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LEII Vice Consul British Embassy Brussels

The British Embassy in Brussels provides consular advice and services to British residents and over 882,000 annual British visitors that travel to the country. This role also oversees consular work in Luxembourg. The consular team in Brussels and Luxembourg is part of the wider Northern and Western European consular region that encompasses 20 countries across the region. Our customers rightly expect high levels of service and we aim to deliver. Consular work is very rewarding – you have the chance to make a direct difference to someone’s life often in very challenging situations. The successful candidate will be working often under pressure and sometimes dealing with extremely sensitive cases.
The main duties include:
  • Providing the lead on Consular Assistance case-work in Belgium and Luxembourg. Ensuring that cases are being handled in line with consular guidance and according to standards set out in the consular guide. Advising senior colleagues about high profile cases;
  • Keeping abreast of new policy as it develops and making suggestions to the Consular Regional Operations Manager (CROM) for Western Europe on any aspects that need to change. Signing off documentary and notarial services;
  • Working with senior colleagues in the Embassy on crisis planning. Developing working-level contacts in Belgian and Luxembourgish ministries, other diplomatic missions, and the travel industry. Responding to mass casualty incidents, crises, preparing for and responding appropriately to football matches and other large-scale events;
  • Drafting and issuing communications to the British community in Belgium and correspondence with MPs and other high-profile figures. Identification of, and building contacts with, external stakeholders such as airlines, Belgian welfare agencies, local charities, and British community groups;
  • Managing the running and performance of the consular team in Brussels and Luxembourg, managing the daily workload, and ensuring that leave and sickness are planned and administered. Administering and profiling budgets delegated to post by the Consular Regional Director. Oversight and interpretation of the team’s management information returns. Representing the Brussels and Luxembourg team at network events.
  • Performance management of four staff providing the full range of consular services. Providing support to one Honorary Consul. Ensuring that staff receive training in good time and the new arrivals are mentored. Being aware of training opportunities and alerting section colleagues to what is available. Making section bids for training and associated arrangements;
  • Standing in for other colleagues during absences including notarial work, assistance work, and on the counter.
Essential Criteria:
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
  • Excellent time management and organisational skills;
  • Fluent English language skills, both oral and written;
  • Strong customer focus and previous experience in a customer facing role;
  • A proven record of delivering results;
  • Experience of managing and developing staff;
  • Experience of budget management;
  • Ability to cultivate and maintain a range of contacts at all levels;
  • Good IT skills, especially MS Outlook, Word and Excel;
  • Flexibility, resilience, patience, and the ability to deal with difficult situations, including the ability to work unsocial hours in an emergency or crisis;
  • Ability to travel within Belgium and Luxembourg and on occasion elsewhere in Europe;
  • Ability to display a high level of discretion and responsibility;
  • Ability to successfully undergo security clearance procedures.
Desirable Criteria:
  • French and/or Dutch language skills, both oral and written, would be an advantage;
  • Knowledge of the Belgian administrative system, including the justice system, laws and regulations, and social services.
Salary and working hours:
This position will be filled on a fixed term contract. Taxable gross monthly salary: €2736.57
Applications with a full CV and cover letter in English should be sent to the Recruitment Officer, Corporate Services Benelux, British Embassy, Avenue d’Auderghem 10 B-1040 Brussels or brussels.recruitment@fco.gov.uk by 5.00 pm on Tuesday 16 October 2012. If applying by email, you should include your full name in the message title and your email and attachments must not exceed 300kB in size.
We expect to hold interviews on Wednesday 24 October, with a view to the successful applicant starting work as soon as possible, subject to security vetting, references and administrative processes. Please note that, due to the large volume of applications received for our roles, only those applicants called for interview will be contacted.
The British Missions in Benelux are an equal opportunities employer. Applications are welcome from all suitably qualified applicants regardless of age, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability. We aim to reflect the diversity of society.