View Vacancy – Residence & Events Manager, Grade – EO, British High Commission, New Delhi

Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment and educational details, experience segment and the behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the application forms only for all the required details. Forms that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.

Main purpose of job:

Who should apply?

This an opportunity for a creative, delivery-focussed, ambitious individual to shape the public-facing activity of the British High Commission in New Delhi. The Residence is used for representational activity, provides accommodation for official visitors (including VVIPs) and is the home of the High Commissioner and their family. It is an integral part of the UK in India. 

The Vision

The High Commissioner’s (HC) residence should reflect a modern UK-India relationship through its food, wine and experience. The Residence manager will develop and implement this vision and sensitively modernise the Residence offer to showcase the best of the UK in India in all aspects. The Residence Manager should be forward looking and ambitious in their approach and ideas and should be confident in presenting to the High Commissioner and Private Office. We are ideally looking for someone who has spent time overseas, and who understands or is willing to develop an understanding of UK culture, cuisine and beverages.

Residence Activity

The HC Residence is used for representational activity and provides accommodation for a range of visitors. You will regularly greet visitors, VVIPs and delegations and the experience for all visitors should be smooth, calm and impressive on every occasion. The Residence and gardens need to be maintained to the highest quality. The HC Residence supports the work of the UK Diplomatic Network in India through hosting a wide range of events for senior members of government, businesspeople, cultural leaders and think tanks. Working with the events coordinator and teams across the High Commission, you will oversee a wide range of formats from small lunches and dinners through to receptions with hundreds of people. The wider vision of a modern UK-India relationship should be reflected throughout.

The HC’s Home

The Residence is the High Commissioner’s home. You will need to work closely with the High Commissioner, their family and Private Office to understand priorities and sensitivities and to deconflict schedules to maintain privacy and ensure the Residence remains a home, even during busy events schedules and maintenance work. Security and Health and Safety standards must be maintained at all times.

As a leader, the Residence Manager is responsible for 16 staff. The staff are highly experienced and capable, and the Residence Manager should lead and empower, support through change and work with them to implement the vision for the Residence.

The role of Residence Manager at the British High Commission is an exciting opportunity for someone ready for a demanding but rewarding position.

We reserve the right to review, revise or amend the roles and responsibilities from time to time reflecting the changing needs of business.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

Overall

• Develop and implement a vision for the High Commissioner’s Residence which sensitively reflects and demonstrates a modern UK-India relationship. Ensure that menus (food and drink), showcase the best of UK culture.
• Greet visitors, VVIPs and handle delegations in a professional and confident manner. Understand where there may be additional requests and work with Residence staff to implement a smooth and memorable experience.
• Develop appealing packages for events at the Residence using market research and contacts from the Residence Coordinator.
• Manage and lead the highly experienced Residence staff. Additional management of casual staff during events, including motivating and empowering the team, setting direction, and promoting best practice.
• Oversee Residence functions and events, supporting the Residence Coordinator where needed.
• Create and maintain a forward look calendar and inventory for the Residence, working with teams across the mission. Liaison with HC’s Private Office to manage the Residence diary, ensuring planned events, external visitors, and maintenance schedules fit alongside the HC’s diary.

Day to Day

• Working with High Commission colleagues to ensure events at the Residence to deliver UK Government policy priorities and that the Residence retains value for money.
• Management and approval of budgets and accounts for expenses using the office accounting software.
• Ensure the maintenance of the Residence compound including the upkeep of indoor property (with the help of the Estates Team, instructing them to carry out maintenance as needed), and 70,000 square feet of lawns/gardens (with the help of the gardening team). Ensure that the High Commissioner and Private office are informed of any significant maintenance and work with Private Office to deconflict with the HC diary. Agree a value for money maintenance schedule with the HC and PO.
• Plan all meal schedules & menus with the Residence Chefs, ensure high standard of food & service for guests & events, gather feedback and improve as needed.
• Ensure guests are welcomed at the Residence, particularly VIPS, and to be present for official & social events to manage logistics and supervise catering.
• Work with teams to ensure Residence security and health and safety requirements are always upheld.
• Ensure the Residence meets Green/Climate requirements.
• Be the learning and development champion for residence team
• Tactically plan forward for food and alcohol. Management of the shopping/purchase ledger and inventory list of the cellar, kitchen and pantry. Maintain an inventory of the official quota of alcohol, record consumption and keep auditable records.
• Other duties and responsibilities as required.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

• Line management of 1x Residence Co-Ordinator, Oversight 5 house staff, 2x Cooks, Oversight for all staff 2x cleaners, 4x gardeners, 1x chambermaid, 2x Laundry Person).
• Maintaining household records and accounts

Language requirements:

• Language: ENGLISH, Hindi
• Level of language required: FLUENT

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

Learning and Development opportunities will be available.

Working patterns:

Requires standard working pattern of 40hrs per week, flexible within Monday – Friday.

The jobholder is required to be flexible with their working hours to be able to supervise the evening receptions, out of hours events etc. There can be flexibility in hours in accordance with evening working (i.e. stay later in the evening and flexibly start later in the morning.) The position is a 5-day work week with Saturdays and Sundays off (the job holder may be required to come in on weekends occasionally).

This job is not compatible with working from home.

Essential On Arrival:

• 3+ years of work experience in hospitality or event management;
• Exposure to international cultures and cuisines or demonstrated ability to reflect international experience;
• Substantive experience in hospitality, the creative industry or event management;
• Strong staff management, leadership and interpersonal skills;
• Willingness to work with flexibility and stay for official and social events on evenings and weekends;
• To have a good understanding of food and wines, particularly from the UK;
• Experience of budget planning and accounting.