivery.  The job-holder will ensure a cost-effective, efficient and accountable service for all its customers, in line with UK values, best practice and legal requirements.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Delivery (20%)

  • Provide strategic leadership, planning and delivery of the corporate services to ensure they support delivery of UK objectives;
  • Provide expert advice to senior management in Colombo, regional corporate service hubs and UK corporate policy staff across the corporate agenda, participating in relevant management boards and committees;
  • Ensure compliance with established global and local policies by regularly monitoring and reviewing corporate service activity;
  • Design and deliver corporate change management programmes, improve systems and processes in line with policy and best practice;
  • Provide strategic input to long term planning of resources and corporate development, identifying risks/opportunities and drawing up possible options for senior management in Colombo.

Financial Management (20%)

  • Responsibility for the British High Commission and Residence budget, ensuring on-budget expenditure, accountability and value for money in compliance with UK policy,
  • Scrutiny and monitoring of finances and regular reporting within the High Commission and to UK headquarters and regional corporate service hubs;
  • Develop the High Commission’s income generation programme.

Operational Delivery (20%)

  • Direct the management of the estate and facilities (operational and residential) ensuring compliance with UK and local standards through a planned and reactive maintenance programme;
  • Deliver safe, secure, smooth-running facilities for our staff and our visitors;
  • Establish Residence systems and processes that provide excellence for our visitors and meet UK best practice
  • Act as an ‘intelligent client’, identifying requirements, appropriate service level agreements (SLAs) and key performance indicators (KPIs) to manage and monitor supplier contracts.

People (20%)

  • Lead the overall people proposition, including recruitment, terms and conditions of service, reward and recognition, and pay and benefits for country-based staff (CBS), ensuring compliance with local labour law and UK policy, working with London and Delhi regional HR Hub;
  • Provide guidance and act as an escalation point on sensitive matters for diplomatic staff and CBS, including management issues and dispute resolution, engaging with specialist HR functions where necessary;
  • Ensure the safety and well-being of diplomatic families posted to Colombo, including through arrival/departure arrangements and ongoing community liaison;
  • Provide leadership and direction to the Corporate Services Team (finance/HR, estates/facilities, security and logistics, IT and the Residence (up to 40 staff, with 5 direct line-reportees)
  • Embed a professional, accountable, motivated, collaborative and inclusive team culture, based on High Commission values, champion learning and development, engagement and feedback and ensure the well-being and resilience of the Corporate Services Team.

Stakeholder Relationships (15%)

  • Establish a proactive Corporate Services relationship with regional/global hubs and other corporate UK government contacts;
  • Manage relationships with local service providers, High Commission tenants and relevant external partners (eg other diplomatic missions, government departments and suppliers);
  • Monitor and ensure delivery of services against SLAs and a Corporate Services charter, meeting high customer standards for wider UK government partners.

Resilience (5%)

  • Respond to operational and other crises as appropriate, providing leadership and flexing team prioritisation as required as part of the High Commission’s crisis response.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

The job-holder will line-manage 4 members of staff and lead and develop a diverse, wider team of corporate staff (approximately 40), with oversight of the British High Commission’s finances, procurement and outsourced service providers.   You will have management responsibilities for a budget of approximately £1.3 million, spending activity of over £3 million and income generation.

Language requirements:

Language: English, Sinhala and/or Tamil will be an advantage.

Level of language required: Fluent English.

Essential on arrival:

  • Minimum 5 years of professional management experience in an international organisation, preferably involved in Management, HR and/or Finance;
  • Motivated to work in the public sector, supporting the values and priorities of the British Government. High levels of discretion, with a resilient, flexible and ‘can do’ attitude;
  • Excellent written and spoken English;
  • Ability to work in a cross-functional international environment, operating effectively across national, regional and global teams and cultures;
  • Sound judgment and problem-solving skills and ability to implement policy, seeking guidance when necessary.  Ability to challenge and influence senior stakeholders;
  • Experience in managing suppliers and outsourced service delivery;
  • Project management experience of leading and managing staff and stakeholders through change, managing expectations and competing priorities, and communicating constructively about change;
  • Understanding of government resources and public accountability and the need to deliver value for money acting within regulatory controls;
  • Ability to assess and interpret financial data and report to a variety of stakeholders;
  • Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
  • Professional experience and/or professional qualification in Management, Finance or Human Resources Experience in Oracle based systems;
  • Project management qualification;
  • CIPD certified;
  • Spoken conversational Sinhala and/or Tamil;
  • Previous Embassy corporate service management experience;
  • Knowledge of local labour law.
Changing and Improving, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service
31 October 2021
Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Fixed Term, Full-time
40
24 months
South Asia & Afghanistan
Sri Lanka
Colombo
British High Commission
1
LKR
LKR 363,403 + EPF 12% + ETF 3% per month
1 December 2021

For British High Commission (BHC) candidates, the Country Based Staff BHC Terms & Conditions will apply. 

For other than BHC candidates, starting salary will be LKR 363,403 + EPF 12% + ETF 3% per month. Other benefits include 13 month’s salary (pro-rated) and medical insurance coverage.

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment and security checks. 

The BHC is recognised as a good employer, with a robust, fair and transparent performance management & appraisal system.  The High Commission takes pride in its organisational culture and its strong and diverse team. We offer leave entitlements as per Sri Lankan labour laws.  

We treat people with respect and equality and have a policy of zero tolerance for any form of discrimination, bullying, or harassment.

Please note that applications will only be considered with (a) and (b):

(a)  Complete the Online Application Form

(b)  Complete the Motivation Segment in the Online Application Form

Internal candidates applying for this position need to upload their appraisal forms for the previous 2 years (if applicable). They should also inform their current line managers, else the applications will not be considered.

We will accept only online applications received by ­­midnight on 31st October 2021 (Sri Lanka Standard Time).  

Please note that all the applicants will be required to strictly adhere to the security guidelines of the British High Commission

  • Applicants who do not have the required qualification & experience should kindly abstain from applying, as their applications will not be considered.
  • Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and no telephone enquires will be dealt with. However, the status will be updated on the recruitment software which will be viewed by the applicant.
  • The appointment will be subject to police and other checks including references, educational and professional. 
  • We welcome all applications irrespective of age, race, colour, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief or creed.

Other information:

Those who advance in the selection process will be interviewed based on the competencies above.

Only electronic applications will be accepted.

NOTE:

  • The British High Commission in Colombo is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.
  • Staff recruited locally by The British High Commission in Colombo is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law.
  • The successful candidate will be subject to reference checking and security clearances checks.
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.