View Vacancy – AUS (Sydney) – Consular Services Officer, AO

• Prior experience working in a consular or similar professional frontline customer service delivery environment
• Prior experience working with vulnerable client groups
• Good understanding of local systems and support organisations in NSW/ACT and/or the UK

Salary is at AU$ 75,540 per annum (paid out monthly), plus 11% superannuation.

Appointment is subject to an AFP records check and UK security clearance.

Open to Australian citizens, permanent residents, and partners/ dependents of UK-based diplomatic staff currently posted in Australia.

The Australia network offers a wide range of learning and development opportunities, including job-specific training as necessary and broader learning linked to the FCO Diplomatic Academy. There are opportunities to job-shadow other staff, and the successful applicant will be encouraged to take part in broader British High Commission activities. The British High Commission is committed to providing all staff with learning and development (L&D) opportunities and we will work with you to develop your own L&D plan.

Specific considerations for consular roles:

You should be aware that consular work can involve difficult conversations with distressed individuals. Emotional intelligence and personal resilience are essential. You will be well supported by your line manager, your team and colleagues across the UK in Australia network. You will have access to quarterly wellbeing sessions with a wellbeing supervisor and other wellbeing support resources.

The successful applicant will be expected maintain absolute consular confidentiality and impartiality, keeping in line with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Consular Strategy, consular guidance and Customer Charter, business targets and local procedures.

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

You will be joining an enthusiastic and supportive team that takes continuous learning and development seriously and that values a diverse range of skills and backgrounds. When you start the role, you’ll be supported to become familiar with consular policy, as well as the structures of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the operation of the British Consulate-General in Sydney and the UK in Australia Network.

Mandatory courses
In your first year, you will be required to complete the following courses:

• Online FCDO learning modules relating to processing Emergency Travel Documents, consular case management and crisis management
• Consular Fundamentals Course (delivered virtually)
• Developing Consular Expertise (face-to-face in the UK)

Further opportunities
When you are settled in the role, you will be supported to seek out further opportunities (both formal and informal) to deepen your expertise of consular work, and to develop wider skilled tailored to your personal interests and development needs. Opportunities can also include attending regional conferences, joining skills courses and applying to volunteer for crisis training and deployment.

Working patterns:

• Location: This role must be based at the British Consulate-General in Sydney. 
• Working hours: Our core office hours are 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday. Due to the unplanned nature of some consular work, a flexible approach to working hours and patterns is essential.
• Leave entitlements: Full-time staff benefit from an annual leave entitlement of 22 days per calendar year plus additional office closures for some UK public holidays.  
• Travel: Some travel may be required for regional activities, such as prison visits, providing resilience to other teams, and for training purposes. This may include interstate and/or overseas travel.
• Flexible working: This role is suitable for some hybrid and/or flexible working patterns, subject to operational demands. The importance of in-person consular services, relationship building, learning and collaboration mean that this role is not suitable for exclusive remote working.

Your application must be submitted before 23:55 AEST-Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC/ GMT +10) on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”

Applications must include a current CV and kindly omit any personal information such as Name, Contact Details, Birthday and Gender.

All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the  next stage.
 
Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’.  If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate”.

Advertised start date is provisional and subject to completion of reference and security checks.

Kindly check your application centre or email regularly for any update on the status of your application.