View Vacancy - Senior Visits Specialist

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

The Senior Visits Officer is responsible for the management of the Embassy Visits Team. The position has overall responsibility for the organisation of all visits to Washington DC (and, as required, occasional high-level visits to other areas of the US) by British government Ministers, Parliamentary Committees, former Prime Ministers, Members of the Royal Family, and senior officials. The job involves unique exposure to UK and US Government leaders and procedures.

 

Duties and responsibilities  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

(75%) Direct planning, delivery, and follow up of some visits and oversight of all others, including:

  • Securing and arranging calls on senior members of the US administration, Congress, and other organisations, negotiating suitable timings and subject areas, conducting advance visits, agreeing security arrangements and clearances
  • Preparing an accurate printed programme for the visitors’ arrival
  • Meeting and escorting some visiting parties and advance teams
  • Arranging security and weapons clearance for visiting Protection Officers, and working with Diplomatic Security to host protection teams, and co-ordinate advance site visits, motorcade and Secret Service/DS protection cover
  • Working with the Embassy transport section, limousine companies, and individual drivers to produce a cost-effective transport plan; and with local hotel contacts to secure satisfactory and cost-effective accommodation
  • Port and overflight clearance for visiting VIPs. Arranging VIP airport and airline facilities and work with airline and immigration officials to ensure smooth arrivals and departures
  • Co-ordinating office facilities at the Ambassador’s residence or hotel for delegations

 

(25%) Managing the Visits Team to produce a high level of service of visits organisation to Embassy Groups and Whitehall Departments, and to encourage the professional development of the two visits officers, including:

  • Ensuring access to myriad US government interlocutors to enable Embassy officers to achieve the Embassy’s strategic goals
  • Training and coaching Visits Officers to take lead responsibility for some visits
  • Regular performance discussions and thorough use of the Embassy appraisal system
  • Co-ordination of leave and overtime arrangements to ensure full and consistent service
  • Working with UK agencies and Embassy Groups to manage the flow of visits, highlight scheduling or political problems, act as an early warning system for difficulties, and de-conflict where necessary. Ensuring regular circulation of forward visits list
  • Spotting and resolving emerging problems with the visits systems, including accounting changes, inadequate US security co-operation, inadequate UK co-ordination of visitor flows
  • Maintaining contacts with key interlocutors in the White House, State Protocol, Principals’ offices, and in the Diplomatic Security Service
  • Overseeing invoices and payments related to visits and ensuring prompt and efficient service to visitors, and prompt repayments by UK Departments
  • Minimum of 6-8 years of related work experience
  • Visits coordination experience essential
  • College degree
  • Exceptionally strong organisational skills, reliability, team spirit, resilience, self-starting nature
  • Valid driving licence and (preferably) their own vehicle
  • High standard of written and oral communication
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Management experience highly desirable
  • Good working knowledge in all MS Office applications, specifically Word and Outlook
  • Applicants need to have the flexibility to work outside of office hours, including weekends and holidays, as needed
31 December 2016
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Permanent
40
Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories
United States
Washington
British Embassy Office
1
USD
69,576
21 February 2017

The British Embassy offers a strong benefits package. This package includes health insurance, pension, generous leave entitlement, and training opportunities.

Under US State Department requirements, the Embassy may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Green Card holders or A or NATO visa holders with EAD cards*. If you hold a visa other than an A or NATO visa you are not currently eligible to work at the Embassy.  Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/government/world/usa.  All candidates will be subject to background checks and security clearance. 

Resume and cover letter should be submitted by 31 December 2016. Internal candidates must inform their supervisor if they intend on applying.

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, 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.