View Vacancy - Residence & Business Hospitality Manager (BEL21.076)

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)
Protocol, Visits and Events

Note: Due to COVID-19, you may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign and we are working hard to minimise any disruption.

Our daily work relies on the input of dedicated individuals who engage on many different topics and activities. We seek to employ a diverse range of candidates who bring their own talents and perspectives to the role. We have a strong corporate agenda that ensures we create a positive and inclusive working environment where everyone is valued for their contribution.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has a worldwide network of embassies and consulates, employing over 14,000 people in nearly 270 diplomatic offices. We work with international organisations to promote UK interests and global security, including the EU, NATO, the United Nations, the UN Security Council and the Commonwealth and is now looking for a full-time Residence & Business Hospitality Manager.

The Residence & Business Hospitality Manager is responsible for the efficient management of the British Residence, ensuring that it contributes fully to UK government priorities, represents value for money, is maintained to the highest possible standard and serves as a showcase for British excellence. The job holder will also be expected to offer guidance on use of business hospitality in other official and Residence locations of the UK Missions.

Reporting to the Deputy Director Corporate Services, the Residence & Business Hospitality Manager is responsible for the overall day-to-day management of the Residence and the planning and co-ordination of events that take place therein.

Residence Duties:

To manage all aspects of running the Residence.

  • Corporate leadership to the Residence team of 14, ensuring that staff have strong personal learning and development plans, SMART objectives and their job appraisals are carried out in an effective and timely manner;
  • Performance management of Deputy Residence & Business Hospitality Manager, Head Chef and Maitre d’Hotel, to include conducting appraisals and identifying training requirements;
  • Act as liaison between Corporate Services Benelux and Facilities Management teams with regard to all renovation/building/maintenance work undertaken at the Residence;
  • Ensure that the furniture, furnishings, domestic equipment and all other official property and personal effects are properly catalogued, maintained and replaced where necessary, in conjunction with Facilities Management Teams;
  • Responsible for Residence budget and accounts, ensuring timely reporting back to Deputy Director Corporate Services Benelux;
  • Ensure that the Residence is used appropriately;
  • Act as Secretariat for Ducale Steering Group.

Business Hospitality

  • Liaise with the UK Missions, Private Offices and lead on preparation of the weekly event programme;
  • Plan and manage events to ensure professional delivery coupled with the best possible financial outcome for HMG;
  • Liaise with Head Chef on menus for events and private dining;
  • Liaise with external suppliers to support events, such as catering, event management, A/V, etc.;
  • In conjunction with the Maitre D’Hotel, oversee preparation of staff rosters, including hire of additional staff for functions when required;
  • Maintain updated management information on the use of agency staff;
  • Negotiate with suppliers to ensure value for money is achieved in all aspects of procurement;
  • Ensure that publicity material for Residence is current and relevant, for respective audiences;
  • In conjunction with Deputy Residence & Business Hospitality Manager and Head Chef, maintain food and beverage levels, undertaking stock control and regular checks;
  • Showcase UK products and ingredients within the Residence, for example through menus, furniture, art displays and toiletries;
  • Ensure during quiet periods the Residence staff are utilised effectively in terms of forward planning and maintenance of the fabric of the building;
  • Prepare table plans, menus and place cards when required;
  • Lead on maintaining up to date guidance on the use of the British Residence.

Required Skills and Experience

  • Proven people management skills capable of leading teams;
  • Excellent inter-personal and communication skills, including negotiating with external stakeholders;
  • Ability to complete work to a high standard, under pressure with a focus on attention to detail;
  • Strong project management skills to contribute to major events effectively;
  • Relevant working experience in an international standard hotel, diplomatic residence or equivalent;
  • Experience in managing financial budgets and resources effectively.
  • Flexibility to work some evenings and weekends;
  • Capable of identifying new ways of working and ensuring their smooth implementation;
  • Good IT skills (Microsoft Teams, MS Office, particularly Excel);
  • Full professional proficiency in English, including excellent writing skills*.

General

  • The job holder will need to exercise judgement, having scope for discretion in interpreting and applying rules and policies;
  • They will need to have a considerable knowledge and a full understanding of their work area;
  • They will regularly be expected to work with senior stakeholders (SMS) based within the three Missions.
  • Languages skills: French. 
18 April 2021
Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Full-time, Flexible working, Permanent
5 working days per week, including weekends when required
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Belgium
Brussels
British Embassy
1
EUR
€ 6,856.17
14 June 2021

This is a permanent full-time contract for 5 working days (36.25 hours net) per week. The monthly gross salary for this position is € 6,856.17, C5 level. In addition, we offer an extensive salary package, which includes a 13 month, luncheon vouchers, pension scheme, optional hospitalisation insurance (subject to monthly employee contribution), reimbursement of public transport and a lot more. We offer more days of annual leave than the Belgian requirements.

Please note that Belgian nationals will be paid their salary gross and are expected to comply with their tax obligations through completion of a tax return to the Belgian authorities. Non-Belgian nationals will receive their salary net, minus the deduction of an equivalent level of Belgian tax retained at source. Further information on this will be given to candidates during the recruitment process.

Staff recruited locally by the British Diplomatic Missions in Belgium are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Belgian employment law. The successful candidates will be subject to professional background checks and security clearance.

Please be advised that the British Diplomatic Missions will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a job.

Visa/work permit requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Belgium and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country.

Passport: officers are expected to be in possession of a passport due to the possibility that they may be asked to undertake business travel.

Please note Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment indicates Level C1 as Mastery or proficiency Level which comprehends that a person can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning; can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions; can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes; can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices. For more information please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your languages skills are going to be assessed.

Please be advised that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

Information due to COVID-19:

  • You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign and we are working hard to minimise any disruption;
  • Interviews will be done remotely if the existing situation determines this to be the right course of action;
  • Starting date may be delayed depending on circumstances at the time and it will be agreed with the selected 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.