View Vacancy - Community Liaison Officer
Main purpose of job:
The prime role of the CLO is to work with post management to provide support for the well-being of all UK-based officers and their families at living and working at Post. To lead on support to staff on arrival, during their posting, and on departure, providing the leading source of information to prospective applicants and new arrivals to Dhaka on living in Dhaka and security and health information. To maintain and update the post report and other supporting information. Lead on returns to London on life at post (cost of living surveys, post report etc). Act as a source of information on welfare, and provide post management with effective communication and guidance on issues affecting the whole BHC community.
Roles and responsibilities:
The British High Commission (BHC) wishes to recruit a Community Liaison Officer (CLO). This is an exciting and fulfilling opportunity for someone with a positive outlook on life who enjoys working with people. The BHC community is wide-ranging and varied. Our staff and dependents are drawn from all walks of life, and represent many different UK government departments. They are diverse, energetic and fun, and together reflect the vibrancy of the UK in the 21st century.
As CLO you will be the prime conduit for communications between the BHC community and senior management on wider welfare issues at every stage of a UK based member of staff’s posting. You will play a leading role in providing information about life in Dhaka to prospective candidates to the mission, ensuring you strike the right balance between helping attract staff, while being realistic about the challenges of life in Bangladesh’s largest, bustling city. You will lead on support for staff on arrival at post, delivering effective liaison between our corporate services team, line managers and yourself to ensure that new arrivals are properly accommodated and receive support from the word go. You will oversee their induction process in close liaison with line managers and the wider mission leadership to ensure that everyone gets a warm welcome to post.
You will also lead on the response to corporate returns required by London, including cost of living surveys, and take lead responsibility for ensuring that our post report and associated documents are up to date and accurately reflect life in Dhaka. You will represent the wider BHC community at select post committees.
Your main responsibilities will include:
- Welfare at post – be the main point of contact for approx 40 UK based staff and their families prior to and throughout their posting in Dhaka (single officers, couples and families as well as officers on temporary duty), to ensure as smooth an integration as possible into the life of the post community; following up to check that the settling in process is working; being a source of referral and support where questions, problems and difficulties arise. The CLO should be proactive in getting to know all individuals in the community to help the CLO recognise, acknowledge and support specific welfare/pastoral needs of individuals.
- Corporate responsibilities: have lead responsibility for supporting post management in its obligations to staff and dependents, including through support to post in the drafting of post contingency and evacuation plans; lead on liaison between BHC Dhaka and the DSFA (Diplomatic Spouses and Families Association) in London and complete required post returns to DSFA on key issues (primarily on spouse/partner employment at post; recreational facilities, Cost of Living Reports, ECA report etc).
- The CLO should also hold, use and provide, where appropriate, information about support agencies within relevant government departments available to all staff at post (e.g. FCO Health & Welfare teams, Employee Assistance Programme, DSFA, FLAGG, Diversity team etc – and other represented HMG department counterparts (DfID, etc).
- Advocate for UK based staff and dependants in addressing issues of importance with post management, including as their representative on post management committee, post security committee, evacuation/contingency planning and housing committees.
What we want from you?
- Be a “people person” with a positive outlook on life who has a track record of successful adaptation to life in Dhaka.
- Be able to combine friendliness, approachability and empathy with resilience and discretion.
- Be a good communicator, who has a good knowledge of Dhaka and how to get the best from it.
- Be able to work independently.
- Have strong interpersonal skills and strong sense of maintaining confidentiality – the successful candidate may be the recipient of sensitive or confidential information from post management, staff and/or families. Complete confidentiality must be maintained at all times.
- Have good IT skills.
- Relevant previous work experience is not essential.
- Good command of English, peoples person as well as a good communicator.
- Should be able to organise events when required.
- Drive to deliver the various aspects of the community liaison work is encouraged to apply.
Employment could be full time or part time.
For British High Commission (BHC) candidates, the Local Staff BHC Terms & Conditions will apply.
For other than BHC candidates, the starting salary for working full time will be BDT 62,485 per month. For part-time employment the salary will be pro-rata based on the working hours. There is an additional Responsibility Allowance of Taka 25,000 per month for full time employment and pro-rata for part-time employment. Salary will be commensurate will skills and experience.
Bangladeshi nationals are liable for their own tax returns, however, for a diplomatic spouse under diplomatic terms or for an expat who is not liable to file tax returns in Bangladesh, the salary will be automatically subject to 15% tax abatement and, the net starting salary will be BDT 53,112 per month.
The BHC is recognised as a good employer, with a robust, fair and transparent performance management & appraisal system linked to staff bonuses. We have a 5-day working week, plus annual leave, public holidays, maternity leave provision, special leave, paid sick leave provision; ample development opportunities, travel opportunities, a good organisational culture, and excellent work/life balance.
We treat people with respect and equality and have a policy of zero tolerance for any form of discrimination, bullying, or harassment.
This is a good opportunity to be part of a strong, diverse team, working in the biggest network that FCO has anywhere across the globe. We are aiming to make it the best.
To Apply:
- Complete the Online Job Application Form
- Attach a detailed CV
- Attach appraisal forms ( Internal candidates only)
Please Note:
- Applicants who do not have the required qualification & experience should kindly abstain from applying, as their applications will not be considered.
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and no telephone enquires will be dealt with.
- The appointment will be subject to Police Verification and other checks including references, educational and professional.
We welcome all applications irrespective of age, race, colour, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief or creed. We are also open to applications from people who want to work flexibly.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
