British High Commission in South Africa Jobs - Vice Consul EO Vacancies

British High Commission in South Africa Jobs - Vice Consul EO Vacancies

Main purpose of job:

Deliver and manage consular services and assistance to British Nationals in South Africa 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 team members 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 colleagues from the political team in the High Commission. You will support on crisis preparedness and response.

Roles and responsibilities:

Consular assistance

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; as well as visiting British prisoners and responding to a host of other issues. Please note this could require visiting mortuaries and other challenging environments; and some cases will have media and/or parliamentary interest.

Supporting and advising consular officers on complex assistance cases in countries in the wider Southern Africa region as well as addressing consular issues arising in Eswatini and Lesotho are important part of this role.

Prevention

Leading on prevention initiatives that support British nationals. Ensuring access to and information on the following topics: complex death cases, mental health, addiction and recovery, tourism safety, victims of crime and homelessness/destitution.

Identify and lobby government and local authorities on key consular issues, with support from High Commission colleagues.

Build and maintain productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders through regular engagement and outreach.

Research and draft online guides (e.g., for bereaved relatives, or prisoners) for the UK government website.

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.

Support crisis preparedness and response at post, focusing on planning and the consular aspects of crisis response, including as consular manager in a crisis.

Consular services

Managing Consular Services, such as issuing Emergency Travel Documents to British nationals.
Officiating Citizenship Ceremonies for new British nationals.

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

Drafting and issuing monthly reports covering

the consular operation.

Managing others (1-2 people) in South Africa, sometimes including covering neighbouring countries

Co-managing the consular section in Pretoria

We are a team of seven providing consular assistance to British nationals in South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho. 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. If out of hours work is required, you will be entitled to claim Time Off in Lieu or overtime, depending on the nature of the work and subject to prior approval.

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.

You can expect to travel a few weeks per year, often within South Africa but sometimes within the Sub-Saharan Africa region and occasionally to the UK.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

Excellent all-round communication skills to manage customer expectations and deliver difficult messages

Ability to remain calm and professional under pressure when dealing with emotive subjects and distressed people

Ability to research and follow guidelines and to plan and prioritise effectively

Experience working in a customer facing environment is essential

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.

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. You will also have access to quarterly well-being sessions with a wellbeing supervisor. However, you must have high levels of personal resilience to succeed.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

Experience working in an international organisation

Experience working in with South African authorities and support organisations

How to Apply

For more information and job application details, see; British High Commission in South Africa Jobs - Vice Consul EO Vacancies

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