View Vacancy - LAO - Deputy Corporate Services Manager, EO

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.

Job Category  

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Operations and Corporate Services)

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities) 

Main Purpose of Job:

The position will require a practical, hands-on approach to ensure compliance in the areas of finance, HR, estates, security and other associated administrative tasks. This is to ensure the smooth running, and efficient and cost-effective operation of the British Embassy. Strong customer service skills, adaptability and resilience will be required. Relevant training will be provided.

This role is also responsible for the direct line management of 9 Embassy security guards.

What the Jobholder will be Expected to Achieve:

Finance and Accounting:

• To manage the Embassy account and ensure all financial payments (both cash and banking) are correctly recorded and accounted for in line with Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) guidance and local regulations
• To ensure Embassy finances are managed efficiently in line with FCDO procedures and to oversee effective budget management and forecasting including online and offline.
• To support with Manila Global Transaction Processing Centre (GTPC) to prepare payments to staff and suppliers.
• To coordinate with local banks for any transaction issues.
• To be fully familiar with financial policies of the FCDO and be able to make effective use of these tools to manage financial information and make suggestions for improvements to existing processes.

HR

• Support the Corporate Services Manager (CSM) in providing a range of HR support and advice, primarily to Country Based Staff, but also to signpost UK-based staff to relevant information.
• Direct line management of 9 Embassy security guards including defining working methods and ensuring effective workflow.
• Lead on some elements of HR admin including insurance and health check-ups.

Administration:

• Provide support to the CSM in other areas of corporate services including office support, facility management and security.
• Lead on areas such as handling customs clearance of official mails/bags (Diplomatic bags/mails), visas, ID, driving licences, primarily for the UK-based members of staff and families.
• To pro-actively manage procurement of goods and services with suppliers and contractors, ensuring good value for money, and maintaining compliance, transparency and sound audit trails.
• Ensuring the office is well maintained and equipped.
• To assist with visitors’ travel arrangements from various UK Government ministries.

Back up/covering for the Corporate Services Manager if they are on leave or unwell.

Back up/covering for His Majesty’s Ambassador (HMA) and Deputy Head of Mission (DHM) Personal Assistant/Residence Manager if they are on leave or unwell.

Resources Managed (staff and expenditure): 9 x security guards

Essential qualifications, skills and experience  

• At least 2 years' experience in the corporate and/or financial services sector
• Strong office management, communication and interpersonal skills
• A degree in Financial Management or similar discipline
• Able to work to tight deadlines
• Agile and comfortable with managing and implementing processes
• Ability to work effectively and flexibly as part of a small team

Language requirements: 

• English and Lao
• Level of language required: Fluent, written and spoken (will be tested at interview)

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience:  Familiarity with financial management systems

Required behaviours:  Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Developing Self and Others, Managing a Quality Service, Working Together

Application deadline:  6 April 2025

Grade:  Executive Officer (EO)

Type of Position:  Full-time, Fixed Term

Working hours per week:   35

Duration of Post:  24 months

Region:  Asia Pacific

Country/Territory:  Laos

Location (City):  Vientiane

Type of Post:  British Embassy

Number of vacancies:  1

Salary Currency:  USD

Salary:  USD 2,058.90

Type of Salary:  monthly

Start Date:  27 May 2025

Other benefits and conditions of employment  

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.

Working Patterns: We may consider the successful applicant working from home for a day a week, but this decision will be made when probation is passed.

The British Embassy, located close to the Patuxay Monument, is a small, friendly and vibrant place to work. There will be great opportunities for you to not only develop and build on your existing knowledge, but to understand and contribute to how our work develops and strengthens UK – Laos relations.  

We are strongly committed to support our team members in their own learning and development, providing regular opportunities to learn from their colleagues here and in the region.

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy Vientiane are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local Lao employment law. No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. You must have or be able to obtain work authorisation for Laos in order to apply. 

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. Any costs related to obtaining or renewing permits and visas are the responsibility of the successful applicant.

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.

The FCDO operates an agile approach to delivery. To facilitate an agile workforce, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require.

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment checks. Only shortlisted applications will be called for personal interviews.

The British Embassy is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on grounds of ethnic origin, race, religious beliefs, age, disability, gender or sexual orientation.

Additional information  

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Note: 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.

To ensure a successful application it is important that you explain how you demonstrate these behaviours, including through your experience. You are strongly advised to read the Success Profiles Civil Service Behaviours Framework, which provides detailed guidance on how the behaviours are defined.

Applicants are encouraged to use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format to prepare specific examples of when they have demonstrated these behaviours in their application. Using the STAR format to provide evidence of your skills and experience in your application and at interview helps to give a structure. You briefly describe the situation in which you showed the behaviour, and then explain your task in addressing the situation, what action you took and the result of this.

For inclusivity and diversity, please remove the following personal information when uploading your CV: name, address, email address, age, date of birth, gender and nationality. 

The start date mentioned in the job 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.

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.

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LAO - Deputy Corporate Services Manager, EO - FCO Local Posts