Deputy Head of Corporate Services HEO – British Embassy

By Osama Elsheikh Last updated Apr 15, 2022

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.

Job Category

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Operations and Corporate Services)

Job Subcategory

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Main purpose of job:

This is an exciting opportunity to be at the heart of running the British Embassy, Khartoum. The main purpose of the job is to provide strategic direction to Corporate Services Teams. This includes the Protocol, Estates, Finance and Human Resources teams. You will also deputise for the Director of Corporate Service – giving ample opportunity for personal development. The Corporate Services team is a high quality, professional team, and they deliver an excellent service across the platform.

As a leader in corporate delivery, the jobholder needs to have excellent management, interpersonal and communication skills; tact, discretion, and an ability to deliver consistently across a broad range of responsibilities. The jobholder will be required to show an understanding for and sensitivity in handling Embassy and host government requirements.

In particular, we are looking for a skilled and enthusiastic manager, someone able to bring the best out of their staff and able to organise the work and team to ensure delivery whilst adhering to Embassy protocol and standards. Skills in human resources would be especially welcome.

Roles and responsibilities:

Strategic Planning and Leadership 20%

Help shape and deliver the broader corporate agenda including the country business plan and risk management.
Assist in the merger of platform operations between legacy DFID and legacy FCO.
Engage, analyse, and report on developments in Corporate Services policy, highlighting opportunities to the Director of Corporate Services (DCS) and Senior Management Team.
Lead Corporate Services communications to the rest of the platform, including a monthly operations update.
Maintain relationships with key stakeholders internally, within regional and global hubs and with external partners (at other diplomatic missions, government departments and suppliers) to maintain informed and current corporate knowledge.
Ensure local policies are reviewed and aligned to global and local requirement and adopted by all partners on the platform.
Lead and monitor the delivery of services against the local corporate services charter, MoU’s and corporate services improvement plan.
Lead and monitor the delivery of services against the local corporate services charter.

People 30%

Alongside the Director Corporate Services and Deputy Head of Mission, contribute to the overall employer proposition, including terms and conditions of service and pay and benefits for Country Based Staff (CBS), ensuring compliance with local labour law and full alignment across the platform.
Provide guidance and act as an escalation point on sensitive staff matters for diplomatic and CBS, including management issues and dispute resolution, engaging with specialist HR functions where necessary.
Champion and embed a collaborative and inclusive culture.
Contribute to the 2022 People Plan.

Delivery 35%

Oversee all corporate delivery across a range of areas including HR, Procurement, estates protocol, technical works, working closely with the regional HR, finance and procurement hubs.
Lead and manage the full re-tender of the staff and families Medical Insurance Scheme
Direct the management of the estate, ensuring that UK and local standards are met through planned and reactive maintenance and in compliance with corporate procedures, including local and UK health and safety regulations and policy.
Act as the ‘intelligent client’, identifying requirements, appropriate service level agreements and key performance indicators to manage and monitor supplier contracts in line with procurement policies.
Oversee the local delegated budget in accordance with corporate policies to ensure on-budget expenditure and value for money.
Lead and manage CS reports to deliver quality customer service to internal stakeholders.
Instil a continuous improvement mentality within the team, leading on corporate projects and the change management required to deliver them.

Resilience 10%

Respond to operational crisis, providing leadership and flexing team prioritisation as required.
Ensure cross training within corporate services roles to provide resilience within the teams and across the region.
Prioritise wellbeing in teams, seeking regular feedback and embedding the values of resilience and respect.

Other 5%

Cover for the Director Corporate Services as and when required
Ad-hoc tasks as and when required requested by the Head of Corporate Services.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

Day-to-day direct line management of 6 members of staff.
Escalation point and advisor for complex cases.
Effectively allocating work, prioritisation, and performance management of the team.
Training, development, coaching and mentoring of the team and staff.
Oversight of platform budget of 6 million.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

Minimum 5 years of middle management experience working for international organisation, preferably with direct involvement in HR and or Estates, Finance policy and implementation
At least a bachelor’s degree in HR, management, finance, or a related field
Minimum 5 years experience in managing cross functional teams
High levels of discretion, with a resilient, flexible and ‘can do’ attitude
Able to challenge and influence senior stakeholders
Experience in managing suppliers and outsourced service delivery
Strong organisational skills and keen attention to detail. Ability to effectively work under tight deadlines and in a fast paced environment and adapting to changing aims without compromising the quality of the work
Strong IT skills and proficiency in MS Office tools, particularly Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

Familiarity with Sudan Labour Codes and laws
Advanced degree or professional qualification/s in HR, management, procurement/finance or a related field
Previous experience in the government or public sector or in an international organisation in a similar capacity

Required competencies

Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together

Application deadline

27 April 2022

Grade

Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

Type of Position

Fixed term, with possibility of renewal

Working hours per week

38.5 hours

Region

Africa

Country/Territory

Sudan

Location (City)

Khartoum

Type of Post

British Embassy

Number of vacancies

Salary

USD 3,301.36 plus USD 72.00 (Transport Allowance)

Start Date

1 June 2022

Other benefits and conditions of employment

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

The British Embassy Khartoum is committed to providing excellent learning and development opportunities. We believe in supporting our staff achieve their ambitions whether this be on job training, shadowing and mentoring, or formal courses.

For this role, the successful candidate will receive training on all Embassy processes and IT systems. Other Learning and Development opportunities include:

Strong induction process
Formal in-house on-line training
Coaching, mentoring and job shadowing
Structured learning on the job, including stretching objectives and work
Clear set of Embassy cultures and values

Working patterns:

Working hours – 38.5 hours per week

0800-1600 Sunday to Wednesday and 0800-1430 on Thursday.

The Embassy supports a degree of flexible working, in discussion with the line manager.

Additional information

The British Embassy in Khartoum is recognised as a good employer, with a robust, fair and transparent performance management & appraisal system. We have a 5-day working week, plus annual leave, public holidays, maternity leave provision, medical insurance scheme; ample development opportunities, a good organisational culture, and excellent work/life balance.

We treat people with respect and equality and have a zero tolerance policy for any form of discrimination, bullying or harassment. This is an excellent opportunity to be part of a strong, diverse team with stretching objectives and a strong team working ethos across the 1HMG Platform.

Interested candidates must attach (1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) and (2) a covering letter stating how you meet the requirements of the role.
Your application must also include examples of when you have demonstrated the required elements in the Sucess Profile Questions section of the online application form.
Applications that do not include these information will not be considered.
Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening.
Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
The British Embassy will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.
Employees recruited locally by the British Embassy in Khartoum are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Sudan.
All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit.
The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to; Obtain the relevant permit; Pay the fees for the permit; Make arrangements to relocate; Meet the costs to relocation
Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount
Information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Competency Framework can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework Please note: Job grade AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates
British Embassy will only contact successful candidates, if you do not hear from us please consider your application unsuccessful

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