British High Commission Estates and Security Officer - Jobs in South Africa

British High Commission Estates and Security Officer - Jobs in South Africa

Main purpose of job:

The British High Commission to South Africa oversees the UK Government’s operations in South Africa across the following locations:

The British High Commission Pretoria (BHC)

The UK Visas & Immigration Office in Pretoria

The UK Department for International Trade in Johannesburg (DIT)

The British Consulate General Cape Town

Its Estates and Security Teams, based largely in Pretoria with some staff in the locations above, are responsible for delivering property and security services to support the work of the Mission.

The Estates and Security Officer will work under the supervision of an Estates Manager and Security Manager and will help manage security and estates work at British High Commission’s Offices and properties in the Cape Town area. The Officer will also support security services for British Consulate Cape Town staff and Diplomatic families, and for UK Government visitors to Cape Town.

On the Estates side, the position will effectively act as a facilities manager for the Consulate office, a number of residential properties and the British High Commissioner to South Africa’s Official Residence in Cape Town.

On the Security side, the position will take on a role to provide accurate security advice and support to diplomatic families, staff and official visitors, to review security risks and implement mitigating measures to these risks, and to oversee works and installations.



The Estates and Security Officer plays a crucial role in:

Preparing our residential properties for occupation by our staff, which requires forward-planning, attention to detail and strong organisational and time-management skills

Dealing with on-going maintenance issues in offices and residential properties, requiring skills in administration, IT and multi-tasking numerous concurrent activities

Providing a professional service to our office staff and occupants of residential properties, for which a thorough understanding of customer service and good communications skills are essential

Managing the work of contractors which are engaged to deliver property and security services, maintenance and other security works

The role is ideally suited to an individual who:

Enjoys managing an operation and who takes pride in it running smoothly and without complaint

Has strong administrative skills, and wants to develop experience in finance and running projects

Is a good communicator and people-person, who takes pride in good service and enjoys working in a busy team

It is essential for the jobholder to have a valid driving licence as driving (in a company vehicle) to sites is required.

Experience of facilities management / property management or working in a security services delivery team would be a bonus.

The successful candidate will need a methodical, pro-active and hands on approach.

Roles and Responsibilities:

The below roles and responsibilities are general guidelines. The role is not limited to the detail below and the responsibilities are subject to change from time to time with prior consultation if circumstances, structures, work pressures or priorities alter, or if absences need covering.

Organising tasks required in managing a portfolio of residential accommodation including site visits, managing contractors, tracking progress and record keeping.

Organising work to deliver facilities management activates in offices and properties including planning / scheduling of work and ensuring staff have the correct information about works and property issues.

Raising requisitions orders and receipting funds on the British High Commission’s IT systems, dealing with financial issues and budgeting requirements and researching and assessing works quotes and costs. These tasks include remote working for the British High Commission’s South Africa-wide Estates and Security teams by supporting budget and finance duties related to properties, offices and estates and security work at other British High Commission locations.

Conducting property assessments, against periodic schedules or in response to issues arising, ensuring British High Commission standards are met, compliance with Health & Safety requirements, and a high standard of customer service for staff and residential occupants.

Monitoring maintenance requests, ensuring that issues are addressed in line with agreed standards and deadlines, and communicating with staff and residential occupants.

Estate and Security administration duties, including internal record-keeping on properties, service suppliers,

contractors, budget issues and asset registers. Management of property information and inventories, including on the British High Commission’s IT systems. These tasks include remote working for the British High Commission’s SouthAfrica-wide Estates and Security teams by supporting admin duties related to properties, offices and estates and security work at other British High Commission locations.

Using experience / knowledge to observe and highlight any estate or security concerns, including accompanying contractors, related to property inspections and maintenance around generators, electrical, plumbing, security equipment and other similar issues. Assess health and safety standards and security standards at properties and offices and report on these to managers.

Manage and directly supervise the team of contract guards at properties and offices to deliver consistently strong performance against a set of high standards and agreed operating procedures. Oversee control of access arrangements, mail screening, customer service to visitors and response to incidents at the British High Commission offices and properties.


Resources managed:

Oversee works funded by the British High Commission estates and security budgets, including researching quotes, assessing these and ensuring costs offer good value for money, financial processes are managed effectively on the IT system and budgetary information is recorded, reported and maintained accurately.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

Strong computer literacy

Multi-tasking, communication with customers and time-management skills

Valid Driver’s licence. The jobholder must be able to drive.

Administration Experience, including dealing with external contractors

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

Experience in property management / facilities management / working in the security sector

Budgetary experience

Required behaviours

Changing and Improving, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace,

Communicating and Influencing, Developing Self and Others

Other benefits and conditions of employment
Learning and development opportunities:

Full training is provided to the successful applicant for all job-related skills.

The British High Commission also offers a huge range of learning and development opportunities, including financial support through study grants.

The British High Commission pays in full for the Key Care Plus option on Discovery Health for staff including spouses/partners and dependants.

Once you have successfully completed your probation the British High Commission will contribute 9% of your monthly salary to a Provident Fund.


Additional information

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 High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.

Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Pretoria are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in South Africa.

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 fees for the permit

Make arrangements to relocate

Meet the costs to relocation

The British High Commission do not sponsor visas/work permits except where it may be local practice to do so.

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 Civil Service Success Profiles can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles. Please note: AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5

Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.


How to apply
For more information and job application details, see; British High Commission Estates and Security Officer Jobs in South Africa


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