View Vacancy - Community Liaison Officer (CLO) & Projects Officer

Main purpose of job:

To be an advocate for and provide support to UK based staff and families (FCO and OGDs).   CLO tasks focus on family issues, in particular those relating to orientation, advice, information and welfare to assist their adaptation to an ongoing life in Panama.  To promote “One Team” ethos among Local Staff and UK Based staff. To be involved in Emergency Planning, and to undertake stand alone projects according to the needs of the Embassy.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

• Provide information for families, partners and officers (including those not yet at Post) regarding pre-Post information, employment at post, children's education, adult education, child care, training opportunities, recreational opportunities, social matters.  Continuously maintain the necessary support throughout their posting period.
• Welcome new staff and their families, including officers on temporary duty, to ensure a smooth integration into life in Panama; follow up to check that the settling in process is working, including been in charge of the arrival and departure float, its inventory and safe keeping.
• To be the point of contact for UK-based staff, spouses and partners, and single staff who wish to raise issues with corporate services and be a source of information, referral and support where questions, problems and difficulties arise.Organize language training and invigilate language exams for UK based staff.
• Assist new staff with house hunting prior to officer’s arrival (where relevant).  Request input from arriving officer and families on preferences, and to pass a short-list of properties to Estates Officer for the Health and Safety Inspection and to Deputy Security Manager for Security inspection.
• Liaise with the Diplomatic Services Family Association (DSFA) and CLO world-wide network and other embassies to ensure exchange of ideas and best practice.
• Be an advocate for UK based staff and families and LE staff in addressing issues of common concern with Post leadership. Represent the views of families on the Post Management Committee (PMC); ensure families are familiar with evacuation/contingency planning.
• Complete (i) the twice-yearly ECA Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) survey; (the ii) Diplomatic Services Family Association (DSFA) checklists authorised schools of at post; (iii) DSFA Spouse and Partner Annual Employment Report; Produce and maintain (i) Post Welcome Pack, (ii) Post Report, (iii) Post Fact Sheet.
• To coordinate publication of regular Post newsletters, update CLO news/information on the notice board, create and maintain a CLO homepage on the Post SharePoint.
• To receive Staff Movement Sheets and as appropriate have regular meetings with DHM on welfare and morale issues.​
• Promote “One Team” ethos among all staff at Post; to organize staff events such as All Staff Meetings, Christmas Parties, birthdays of the month and other activities that support the unification of LE staff with the UK based staff.  Communicating effectively on community and social matters within the Embassy to both UK based staff and LE staff.
• Send/Receive diplomatic bags.  If necessary arrange any exoneration process through Customs authority or custom brokers.

Emergency Planning

• To be involved in any Post contingency and evacuation plans. CLO´s knowledge of personnel and management at Post can provide solid support and assistance at these times.

Projects Work

• To work on a series of self-standing projects designed to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Embassy. Projects to be decided according to most pressing needs.

Essential on arrival:

• Self-starter.
• Motivated.
• Strong interpersonal skills;
• Understanding of issues arising from overseas relocation;
• Good advocacy and influencing skills;
• Fluent English and Spanish with strong organisational and communication skills;
• Team player;
• Driver’s License;
• Local knowledge