KWT - Vice Consul - (EO)

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)
The British Embassy in Kuwait is seeking a highly motivated and
enthusiastic individual for the position of Vice Consul , job grade
Executive Officer (EO).
The Vice Consul is a sole consular role at the British Embassy in Kuwait. The
main purpose of the job is to support British people living, travelling, and
working in our region by: providing high quality, accessible consular
services, focused on those most in need; responding rapidly to all crises,
leading cross-government action; reducing preventable incidents affecting
British people through collaboration with partners and governments.
Currently Kuwait is the home of choice to around ‎4000 British people with
around ‎9000 British visitors in ‎2022.
The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring British nationals in
Kuwait receive a professional service that is effective, timely, consistent
and in line with Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) guidance.
This will include providing direct advice and support to distressed British
nationals and leading on high-level and sensitive assistance cases. Cases and
issues can attract significant media and Ministerial interest so an eye for
the wider political picture is also important.
The jobholder will be responsible for the local delivery of the Consular
Network Business Plan and global consular initiatives, as well as the consular
elements of the Country Business Plan. Reporting to the Regional Consular
Operations Manager based in Dubai, as the only consular resource at post they
will need to be self-motivated and resilient. They will be expected to
participate in global and regional consular activities and proactively deliver
consular prevention and outreach work. As part of the Middle East, North
Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) Network, communicating to the wider region and
seeing the bigger picture is key to improving the work locally.
The jobholder will need to be a self-starter and highly motivated, with
excellent interpersonal skills. They must be able to work independently with
minimal supervision and make operational judgements in consultation with
senior management locally and in London.
In response to a local or regional crisis, the jobholder will also play a key
role in managerial responsibility for Post's consular response and deployment.
Consular work can sometimes be emotionally challenging, distressing and of a
sensitive nature. The jobholder will therefore be expected to demonstrate high
levels of personal resilience and maintain absolute consular confidentiality
and impartiality.
Roles and responsibilities:
Leadership and resources
* Manage day-to-day consular operations; ensure updates to consular guidance and policies are understood and implemented; ownership of formal response to public correspondence.
* Represent the Consular Section internally and externally; participate in relevant committees and working groups; help formulate Post management policies; coordinate with key stakeholders in the British community; promote cross-mission working to achieve objectives; prepare written briefings and reports for seniors, up to and including ministerial level.
* Manage absences to ensure sufficient service coverage; manage working stocks of accountable assets such as Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) and cash reserves; oversee the consular appointment system and reconcile consular fee payments promptly and accurately.
* Ensure post resilience for any absences, making sure colleagues are informed and trained and able to cover effectively to include printing emergency travel documents and dealing with urgent consular cases.
* Work with other Consular teams in the region and be the secretariat and part of the Vice Consul Working Group for the Gulf to learn from each other and promote best practice. Up to ‎50% of the role could be providing remote consular support to other posts in the region. In slower time to provide regional and in person resilience to the wider Gulf teams and at times MENASA network.
Consular assistance
* Manage the provision of consular assistance to British nationals and their families, including providing guidance and support in difficult cases such as: arrests/ detention, hospitalisations, dealing with bereaved families, mental health, child custody issues, debt and employment issues, and other sensitive cases such as rape and sexual assault and forced marriage.
* Identifying areas of potential high-level interest and briefing seniors and others accordingly. Preparing written briefing and updates on cases and issues.
* Ensure assistance provided is best practice and case notes are well written and concise; monitor caseloads to ensure effective service delivery and quality assurance.
* Support with assistance when required and have the skills to learn from difficult conversations.
* Manage Emergency Travel Document (ETD) processes and oversee the provision of various notarial and documentary services.
* Be prepared to work out of hours and occasionally anti-social hours, as required.
Prevention and partnerships
* Working with the Regional Prevention Officer to deliver Kuwait prevention strategy; use the Consular Performance Platform to identify trends and case types for prevention objectives; develop and deliver prevention and outreach projects aimed at local partners or the British community; ensure prevention trackers and methods of evaluation are in place; use a variety of channels and work closely with partners internally and externally to increase impact and reach of prevention materials.
* Build and develop relationships with key strategic and operational partners, including local authorities and other diplomatic missions; work strategically with partners to tackle issues and improve access to services; ensure cross-mission cooperation and sharing of contacts to solve problems.
* Deliver sustained engagement with the British community; effective networking and use of contacts in key sectors such as business and education; monitor the local environment and react to any changes which may affect British nationals living in or visiting Kuwait; contribute to the formulation of Travel Advice and ensure updates are cleared and acted on in a timely manner.
* Build and maintain relationships with key internal partners, including frontline Call Centres, Emergency Travel Document Hub, Consular Directorate, Political/ Press, Immigration Enforcement International (IEI), Corporate Services teams and Senior Management Team.
Crisis planning
* Take an active role in Posts Crisis Committee, participating in drills, tests, and exercises related to crisis and contingency planning; ensure Field Deployment Officers are aware of roles and responsibilities in a crisis.
* As Consular manager regularly maintain and update the consular elements of Post 's Crisis Management Plan; ensure any staff supporting consular have access to and are familiar with the Crisis Hub.
* Work with the lead on the provision of consular skills training to non-consular staff within the Embassy to improve Post's capability to respond to any crises in Kuwait.
* Maintain a readiness to respond to a declared crisis, based on named roles within the Crisis Management Plan; provide regional resilience support where required.
The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be
flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required.
Key behaviours required for the job:
* Changing and Improving - Seek out opportunities to create effective change and suggest innovative ideas for improvement. Review ways of working, including seeking and providing feedback.
* Making Effective Decisions - Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.
* Managing a Quality Service - Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.
* Communicating and Influencing - Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others.
* Delivering at Pace - Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
* Working Together - Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.
Essential qualifications, skills and experience
* A team player who is capable of working on their own using their initiative and who is adaptable to changing priorities. Must be able to work and act without close supervision and react calmly to situations that may arise.
* Excellent customer care skills and the ability to respond to a range of customer needs.
* Excellent interpersonal and active listening skills, with the ability to cultivate and maintain a range of contacts at all levels.
* Experience of working strategically
* Exceptional organisational skills with the ability to easily prioritise tasks and have a keen eye for detail.
* Sound judgement and an analytical approach in decision-making.
* Ability to drive excellent service standards.
* Ability to drive excellent service standards. Ability to talk to large groups of people as part of our prevention, communication and outreach work.
* Excellent communication skills in English, both verbal and written. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication.
* Excellent spoken Arabic with ability to write what's app messages in Arabic.
* IT literate and well versed in the use of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams).
Desirable qualifications, skills and experience
* Previous Consular or related experience/ training, or experience of working in an operational delivery or customer service role.
* Previous experience of creating engaging outreach content, use of social media and other platforms.
* Comfortable with public speaking and networking.
Required behaviours
Changing and Improving, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality
Service, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
Application deadline Application deadline - day Application deadline - month
Application deadline - year
‎19 March ‎2023
Grade
Executive Officer (EO)
Type of Position
Fixed Term, Full-time
Working hours per week
‎35.5
Duration of Post
‎36 months
Region
Middle East & North Africa
Country/Territory
Kuwait
Location (City)
Kuwait
Type of Post
British Embassy
Number of vacancies
‎1
Salary Currency
KWD
Salary
‎1039.336
Start Date Start Date - day Start Date - month Start Date - year
‎1 May ‎2023
Other benefits and conditions of employment
Eligibility:
If you are selected for this position, we will be able to employ you as long
as you:
* Are legally resident in Kuwait (Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country); and
* Complete and successfully pass all local and UK security checks, including professional background checks.
Working conditions and remuneration:
The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration
package for this role, including a non-negotiable gross salary of KWD
‎1039.336 per month. The package includes a good level of medical insurance,
a return flight fare to your home country for non-Kuwaitis every two years,
relevant social security payments for Kuwaiti nationals, and an engaging
working environment. Leave entitlement is ‎30 days per year (on pro rata basis)
plus ‎14 public holidays.
There are no other allowances payable as part of this package. No
accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this
position.
This position is for a full-time employment, on permanent contract, subject
to a ‎3-month probationary period.
Conditioned working hours are ‎38 hours gross per week (this is made up of ‎35.5
hours net per week and a daily ‎30-minute lunch break). The normal working
hours are ‎07:30 - ‎15:30 from Sunday to Wednesday and ‎07:30 - ‎13:30 on
Thursday. However, as most of the events host by the Embassy normally fall on
a Friday. The jobholder will be required to work on a Friday as a regular
working day.
Due to the nature of the work, the jobholder should be flexible in their
approach to hours worked as these will be dictated by operational needs and
may involve working out-of-hours (evening/ weekend) during events for which
you will be expected to be present. In where out of hours work is necessary,
in agreement with the line manager, the jobholder would be expected to work
shorter hours in the week.
The Embassy has an active Continuous Professional Development Committee, and
the whole of Post is committed to providing the time and resources for staff
to develop professionally. The ‎70/‎20/‎10 learning, and development model is
applied in a flexible manner, with both internal and formal opportunities
readily available. There will likely be an expectation of undertaking training
specific to crisis response/ management in ‎2023.
Additional information
How to apply:
Interested candidates must include to their online application form
‎1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV)
‎2) examples/ demonstrative evidence against in the relevant sections of the
online application form of how you meet the key behaviours and skills
required.
Applications that do not include this information will not be considered.
Closing date of receiving applications is on 19th March ‎2023 by ‎23:55
(local time).
Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.
Process:
The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take
around two months.
Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful at interview may be placed on a
'reserve list'. If during the reserve period of six (‎6) months the same or a
largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second
or subsequent candidate.
The start date mentioned in the advert is a tentative start date and the
successful candidate will be required to undergo security-vetting procedures.
Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable
clearances and reference checks.

The British Embassy Kuwait is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to
inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited
locally by the British Embassy are subject to Terms and Conditions of service
according to local Kuwaiti employment law.
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.