View Vacancy - Vice-Consul ( NLD20.402)

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 (Consular Roles)
Consular

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


The British Embassy in The Hague, part of a worldwide network of 230 Diplomatic Posts, representing British Political, Economic and Consular interests overseas is now looking for a Vice-Consul.

Main purpose of job:

To manage and inspire the Consular team to deliver first class customer service, consular assistance and support to resident and visiting British Nationals. Ensure an effective Consular response to any major incident or crisis. To build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders in local authorities and the resident British community. To be a fully engaged and proactive member of The Netherlands Consular team and Europe Asia Network, ensuring implementation of Consular strategy and regional business plan.

Roles and responsibilities:

Team management (10%) – Support and motivate the team towards achieving objectives, including effective resource management, line management and effective leadership through regular meetings, appraisal reviews, facilitating learning and development, coaching and mentoring.

 

Assistance (60%) - Maintain high level of awareness of consular policy, ensuring team have appropriate access to learning opportunities. Provide appropriate advice to the team on casework, lead on high profile and complex cases in line with guidance, maintaining an overview of live cases and system usage as well as providing support and advice where necessary.   Lead on high profile cases and incidents liaising with key stakeholders including London based colleagues. Carry out Notarial and Documentary services.

 

Influencing and External Stakeholder Management (10%) – Build and maintain relationships with local authorities and services (such as police, prison, court, social services, hospitals, local administration and regional government, etc). Be proactive in liaising and partnering with local interlocutors as and when possible, to show a modern and professional service, working to proactively inform and safeguard British nationals. To keep abreast of evolving consular policy, ensuring implementation and liaison with appropriate Ministries. Contribute to regional work streams, projects and sharing of best practice. Lead on the implementation of change management projects aimed at providing more efficient, effective and better quality services.

 

Crisis (10%) - Take responsibility for maintaining and testing crisis IT and other equipment. Ensure information on the Crisis Management Plan is current. Participate in post and network crisis exercises. Lead the initial local response to any crisis, reporting to the consular crisis lead in The Netherlands

 

Corporate management responsibilities (10%) – effectively manage office budget and cash flow and complete all required transactional returns. Receive customer payments in accordance with FCO regulations. Report to Consul for authorising purposes, as necessary. Ensure all post information is current and visible on appropriate internal and external platforms.

Full professional proficiency in English, including excellent writing skills* (C1 Level);


Excellent communicator and negotiator, strong outreach and networking skills across multiple interlocutors;

Previous experience in a customer facing role and ability to respond empathetically to a wide range of customer needs

Experience in leading and managing a high performing team;

Resilience and ability to work in a fast paced environment; ability to cope with the challenging nature of consular work;

Excellent time management and organisational skills; the ability to work proactively without   supervision;

Willingness and ability to travel occasionally within the wider European consular regional network and to work   out of hours at short notice, if required.


Basic Dutch, including writing skills* (A1 Level);

Professional background in tourism, customer or social services or providing support to individuals in a vulnerable situation would be an advantage;

Good general knowledge of the Dutch administrative system.  


28 October 2020
Executive Officer (EO)
Fixed Term, Full-time
36
12 months
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Netherlands
The Hague
British Embassy
1
EUR
3743
1 February 2021

The successful candidate will initially be offered a one year employment contract at B3 level. The base salary for this position is € 3,743 gross per month, based on a working week of 36 hours. In addition, an 8% annual holiday bonus and a monthly travel allowance are payable. The Embassy currently applies a performance based bonus pay model for local staff.

Applicants must be legally entitled to work in The Netherlands.

The successful candidate will undergo a professional background check; Any job offer is also provisional to a successful security clearance check. Preferred start date as soon as possible and subject to security clearance which can take time.

The Embassy encourages a culture of continuous learning. All employees have access to the Civil Service Learning platform which gives access to training to improve job specific skills. Employees are entitled to a minimum number of annual training days.

The British Embassy promotes and demonstrates the key values of Professionalism, Respect and Honesty.

Visa/Passport requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in the Netherlands and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract. Additional requirements may become necessary after 31st December 2020.

Additional 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.

*In regards to C1 English level:

Please refer to the “Common European Framework of Reference for Languages”. We are looking for a C1 level or equivalent. CEFR indicates Level C1 as mastery or proficiency level which 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 note 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.

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.

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.