View Vacancy - Pro-Consul - Part-Time (MNE24.338)

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. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Consular Roles)
Consular

The British Embassy in  Podgorica represents  the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in Montenegro, promoting cooperation and connections between the government and people of the UK and Montenegro. 

We are currently looking for a confident, customer-oriented Pro-Consul to join the British Embassy in Podgorica, Montenegro on a part-time basis. The successful candidate will be a resilient, quick-thinking individual, who can demonstrate empathy towards our most vulnerable customers, with good prioritisation and problem-solving skills and a strong sense of teamwork.

The Consular Team provides a high level of consular assistance and support to British nationals in Montenegro, focusing on the most vulnerable. You will have frequent interaction with members of the public, local, regional and UK authorities as well as colleagues in British Embassies across the Europe South Consular Network. You will also work with colleagues across the British Embassy in Podgorica, including with senior leadership. You will join a supportive Embassy team with a culture of continuous improvement and taking responsibility for personal learning and development.

The Pro-Consul, in close partnership with the Regional Vice-Consul, is required to build relationships with key external stakeholders in local authorities and the British community to ensure we are in the best position to help British National visitors/residents in need of assistance when required.

Consular work is challenging and very rewarding. The different functions of the role will require you to adapt to shifting priorities and operational objectives, whilst maintaining a commitment to excellent customer service.

There will be a requirement for occasional travel and flexibility in working hours, in order to meet key stakeholders and visit consular customers in e.g. detention or hospital. In rare cases, you may be asked to provide assistance out-of-hours (TOIL or an out of hours payment may apply).

Consular work brings staff into contact with people experiencing distressing and/or traumatic situations. A high degree of personal resilience is required. We also have a wellbeing programme to ensure colleagues are supported through these potentially challenging situations. You will also be part of a network of colleagues who work together and provide support and guidance to each other.

Role and Responsibilities.

Consular assistance

  • Provide consular assistance in accordance with current guidelines including, but not limited to, visiting British nationals in hospital or jail, providing in-person or remote support following bereavement, child custody matters, sexual assault, and cases involving mental health issues;

  • Develop and maintain positive relationships with local authorities (e.g. police, prison, hospitals and social services), key stakeholders (e.g. travel and tourism industry, support groups, NGOs) and other diplomatic missions.

  • To support the Emergency Travel Document Centre by printing Emergency Travel Documents.

  • To manage the online appointments booking system as well as perform administrative duties, including updating information on consular case management systems in a timely and efficient manner.

  • Work with colleagues in British Embassies across the Balkans and Eastern Adriatic Consular Network, to provide regional resilience and share best practice. On occasion, cover for absences of Vice Consul for Kosovo & Albania and Vice Consul for Serbia to provide consular assistance and advice remotely by phone and email and liaise with local authorities and stakeholders in Serbia, Albania and Kosovo during those times.

  • Provide out of hours assistance to (rare) emergency consular cases as appropriate (and for which TOIL will be available).

  • Provide cover for the Vice-Consul when they are absent.

Notarial and documentary services:

  • To prepare paperwork for notarial and documentary services.

  • To issue notarial documents for British Nationals in accordance with FCDO guidance.

  • To take fees and be responsible for cashier duties.

Crisis preparedness and response:

  • To assist with Embassy crisis preparation and response to large scale events

  • To assist with crises which require a consular response e.g. possible deployment to the scene and support the Vice-Consul.

  • To actively participate in crisis training opportunities.


  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; both written and oral, in both English and Montenegrin at a C1 level (according to CEFR*);

  • Ability to communicate effectively at all levels and an ability to support customers in difficult and traumatic situations;

  • 3 years or more of relevant work experience in a customer-facing role. The ability to respond to a wide range of customer needs. Excellent customer focus using problem solving and judgement skills to deliver results within set deadlines; superb attention to detail, and an ability to work effectively and proactively without close supervision;

  • Proven ability to prioritise a busy workload, proactively manage and execute multiple tasks, and work to deadlines and targets;

  • Proficient IT skills, in particular Office 365 applications;

  • Adaptability and a positive mindset towards change;

  • Flexibility, resilience, patience and the ability to confidently deal with difficult situations, including in an emergency or crisis; 

  • Ability to demonstrate a high level of discretion and personal responsibility.

  • Knowledge of the UK and/or Montenegrin administrative, justice and legal systems and social services.

  • Knowledge of Albanian language


Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Working Together
23 September 2024
Administrative Officer (AO)
Part-Time, Fixed Term
20 gross (18 net)
12 months
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Montenegro
Podgorica
British Embassy
1
EUR
€ 1,117.59 gross
monthly
1 November 2024

This is a part-time role for 20 hours per week gross, Monday to Friday. The exact working hours could be discussed between the Embassy and the successful candidate, but it’s likely these hours would be spread across 5 days (Monday to Friday) during the period 10:00 -14:00.  There is likely to be some out-of-hours working required to manage events/meetings outside of these hours. Some flexibility would be required on both sides.

Due to the nature of the role, there is a requirement to be based in the Embassy. However, some flexibility and occasional working from home can usually be found for certain circumstances and so long as the business needs of the organisation are met.

In crisis/emergency situations, work will be as required to support the Embassy response (sometimes on a shift pattern working unsociable hours).

Learning and development opportunities: There is a comprehensive learning and development programme for consular staff, that you must commit to completing. This includes a week-long training course in the UK, usually within 3-6 months of commencing employment. There are other opportunities through e-learning, virtual training sessions and in-person training.

The successful appointment is subject to confirmation of a background check, security clearance and medical clearance.

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in Podgorica are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Montenegro employment law.

Visa/work permit requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Montenegro 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.

Please be advised that Consular positions at the FCDO entail dealing with casework in situations that may involve death, detention, rape, assault, post-mortems, prison visits and highly distressed customers. Candidates should therefore have a high level of resilience to trauma. 

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 Embassy 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 note for more information on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment levels please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your language skill is going to be assessed.

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.