Vice Consul

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)
The **British Embassy Doha** is part of a worldwide network that represents political, economic, security and consular interests overseas and is now looking for a** Vice Consul**, Grade Executive Officer (EO).

**Main purpose of the job**:
The Consular Team’s purpose 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, Qatar is the home of choice to 21,818 British People and has approximately 4,000 visitors per year. This year sees Qatar hosting the first World Cup in the Middle East, which is also the first World Cup in the winter and the first hosted in one city, Doha. The World Cup will be a significant event for both Qatar and the Gulf with the whole Embassy being involved. For Consular, this will mean an exceptionally busy period to ensure all visiting fans have a safe visit, working with a wider resilience team.

The jobholder will also 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 Manager based in Dubai, they will be required to lead, motivate, and encourage the Pro Consul 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, and with excellent interpersonal skills. They must be able to work independently with mínimal 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 the Consular Team’s 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.

**Duties and responsibilities**:

- Leadership and resources
- Provide effective leadership to the Consular team, with direct line management of one (1) Pro Consul; set objectives in line with FCDO strategic priorities and the Consular Network Business Plan; ensure robust Performance Development Plans are in place and regular appraisals are conducted.
- Manage day-to-day consular operations; ensure updates to consular guidance and policies are understood and implemented; ownership of formal response to public correspondence.
- Promote a learning culture within the team; ensure all mandatory learning is completed; identify training and development opportunities.
- Represent the Consular Section internally and externally; participate in relevant committees and working groups; help formulate 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.
- Coordinate 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 the wellbeing of the team is kept in mind and provide opportunities for continuous improvement.
- Work with other Consular teams in the region and be a part of the Vice Consul Working Group for the Gulf to learn from each other and promote best practice.
- Consular assistance
- Manage the team’s 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 & 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 British Nationals with assistance when required, be confident in dealing with difficult conversations and possess the skills to learn from these difficult conversations.
- Manage Emergency Travel Document processes and overs