Jobs at British High Commission

Main purpose of job:

The Corporate Services Assistant will be an integral part of the Transport team as well as working on a regular basis with other Corporate Services Departments.  Working closely with colleagues to deliver a pro-active, customer focused, service in South Africa. 

The primary duty is to transport passengers to and from destinations in a comfortable, safe and efficient manner. Meeting those goals entails additional responsibilities, tasks, knowledge, and attention to detail, presentable and well spoken.

The successful applicant will be expected to have a pleasant and polite personality and be able to work as part of a team.

The job requires someone with a patient attitude, as the tight deadlines and busy traffic can often add a lot of stress to a driver’s duties. Presenting themselves in a professional way at all times.

The successful applicant will be based in Pretoria at the British High Commission.

Roles and responsibilities:

The below roles and responsibilities are general guidelines. They are not limited to the detail below and are subject to change from time to time with prior consultation. 

• To provide a highly efficient customer service role in the area of transport. This may include duties such as collecting customer feedback, accommodate swipe booking changes and appropriate guest interaction during drives.
• Ensuring the vehicle is well maintained, clean both inside and out before each trip and report any defects. Duties include cleaning of the vehicles, taking the vehicles for regular services or repairs and performing the K53 pre-trip inspections before each drive (I.e. No leaks or obstructions under the vehicle; seat belts & doors in working order; mirror & windshield secure; wiper blade up-perished; tyre tread & pressure checked & wheels secure; water, oil, brake fluid & fan belt checked; left side or car same as previous; licence disc valid & petrol cap secure; back window & tail lights secure, not cracked and boot securely closed; signal and head lights in working condition)
• Provide and confirm journey information to passengers well in advance. Work in partnership with the team and/or suppliers if unexpected changes occur and keeping the customer informed at all times.
• Ensure that vehicles are prepared, fuelled and secured in advance of VIP visits. Also ensure that all aspects of each VIP visit are well communicated, co-ordinated and delivered. You may also be required to drive the Head of Mission and other high profile guests from time to time.
• Adhere to the South African traffic laws and regulations at all times.
• Ensure the customers safety at all times to the best of your ability and work in partnership with the Diplomatic Police should a challenge occur.
• Conduct all round vehicle checks on a daily basis. This may include duties such as ensuring that the vehicles are securely stowed, vehicle keys are securely locked away, and visual vehicle inspections such as spare wheel, wheel jacks, etc. are in working order. 
• Transport Administration duties. These duties may include maintaining an accurate record of all bookings, journeys, mileage records and fuel consumption.
• Familiarise, understand and adhere to the British High Commission South Africa’s Transport Policy and Corporate Services Charter. These documents underline the agreed service level agreements between Corporate Services and all other departments as per the Memorandum of Understanding.
• Report to the Transport Supervisor daily; attend weekly transport meetings and monthly Corporate Service Department meetings.
• This position will be required to perform adhoc duties from time to time that may include purchasing for other departments, transporting documentations and/or diplomatic bags and assisting with duties other than transport related functions.
• General administration duties such as updating personal leave records, activity recording, responding to email, reconciling Corporate Credit Cards and Government Procurement Credit Cards within the agreed timelines, expense claim forms, I-expenses, etc.
• Substitute for the Transport Supervisor during periods of leave. Therefore need to be computer literate, fluent in English and be able to co-ordinate transport bookings.
• Protocol Duties including but not limited to supporting the Protocol team with licencing, DIRCO applications, etc.

Resources managed:

• Office issued mobile phone and Corporate Credit Card

Essential qualifications, skills and experience  

• Must have a C1 with PDP Drivers Licence
• Driver/Chauffer Experience essential
• Geographical knowledge
• Good communication skills are essential as well as basic IT literacy

Language requirements:

• Language: English
• Level of language required: Written and Spoken

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience  

• Customer focus
• Good grooming and personal hygiene
• Good interpersonal skills

Closing Date: 22nd, July 2022

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Main purpose of job:

Reporting to Residence Manager, the Butler / Operations Supervisor is responsible for ensuring the the smooth running of the household and the servicing of the principals (High Commissioner & Consul Generals) and their guests.  They will learn the personal preferences of the principals and ensure that the Residence facility and services are delivered in a proactive, discreet, timely, thoughtful and unobtrusive manner. They provide leadership to the housekeepers, security, contract gardeners and any other outsourced staff, ensuring the property and the service provided are of a high standard and cost efficient. They handle external commercial clients and guests and participate in increasing the usage of the Residence to help offset running costs.

Roles and responsibilities:

 Guest Services

• Welcome guests to the Residence and ensure their comfort, safety and ability to conduct business
• Ensure there is always someone on duty in the Residence when guests are in-house for formal events. To include organisation of rotas
• Personally serve principals, guests and clients as appropriate
• Plan and manage the provision of meals, refreshments for guests and events

Events

• When requested, liaise with organisers and ensure a comprehensive brief is taken. Interact with Residence Manager on costing; staffing; hiring of suppliers; layout and requirements
• Ensure the Residence is prepared according to the agreed brief
• Brief Residence staff and suppliers
• Provide an event management service as per the event brief

Supervision

• Provide guidance in etiquette, protocol, and appropriate housekeeping and service standards
• Engaging/contracting and overseeing outside contractors, service providers and suppliers. Ensuring the quotations meet the brief, prices are fair and the work is to standard 
• Supervision of maintenance, repairs and improvement projects
• Overseeing the housekeeping staff. Guide and lead them to carry out their jobs in a positive, motivated manner.  Coach and address performance issues with the Residence Manager’s support.  Try to achieve a harmonious, happy and hard working team, cross skilled to cover one another
• Staff training
• Supervise timekeeping, records, rostering and attendance

Administration

• Supervise the counting of cutlery, crockery, glassware & recording of inventories
• Quarterly count of linen and table linen
• Monthly count of cutlery, crockery, glassware
• Weekly count of cleaning materials and request replacements when at minimum stock levels
• Complete records and send to the Residence Manager as required
• Set up a system for issuing & return of Residence equipment and stocks to caterers and third parties
• Manage shopping, expense control and admin
• Together with the Residence Manager, keep track of household expenses and costs and submit. Complete expense returns on time
• Manage the wine cellar – keep a stock of suitable wines and beverages and liaise with the Principals and Residence Manager in selecting
• Prepare & print menus, place name cards

 High Commissioner Personal Service

• Manage the provision of personal housekeeping services to the High Commissioner and his/her personal guests for non-official weekends and duties  

Pretoria Cover

• Provide similar services at Pretoria Residence during holidays, absence and large-scale events

Essential qualifications, skills and experience  

• Business & management training (preferred)
• Certified qualification in household & property / hospitality and residential service (required)
• Valid drivers license 
• Experience as a managing Butler in a diplomatic residence, boutique hotel or private home of similar standing, with excellent references and a track record of expertise in:

1. Service of high quality food and beverages
2. Staff supervision
3. Events management
4. Maintenance & repairs
5. Budgeting and cost management
6. Excellent computer literacy
7. Light food preparation

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience  

• Knowledge of wine and food; able to do very basic maintenance such as changing light bulbs, using a drill etc.

Closing Date: 29th, July 2022

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Main purpose of job:

Vice Consul: Delivering consular services and assistance to British Nationals in South Africa in line with our public guide "Support for British Nationals Abroad: A Guide”. Run projects, including media campaigns, training events and lobbying activities to help minimise risks to British residents and visitors to South Africa, to help “prevent” them from getting into difficulty.

Lesotho/Eswatini Liaison Officer: Supporting the High Commissions in post crisis management planning, post resilience and as a point of contact/liaison between Eswatini/Lesotho and South Africa.

Roles and responsibilities:

Vice Consul

• Providing consular assistance to British Nationals (BNs) who get into difficulty in South Africa and the region by leading on complex consular assistance cases and providing support for team members on other cases.
• 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 and people who have been hospitalised; as well as assisting victims of rape & sexual assault, domestic violence and a host of other issues. Please note this could require visiting mortuaries and other challenging environments); and some cases will have media/parliamentary interest
• Engaging with teams across South Africa, Lesotho & Eswatini to resolve complex consular cases and pursue consular objectives
• Supporting and advising consular officers in the Southern Africa region on complex assistance cases
• You can expect to travel a few weeks per year. In a crisis or when supporting on a complex case, you may be expected to travel at short notice
• Meeting consular business targets and ensuring cases are updated promptly on the management system, with a close watch on KPIs and monthly statistical returns
• Managing Consular Services such as issuing Emergency Travel Documents to British Nationals and officiating Citizenship Ceremonies for new British Nationals
• Effective management of the consular section in Pretoria, in conjunction with Vice-Consul based in Pretoria
• Management of Honorary Consuls, including recruitment, ensuring skills kept up to date, and provision of advice and support to them as required

Supporting Consular Directorate’s Prevention objectives by building strong relationships and liaison with local authorities and organisations:

• Identify and lobby government and local authorities on key consular issues, with support from High Commission colleagues
• Creation and delivery of prevention projects to help reduce the risk to British people in South Africa, with support from Consul, media colleagues and specialist teams
• With support of colleagues, publishing information on UK government websites to ensure British visitors can access advice whilst in South Africa, Lesotho or Eswatini

Lesotho/Eswatini Liaison Officer

• Regularly review and update Lesotho/Eswatini Crisis Management Plans, including supporting non-resident Deputy High Commissioners with adhoc projects
• Work with colleagues to ensure the South Africa Crisis Management Plan supports Lesotho/Eswatini including consular resilience and the use of South Africa as an evacuation route
• Liaise with the Regional Crisis Advisor to ensure crisis training and exercising includes both posts, and increases awareness and capability to respond to a crisis
• Assist with recruitment and training to SA based consular volunteers who might deploy to Lesotho/Eswatini
• Act as a liaison point for Leostho/Eswatini, helping to resolve and direct queries with colleagues based in Pretoria
• Maintain ownership of the Lesotho/Eswatini archive – identifying and forwarding relevant background documents on request of the new misisons
• Assist with the co-ordination of any incoming visits (i.e. ministerial) that impact on Lesotho/Eswatini and South Africa – liaising closely with the Protocol team on airport arrangements for visitors transmitting Johannesburg
• Support Heads of Mission in any transition activities required, including the organisation of any introductory events and communications activities
• Provide surge capacity in periods of crisis, to cover for extended periods of absence, or to assist with activities requiring an additional resource commitment such as election monitoring, organisation of large events and panel interviews, which may include travel
• Visiting both Lesotho and Eswatini posts at least once per year on a scheduled visit

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

• Management of 1 x AO Consular Officer.
• Management of 1 x Honourary Consul in Eswatini
• Recruitment depending, 1 x Honourary Consul in Lesotho
• Management of the Pretoria consular office, in conjunction with equivalent EO Vice Consul

Essential qualifications, skills and experience  

The successful candidate will need to have excellent all-round communication skills to manage customer expectations and deliver difficult messages Demonstrate an ability to remain calm under pressure; be able to research and follow guidelines, and to plan and prioritise effectively. Experience working in a customer facing environment is essential.

This is a rewarding and often challenging role. You will be well supported by your line manager, wider team, and colleagues across UK in South Africa, but you must have high levels of personal resilience to succeed.

Language requirements:

As a customer facing role, to a primarily British audience, excellent written and spoken English is essential. This will be tested at the interview stage.

• Other languages widely spoken in Lesotho, Eswatini or South Africa are an advantage.
• Level of language required: Fluent English

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience  

• Experience working in an international environment, and managing and developing others

Closing Date: 5th, August 2022