View Vacancy - Vice Consul (09/16 DAR)
A vacancy has arisen at the British High commission for a Vice Consul. The position is graded at B3 for which the current salary starts at TZS 2,674,674 per month before deduction of tax. The jobholder will lead the consular team in a challenging but rewarding front-facing role. They will help customers through some of the most difficult experiences of their lives. The job holder will report to the Consular Regional Operations Manager, who is also based in Dar es Salaam but travels frequently. Having the confidence and dynamism to get on with the job at hand with minimal supervision is key. No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. The applicant must have or be able to obtain a work permit for Tanzania in order to apply.
Main purpose of job:
To lead the team providing consular services and assistance to British nationals in Tanzania in line with the standards set out in our publication "Support for British Nationals Abroad: A Guide
Roles and responsibilities:
Providing consular assistance to distressed British Nationals (BNs) across Tanzania by leading on high profile/complex cases and providing support for team members on all other cases:
- Leading on complex/high profile assistance cases including cases involving vulnerable British nationals. Assistance work includes issues such as international parental child abduction, mental illness, missing persons, rape/sexual assault, victims of serious crime; and cases with media/parliamentary interest;
- Supporting and advising consular assistants on complex assistance cases;
- Meeting consular business targets and ensuring team promptly record casework on our case management system and submit monthly statistical returns;
- Approving Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs);
Staff and Resource management:
- Line management of two A2L Consular Assistants in accordance with FCO Guidance;
- Management of Tanzanian Honorary Consul and Warden network;
- Management checks in line with audit specifications;
- Management and profiling of section budgets ensuring full spend is achieved within the financial year. Putting together business cases for future financial year budgets;
Liaison with local authorities and outreach to partner organisations:
- Active outreach to partner organisations (other embassies, NGOs, charities, and other civil society groups) to establish further sources of assistance for British nationals;
- Organise visits, seminars and events to engage stakeholders on key areas of policy;
- Identify and lobby authorities on key issues;
- Delivery of prevention and other communications campaigns.
Support Tanzanian network crisis preparations:
- Lead on consular elements of BHC Dar es Salaam’s Crisis Management Plan;
- Participation in Post consular crisis team; organisation and participation in crisis exercises;
For many British nationals, the only contact they will ever have with a British mission will be through our consular services, often in times of great personal distress. As a customer-facing member of staff, the jobholder will need to have excellent communication skills and be able to deal with distressing situations in a sensitive manner and with empathy.
The successful candidate will need to be able to demonstrate the following key skills and attributes:
- Excellent all-round communication skills to manage customer expectations and deliver difficult messages;
At least two years experience in public facing work with international customers/working with foreign nationals
A proven customer service track record, good judgement and have the ability to solve problems.
- Calmness under pressure;
- Confidence and authority when dealing with senior colleagues/local authorities;
- Ability to research and follow guidelines, and to plan and prioritise effectively;
- Ability to work well with others - to build and maintain relationships with customers and stakeholders;
- Experience of supporting and developing staff;
- Fluent in English (if non-native English speaker then IELTS band 7 or TOEIC 875 points or above or equivalent).
- Experience working in an English-speaking environment would also be desirable
- Swahili would be useful, although not essential.
This is a full time role (Mon – Thurs 07:30-15:30; Fridays 07:30-13:00). Bids from job sharers are welcome.
- The nature of consular work means that out of hours emergencies can occur. TOIL (time off in lieu) is given in these instances. For more serious cases out of hours, overtime is paid subject to the agreement of your line manager and the FCO in London.
Learningn and development opportunities :
- As well as successful completion of relevant online learning for the role, the successful candidate will be required to complete an introductory training course in the first three months of the job. There are also opportunities to job shadow at other British missions in the region, and attend our annual consular conference, normally held in South Africa.
Due to the nature of the role it is necessary that any applicant is able to obtain security clearance to official-sensitive. Security checks and an interview will be conducted.
- Allapplicants must be legally able to work in Tanzania with the correct visa/status/work permit.
- Staff recruited locally by the British High Commission in Dar es Salaam are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Tanzanian employment law.
- Employees who are not eligible to pay local income tax: e.g. certain third-country nationals and spouses/partners of UK diplomats will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount
- The successful candidate will be subject to reference checking and security clearance checks.
- If you have not heard from us 3 weeks after the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful. Note: Any questions you may have about this position will only be answered during interview, should you be invited.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
