View Vacancy - Community Liaison Officer

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 (Residence and Support Staff)
Community Liaison

Main purpose of job:

To work closely with HR and the Corporate Services team to support the well-being of all staff at Post, the primary function is to be an advocate for UK-based staff and families (FCDO and PAGs) and to provide support on family and community issues; principally in the areas of communication, information gathering and welfare on arrival, during and departing post.

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

  • Communicating effectively across Post to all staff and receive notification of staff arrivals/departures. To initiate contact with new officers and families once  Posting Notification is received, from  pre arrival to arrival, during the posting and departure. Informing officers and families of DSFA news particularly career support services and courses to eligible UK-Based spouses/partners at Post.
  • Information gathering for UK-Based officers and their spouses/partners and families on flexible deployment (including for those not yet at Post).  To include information primarily on spouse/partner employment at Post; children's education (through completion of separate HR School and Nursery Information Sheets of authorised schools at Post); a comprehensive information pack on childcare at post, feedback on adult education; career and training opportunities; single officer and foreign born spouse/partner issues; recreational facilities; social matters; the Cost of Living Allowance survey and completion of DSFA Spouse and Partner Annual Employment Report.
  • Welfare at Post: welcoming all staff on posting/temporary duty/flexible deployment and accompanying families to ensure as smooth an integration as possible into the life of the Post community; following up to check that the settling in process is working; being a source of referral and support where questions, problems and difficulties arise; providing short Post community induction. CLOs are not expected to be medically trained and have no medical responsibility. 
  • Advocate for UK-based staff and families in addressing issues of importance with Corporate Services, including acting as their representative on Post Accommodation Housing committees, and as the chief link between Post and DSFA in London. CLO is expected to be a  member of the British Embassy Support Association (BESA) committee ensuring that FCO/PAG families are informed of events, courses etc. 
  • Information management of Post Welcome Pack, CLO Teams site, input to update and review of Post Report and Fact Sheet. CLOs should be accessible and able to provide information in areas including pre-Posting information, spouse/partner employment at Post; child and adult education, childcare, recreation facilities and training opportunities. 
  • Events: arrange and manage various events (both large and small) throughout the calendar year and ensure that all FCDO/PAGs are involved working closely with the Embassy Social Committee.
  • Emergency Planning: the CLO must be aware of and involved in any Post contingency and evacuation plans. All CLOs should complete the Crisis Preparedness Management eLearning on GLO.  
  • Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to be professional, confident, courteous, and deal with interlocutors at senior level.
  • Excellent organisational skills with the ability to multi-task and strong problem solving skills.
  • Excellent customer service skills, with proven ability to take responsibility and exercise considerable discretion.
  • Understanding of FCDO policies.
  • Current valid driving licence.
  • Under US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Permanent Residents or A visa holders with EAD cards*. If you hold a visa other than an A visa you are not currently eligible to work at our office. Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/government/world/usa. All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work. *A visas are acceptable at the Embassy and Consulates. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas, and British Defense Staff (BDS) outposts accept A or NATO visas.
7 October 2021
Administrative Officer (AO)
Full-time, Permanent
40, including some nights and weekends
Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories
United States
Washington
British Embassy
1
USD
$21.36 (hourly)
15 November 2021

Learning and development opportunities:

  • CLO training course

Working patterns: 

This role is suitable for a job share splitting the time and tasks between 2 people.

The role requires some nights and weekends. 

The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance. Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount. Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position. Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed. The British Embassy is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and to creating a diverse working environment, free from discrimination, where everyone is included and treated fairly, based on merit alone. We are an equal opportunity employer, making all employment decisions without regard to race, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other criterion protected by law.
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.