View Vacancy - Vice Consul

The British Embassy in Abu Dhabi has a vacancy for a Vice Consul, Grade B3 (L).

The Role:

The successful candidate will ensure British nationals in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain receive a professional service that is effective, timely, consistent and in line with Foreign and Commonwealth Office guidance.  They will be required to provide direct advice and support to distressed British nationals including leading on certain high level and sensitive assistance cases.

The job holder will lead on the local delivery of the Consular Regional Business Plan and global consular initiatives as well as the consular elements of the Country Business Plan.  Reporting to the UAE Operations Manager based in Dubai, they will be required to lead, motivate and encourage the Abu Dhabi Consular Team x 2 Pro Consuls to participate in global, regional consular activities and proactively deliver consular prevention and outreach work. The job holder will need to be a self-starter and highly motivated, with excellent interpersonal skills.

In response to a local or regional crisis, the job holder will play a key role in managerial responsibility for the Section’s response and deployment. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• To lead, motivate and develop the Consular Team with direct line management of two Pro Consuls. 
• Manage the Team’s provision of Consular Assistance to distressed British nationals, including providing guidance and support in difficult cases:

            -Detainees, including visiting police stations and prisons

            -Hospitalisations

            -Dealing with bereaved families

            -Child custody issues

            -Other sensitive cases such as rape, child abduction, forced marriage.

            -Notarial and documentary services

• Ownership of formal response to public correspondence.  Ownership of returns and forms that are required by Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) London.
• Identifying areas of potential high level interest and briefing seniors and others accordingly. Preparing written briefing and updates on cases and issues
• Monitoring changes in local procedures and practices and ensuring that our information and guidance for British nationals reflects any changes and is up to date.
• Monitoring changes in consular processes and FCO corporate issues and keeping team updated
• Managing emergency travel document processing, and the notarial/legalisation operation ensuring consistent customer service to British nationals.
• Key role in Post Emergency response to crises including planning, exercising  and any response to a crisis affecting UK citizens.
• Participation in formulating Embassy management policies. Representing section at Embassy and corporate events
• Identify training and developmental opportunities. Manage section cover and other operational issues
• Manage Team budget
• To be prepared to work out of hours, occasionally anti-social hours, as required.

Prevention Communications and Outreach

• Proactively plan and deliver high quality UAE prevention and outreach projects in support of the Consular Strategy, working closely with the Dubai press/communications team.

Regional

• Travel to the UK and within the MENASA region (and possibly further afield) will be required for training and logistical purposes.

Key Competencies:

• Leading and Communicating - Display enthusiasm around goals and activities – adopting a positive approach when interacting with others.
• Managing a Quality Service- Effectiveness in this area is about being organized to deliver service objectives and striving to improve the quality of service, taking account of diverse customer needs and requirements.
• Delivering at Pace- Effectiveness in this area means focusing on delivering timely performance with energy and taking responsibility and accountability for quality outcomes.
• Making Effective Decisions - Demonstrate accountability and make unbiased decisions. Examine complex information and obtain further information to make accurate decisions. 

Essential:

• A team player who is capable of working on their own initiative and who is adaptable to changing priorities.  Must be able to work and act without close supervision.
• Experience of managing a team- 2 years minimum.
• Good interpersonal skills and an ability to cultivate and maintain a range of contacts at all levels.
• Experience of working strategically and of project development and management
• Ability to bring a flexible and creative approach to your work. 
• Ability to talk to large groups of people as part of our Prevention and Communication work
• Excellent front line customer care skills and the ability to respond to a range of customers needs.
• Excellent oral and written English essential.