Address Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities) 1
Main purpose of job:
The British Consulate-General in Melbourne is part of a global network providing a wide range of consular assistance and services to British people in Australia, in line with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) published Consular Guidance and Customer Charter, Consular Services Strategy, local procedures, guidance and performance standards.
In this role you will deliver and manage consular services and assistance to British Nationals in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania in line with our public guide "Support for British Nationals Abroad: A Guide”. You will lead on management of straight-forward and complex casework and assist other team members (1 in Melbourne) with their own cases.
You will also lead on projects to minimise risks to British residents and visitors, to help “prevent” them from getting into difficulty. This will include writing preventative online guides, organising events and lobbying the government and local authorities, often with other sections or the Consul/Deputy Consul General in Melbourne. You will support on crisis preparedness and response.
You will report to the Consular Country Manager Australia (in Perth) and work closely with the other Consular Managers in Brisbane, Sydney and Perth, the Consular Regional Operations Manager in Canberra, and the senior leadership of the Consulate-General Melbourne - contributing to the efforts of the wider mission.
People applying for this position may be considered for other vacancies in the Australia network.
Roles and responsibilities:
Consular assistance and services
Leading on complex/high profile cases involving vulnerable British Nationals. This might involve supporting families of people who have been bereaved, including victims of murder; giving welfare assistance to destitute British people; supporting victims of crime (including rape and sexual assault) and people who have been hospitalised or experiencing mental health concerns; as well as visiting British prisoners and responding to a host of other issues. Please note this could require visiting detention centres and other challenging environments; some cases will have media and/or parliamentary interest.
Supporting and advising other consular officers on complex assistance cases, advocating for improvements to customer service delivery.
Managing Consular Services, such as issuing Emergency Travel Documents to British nationals and facilitating citizenship ceremonies.
Prevention
Leading on prevention initiatives that support British nationals in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, contributing to wider Australia initiatives, and online information packs and guidance.
Identify and lobby government and local authorities on key consular issues, with support from Consulate-General/Australian network colleagues.
Build and maintain productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders through regular engagement and outreach.
Contribute to research and drafting of online guides (e.g., for bereaved relatives, or prisoners) for the UK government website.
Business continuity and Crisis
In a crisis, or when supporting on a complex case, you may be expected to travel at short notice or work outside of normal contracted hours.
We take a 'whole-of-mission' approach to crisis preparedness and response. You will support this at post, focusing on planning and the consular aspects of crisis response, including as Consular Manager in a crisis.
Managing people, operations and information
Meeting consular business targets and ensuring cases are updated promptly on our management information system. This will involve close monitoring of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and monthly statistical returns
Managing 1 person in Melbourne, taking responsibility for motivating and developing the Melbourne Consular team, encouraging change and innovation, recognising growth.
Provide support to colleagues, working under pressure and in a challenging environment, creating a positive, inclusive work environment, focusing on staff wellbeing.
Contribute to Australia budget management and reporting - providing accurate forecasting and detail.
Australia consular is a team of thirteen people, spread across Australia, with two in Melbourne focused on providing consular assistance to British nationals in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. You will be expected to work flexibly and collaboratively with other team members, sometimes covering for others on leave, and occasionally working outside your normal remit during crisis and periods of high pressure. You should be aware that consular work involves difficult conversations with distressed individuals and may require visiting challenging environments, such as prisons and hospitals, so emotional intelligence and personal resilience are essential.
Resources managed (staff and expenditure):
Direct line management of one staff member
Essential qualifications, skills and experience 1
Ability to drive high quality service standards and plan and prioritise for a busy section using critical thinking and problem solving skills, applying procedures and guidance.
Good self-management and organisational skills, with an ability to work under pressure in challenging, stressful situations,
A high degree of resilience and flexibility, including working unsocial hours in an emergency.
Proven ability to manage internal and external stakeholder relationships.
Language requirements: Language: English Level of language required: Fluent written and spoken English
Desirable qualifications, skills and experience 1
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Experience in producing timely and accurate written information.
Ability to travel as required.
Required behaviours 1
Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Working Together
Application deadline 1
24 March 2024
Grade 1
Executive Officer (EO)
Type of Position 1
Full-time, Permanent
Working hours per week 1
38 hours net of lunch
Region 1
Asia Pacific
Country/Territory 1
Australia
Location (City) 1
Melbourne
Type of Post 1
British Consulate General
Number of vacancies 1
1
Salary Currency 1
AUD
Salary 1
AUD 87,753
Start Date 1
13 May 2024
Other benefits and conditions of employment 1
Specific considerations for consular roles:
Consular work can sometimes be stressful, distressing and of a sensitive nature. The successful applicant will therefore be expected to demonstrate high levels of personal resilience and maintain absolute consular confidentiality and impartiality, keeping in line with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Consular Strategy, consular guidance and Customer Charter, business targets and local procedures.
Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):
You’ll be joining an enthusiastic and supportive team that takes continuous learning and development seriously and that values a diverse range of skills and backgrounds. On starting the role, you’ll be supported in becoming familiar with consular policy, as well as the structures of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the operation of the British High Commission, which includes an induction day.
Mandatory Courses:
In your first year, you will be required to complete an online “Consular Fundamentals Course” and our “Developing Consular Expertise Course”, which is usually delivered in person in the UK. There are several other mandatory training courses which include: processing Emergency Travel Documents; case management and crisis management.
Further opportunities:
When you are settled in the role, you will be encouraged to seek out further opportunities (both formal and informal) to deepen your expertise of consular work, and to develop wider skills tailored to your personal interests and development needs. Mentoring and coaching opportunities are available to all staff at the British High Commission.
Opportunities can also include attending regional conferences, joining leadership and development courses and applying to volunteer for crisis training and deployment.
Working patterns
Working hours: Our core office hours are 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday. Due to the unplanned nature of some consular work, a flexible approach to working hours and patterns is essential.
Leave entitlements: Full-time staff benefit from an annual leave entitlement of 22 days per calendar year plus additional office closures for some UK public holidays.
Travel: Some travel may be required for regional activities, such as prison visits, providing resilience to other teams, and for training purposes. This may include interstate and/or overseas travel.
The UK government network in Australia has a modern and flexible approach to its working culture. The importance of in-person consular services, networks, relationship building, learning and collaboration mean that this role is not suitable for exclusive remote working. However the role may be suitable for some hybrid and/or flexible working patterns, subject to operational demands.
The successful applicant will be based in Melbourne, and work in a reporting line that is based in Perth and Canberra.
The salary on offer is not negotiable
Additional information 1
Your application must be submitted before 23:55 AEST-Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC/ GMT +10) on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”
Applications must include a current CV. Kindly omit any personal information such as name, birthdate, address and contact #.
All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage. Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate”.
Advertised start date is provisional and subject to completion of reference and security checks.
Kindly check your application centre or email regularly for any update on the status of your application.
Applications will only be considered from Australian Citizens or Permanent Residents.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer and building a culturally diverse workplace. We actively encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. Our culture of inclusion is underpinned by our excellent staff networks which cover disability, faith and belief, gender equality, social mobility, age, race, LGBT+, and how to be an ally.
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.
