View Vacancy - British Embassy Tokyo- Vice Consul

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

The purpose of the British Embassy in Tokyo is to promote the British Government’s prosperity, security and consular interests in Japan.

 

The consular section provides consular services and assistance to British nationals in Japan in line with the standards set out in our publication “Support for British Nationals Abroad: A Guide”.  The jobholder will join a dynamic team in a challenging but rewarding front-facing role.  They will help customers through some of the most difficult experiences of their lives. 

 

About the role

This position is to provide cover for the absence of the existing job holder. The contract will be for a period of approximately thirteen months.

 

Main Duties

 

Providing consular assistance to distressed British Nationals (BNs) across Japan by leading on high profile/complex cases and providing support for team members on all other cases:

  • Leading on complex/high profile assistance cases including  cases involving vulnerable BNs.  Assistance work includes issues such as international parental child abduction, mental illness, missing persons, rape/sexual assault, victims of serious crime; and media sensitive cases;
  • Supporting and advising Pro Consuls on complex assistance cases;
  • Meeting  consular business targets and promptly recording casework on our case management system;
  • Approving Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs);

 

Staff and Resource management,

  • Act as deputy section head, including covering for the section head in their absence
  • Line management of two A2L Pro Consuls
  • Management checks in line with audit specifications
  • Management and profiling of section budgets ensuring full spend is achieved within the financial year

 

Liaison with local authorities and outreach to partner organisations:

  • Active outreach to partner organisations (embassies, NGOs, charities, churches and other civil society groups) to establish further sources of assistance for BNs;
  • Organise visits, seminars and events to engage stakeholders on key areas of policy;
  • Identify and lobby authorities on key issues

 

Provision of Notarial and documentary services in line with Consular Guidance:

  • Conducting Civil Partnerships, Same Sex Marriages and Citizenship Ceremonies

 

Support Japan network crisis preparations

  • Participation in Post consular crisis team; organisation and participation in crisis exercises

For many British nationals, the only contact they will ever have with an embassy will be through our consular services, often in times of great personal distress.  As customer-facing members of staff, the jobholders will need to have excellent communication skills and be able to deal with distressing situations in a sensitive manner and with empathy.

 

The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate the following key skills and attributes:

  • Excellent all-round communication skills to manage customer expectations and deliver difficult messages;
  • Ability to follow guidelines and to plan and prioritise effectively;
  • Ability to work well with others -  to build and maintain relationships with customers and stakeholders;
  • Management experience;
  • Openness to change;
  • Strong business Japanese language skills (JLPT level N2 or equivalent). Experience working in a Japanese speaking environment would be a clear advantage;
  • Fluent in English (IELTS band 7 or TOEIC 875 points or above or equivalent). Experience working in an English-speaking environment would also be desirable.
  • Previous problem solving experience in a customer facing role including working under pressure with highly distressed people;
  • Local knowledge such as some understanding of Japanese law, local authorities, and/or social welfare would be an advantage.

17 July 2016
Executive Officer (EO)
Fixed Term, Full-time
37.5
Asia Pacific
Japan
Tokyo
British Embassy
1
JPY
413,000
15 August 2016
14 August 2017

The successful candidate will be required to attend an introductory course in the UK.


The jobholder may be asked to undertake occasional short-notice domestic travel, potentially throughout Japan, to make consular visits.  As the Global Response Centre (GRC) in London handles all out-of-hours consular cases the embassy has no consular duty officer.  In practice, most out-of-hours calls are dealt with by London and any action by the Embassy is taken the next working day.  However, if the GRC judge a case requires an emergency consular response, the jobholder – if they are available – may be asked on occasion to assist out of hours.  A “cold call-out” payment will be made in these circumstances.



Benefit package includes:

  • Working hours: Monday to Friday, generally 0900-1730 with flexible working opportunities and occasional out of hours working required.
  • Salary of  413,000 JPY per month with 1 month bonus equivalent paid in June and December (pro rata)

Note: Salary may be reduced due to tax status

  • Commuting allowance of up to JPY35,000 per month (paid on an actual cost basis)
  • 24 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
  • Health insurance and Employee pension (kenko hoken /kosei nenkin)
  • Excellent training and development opportunities

The successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate the following competences at interview:

  • Making Effective Decisions:  Use sound judgement, evidence and knowledge to provide accurate, expert and professional advice.  Make and record effective decisions following the appropriate decision making criteria, framework or guidance.
  • Leading and Communicating:  Approachable, empathetic and a good listener acting in a fair and respectful way in dealing with a diverse range of customers.  Manage and engage people with honesty and integrity. Excellent oral communication skills, able to deliver difficult messages and manage expectations with sensitivity.
  • Collaborating and Partnering:  Work collaboratively, sharing information and building supportive and responsive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders; Maintain positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside of the embassy; A good team player, flexible and willing to cover for others as team needs.
  • Managing a Quality Service:  Good self-management:  Plan, organise and manage time and activities effectively to deliver a high quality and efficient service; able to plan activity following guidelines and prioritise effectively taking into account to fast-changing events.  Actively seek information from customers to understand their needs while managing expectations of what can and cannot be done.
  • Delivering at Pace:  Work with energy and pace, using own knowledge and expertise to deliver on time and to standard; Maintain consistent performance, taking responsibility for the quality of own work.
  • Demonstrating resilience:  Consider how they manage themselves through challenges and setbacks, and develop as a result, bouncing back.  Ask for support when needed.

 

Our Values

As part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) the Embassy aims for excellence by:

 

  • Taking responsibility
  • Encouraging innovation
  • Working together

 

Our values support a vibrant culture where all staff takes on stretching responsibilities, where ideas thrive and the status quo can be fearlessly challenged.  We work together effectively with all our partners to make a greater difference for the UK.

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. The applicant must have or be able to obtain work authorisation for Japan in order to apply.

 

The British Embassy and Consulate General are equal opportunities employers and do not discriminate on grounds of ethnic origin, race, religious beliefs, age, disability, gender or sexual orientation.

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.