foreign and commonwealth office is recruiting Consular Officer (01/16 BJL)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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, 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.

Job Category  

Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Consular Roles)

Job Subcategory  

Consular

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)  

Main   purpose of job:

To provide high quality Consular Services to British Nationals and eligible persons’ at the British Embassy in Banjul.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Act as first responder to walk-in consular assistance cases at the front  counter, handling basic enquiries and providing initial consular   assistance if required.  (Hospitalisation, Deaths, Financial  Assistance, Prisoners, Child Abduction & Other Assistance work.
• Dealing   with general enquiries by emails/letters and telephone calls received from   our contact centre.
• Provide   administrative support to Vice Consul & Consular Regional Operations   Manager.
• Maintain   a daily detailed record of all visitors given assistance to help with   statistics for the year-end.
• Receive  fees for consular services and validate forms or provide hand-written   consular receipt as necessary.
• Check   Emergency Travel Document application forms carefully and ensure all sections   have been completed and required documentation submitted.  Conduct front   counter interviews where necessary.  To also conduct local, UK and   relevant searches on documents submitted in support of Emergency Travel   Document applications.
• Assist   in ensuring that the travel advice notices for Gambia are kept up to date.
• Ensure   all relevant consular lists are always up to date and maintain consular   shared area files.
• To collect staff activity data on a monthly basis.
• Maintain Consular Travel/Entertainment budgets.
• Maintain monthly Post MI returns
• To play a full and active role in regional initiatives/work as directed by the Vice Consul and/or Consular Regional Operations Manager, including through participation in the Regional Resilience Network.  This may require occasional travel outside of Gambia.

Essential qualifications and experience  

Language   requirements:

 Language:   English

 Level of language required: Fluent written and spoken

A knowledge of French, Wollof and/or Mandinka would be beneficial but not essential.

Other   skills / experience / qualifications:

Essential   on arrival:

• A high standard   of education up to a University Degree or equivalent.
• Excellent communication skills   including a good command of spoken and written English.
• IT Literate – Good understanding of modern Microsoft Packages   (be able to use Word, Excel, Internet Explorer.)
• The ability to multi-task and solve problems whilst adhering to strict British Embassy guidance and procedures.
• Excellent attention to detail and   accuracy (compile accurate information in both written and electronic   formats).
• Have excellent customer relations and   be able to listen to and support British and EU nationals with sympathy and   sensitivity.   (Previous customer   relations/public service delivery would be an advantage).
• A tolerance for aggressive customers, challenging consular   casework (death, hospitalisation, child abduction).
• Be respectful of the personal nature   of the job and take care to protect sensitive information and adhere to   strict data protection policies.
• Ability to work well in a small team, working independently   while taking a proactive approach to the role (particularly under pressure).

Desirable qualifications and experience  

Desirable:

• Familiarity with UK culture/society   (including having visited) advantageous.
• Knowledge of how the Gambian prison/courts/police systems works advantageous.

Required competencies  

Seeing the Big Picture, Leading and Communicating, Collaborating and Partnering, Managing a Quality Service

Application deadline  

29 April 2016

Grade  

A2 (L)

Type of Position  

Fixed Term

Working hours per week  

38

Duration of Post  

6 months

Region  

Africa

Country/Territory  

Gambia

Location (City)  

Banjul

Type of Post  

British Embassy

Number of vacancies  

1

Starting monthly salary ()  

30,000 (GMD)

Start Date  

1 June 2016

Additional information  

• All applicants must be legally able to work in Gambia with the correct visa/status or work permit
• Staff members recruited locally by the British Embassy in Banjul are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Gambian employment law.
• Spouses/registered partners of UK Based Staff, are able to work within the BHC/BCG but their salary will be abated at the appropriate tax rates.
• Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted.
• If you have not heard from us 3 weeks after the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful. Note: Any questions you may have about this position will only be answered during interview, should you be invited.

Sourced: foreign and commonwealth office