View Vacancy - Executive Assistant to the Consul General

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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Operations and Corporate Services)
Private Office

Main purpose of job:

The British Consulate General in Toronto is recruiting for the position of Executive Assistant to the Consul General. The position is vital to the smooth running of the Consulate General in Toronto and the Department for International Trade in Canada. The position being offered will be on a full-time, permanent basis starting in November 2021, subject to receipt of a successful security clearance. The position will be based at the British Consulate General Toronto.

This is a fascinating and busy role allowing someone interested in international affairs and business development to work in an exciting diplomatic mission

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

The Executive Assistant will play a key role in ensuring that the Consul-General, who is also the Deputy Trade Commissioner for North America can carry out her duties for both the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and the Department for International Trade effectively.  The selected candidate will provide full office support to the Consul-General and limited support to the Deputy Consul-General. This will include:

  • Manage the Consul General’s diary and request and assemble briefing ahead of all external meetings, liaising closely with the relevant team members in the Consulate, the Department for International Trade network in North America and Whitehall Departments.
  • Conduct ad-hoc research on topical issues in Toronto and Ontario that are of interest to the UK and Canada. Keep standard briefing up to date, soliciting input from other team members as required.
  • Provide administrative support (drafting/formatting letters and memos, scanning documents, booking rooms, preparing expense reports, etc).
  • Prepare travel itineraries, both domestic and international. Book hotels and transport.
  • Organise official events and entertainment (breakfast, lunches, dinners and receptions) including at the Residence. Deal with external vendors and organisations. In collaboration with the Corporate Services Officer provide access to the Residence for contractors and maintenance staff, supervising them where necessary.
  • Cover for the Corporate Services Officer and Press and Public Affairs officer as required.

Resources managed:

No staff resources managed. Responsible for budget planning for non DIT budget activity in Toronto

  • Excellent written and oral communication skills;
  • Strong IT skills, including recent use of the full range of MS Office suite including Teams, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and Word;
  • Confident and proactive, able to form effective relationships quickly both within and outside the Consulate team;
  • Positive and flexible team player, they will be willing to contribute to the team’s overall objectives;
  • Able to deal with a range of competing priorities in a calm, efficient and professional manner, with a keen eye for detail;
  • Strong administrative skills, be confident in dealing with a range of contacts at all levels;
  • Be organised and efficient in work and time management;
  • Must have the legal status to live and work in Canada.
  • Language: French is desirable but not essential.

7 October 2021
Administrative Officer (AO)
Full-time, Permanent
37.5
Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories
Canada
Toronto
British Consulate General
1
CAD
$4,285.18 (monthly)
15 November 2021

Learning and development opportunities:

Consulate General Toronto  and Department for International Trade North America induction; on the job training; online and regional budget management courses; familiarisation visit to another post in North America.

Working patterns:

Due to Covid, the current incumbent has been mainly working from home with occasional days in the office. Going forward as restrictions continue to be lifted and more in person activities resume the expectation would be for the individual to work from the office at least 3 days a week, to be kept under review in light of demand/renewed restrictions.

There should be pre-existing legal status to live and work in Canada. The successful candidate will be subject to satisfactory references and local and overseas security clearances and a six month probation period.

Staff recruited locally by the British Consulate General are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Canadian employment law.

The British Embassy Network offers a strong benefits package. This package includes generous vacation and leave time, flexible working patterns, and enriching learning and development opportunities.

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.