View Vacancy - Corporate Services Officer EO (02/23 CHD)

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 (Policy & Political roles)
Communications, Press and Media

Main purpose of job:

The British Embassy in N’Djamena is part of a worldwide network representing British political, economic, development and consular interests overseas. The UK has been present in Chad since 2018, when we first opened an office. In April 2021, the new British Embassy welcomed its first resident Ambassador and we are currently in the process of completing a new Embassy building.

Providing an efficient and effective Corporate Services platform for the Embassy is essential for the Embassy team to meet UK objectives in Chad. You will work with the Corporate Services Manager to effectively manage the Embassy’s finance, estates and transport as we settle into the new site. You will also provide administrative support for Corporate Services and the wider Embassy as required. You will be required to build effective relationships with suppliers, ensuring the UK Embassy obtains high-quality and value for money services across the Corporate Services portfolio.

You will work with a variety of FCDO colleagues on the corporate portfolio, based at the corporate Hub in Pretoria and Estates colleagues in London. You will support these colleagues virtually and on visits to N’Djamena, providing on the ground context and expertise to inform management of the estate.

This is an exciting opportunity to support the new UK Embassy as we move to our permanent office. You can expect to work closely with the Deputy Head of Mission and the wider Embassy team to achieve the Embassy’s corporate objectives. As the new Embassy opens, there will be opportunity to take on new responsibilities such as management of Residence staff.

Roles and responsibilities:

Finance and Commercial

  • Support the Corporate Services Manager in procurement of goods and services using FCDO guidance and meeting UK standards.
  • Lead on timely payments to suppliers and day-to-day budget oversight.
  • Manage the spend for the Embassy, ensuring we remain within budget.
  • Provide support for accountancy services and finance in the absence of the Corporate Services Manager

Estates

  • Lead on implementation of a health and safety work plan in coordination with the regional technical Works Officer and in compliance with the FCDO Health and Safety Framework.
  • Support the Corporate Services Manager in on the ground assistance to the new Embassy/ Residence build project i.e. checking works, liaising with local providers, customs clearances.
  • Support the Corporate Services Manager in implementation of the estates maintenance programme and day-to-day management of the estate in compliance with FCDO guidance.
  • Management of new facilities management contract in due course.

Transport

  • Work with Head Driver on transport pool management to ensure maintenance of vehicles and thorough records of vehicle checks and usage.

Wider Embassy Support

  • Provide administrative support as and when required to the wider British Embassy team, which could include assisting with events and visits. As a full member of the embassy team, the post holder will also make a wider contribution to making the Embassy a friendly and supportive environment to work in. Where necessary, the post holder must be ready to support any other Embassy business (e.g. emergency consular, political or corporate work).

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

  • Management of office and Residential properties, under supervision of CSM
  • Management of transport pool (5 vehicles)
  • In absence of CSM, administrative management of Embassy budget, under supervision of the Head/ Deputy Head of Mission.
  • Strong organisational skills with the ability to work at pace on multiple priorities at the same time, taking the initiative where required.
  • IT literacy (Microsoft Word, Excel, Teams and other common software); capacity to become proficient in FCDO specific IT programmes.
  • Ability to work independently and unsupervised, and as part of a wider team.
  • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject.
  • Experience of finance and administrative support.
  • Fluent oral and written French.
  • Extensive oral and written English.
  • Strong financial management or accountancy background.
  • Experience of professional facilities management.
Changing and Improving, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace
6 June 2023
Executive Officer (EO)
Permanent
35 hours
Africa
Chad
N'Djamena
British Embassy
1
XAF 691,344 plus Housing Allowance XAF 182,734 and Transport Allowance 64,203 XAF
3 July 2023

Learning and development opportunities:

In addition to on-the-job learning, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office offers a wealth of Learning and Development (L&D) opportunity (on-line and in person) to help staff pursue their professional development. This includes specific training on eg programme management, communications, international relations. The successful applicant will be required to undertake a number of mandatory trainings and will then have access to a range of L&D opportunities both in-house and overseas.

Working patterns:

Working hours are from 08:00 – 16:15 Monday to Thursday and 08:00 – 13:00 on Friday.

  • Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening.
  • Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
  • Employees recruited locally by the UK Embassy Office in Chad are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Chad .
  • 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.
  • 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
  • Information about the Civil Service Success Profiles can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles
  • Please note:  AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
  • Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
  • The British Embassy will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.
  • Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate”.
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.