Higher Executive Officer

This role is being advertised on behalf of The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development (DfID) merged on 1st September 2020 to form the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The FCDO pursues our national interests and projects the UK as a force for good in the world. We promote the interests of British citizens, safeguard the UK’s security, defend our values, reduce poverty and tackle global challenges with our international partners.

We pursue our national interests and project the UK as a force for good in the world. We promote the interests of British citizens, safeguard the UK’s security, defend our values, reduce poverty, and tackle global challenges with our international partners.

We unite development and diplomacy in one new department. The FCDO brings together the best of Britain’s international effort and demonstrates the UK acting as a force for good in the world.

Who We Are

We employ around 17,300 staff in our diplomatic and development offices worldwide, including in 280 overseas embassies and high commissions. Our UK-based staff work in our joint headquarters in King Charles Street, London and Abercrombie House, East Kilbride. We also have staff who work from FCDO Services HQ in Milton Keynes.

The FCDO is the UK government department responsible for protecting and promoting British interests around the world. We work in the UK and in 178 countries and territories.

We employ a diverse range of talented people capable of delivering to a high standard, often under pressure and sometimes in difficult places. We want the modern FCDO to reflect the very best of 21st century Britain. We encourage applications from all eligible and suitably qualified applicants irrespective of background or circumstances.

We welcome applications from all parts of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or background. We are committed to diversity and inclusion in all that we do. We encourage and support all staff to realise their potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.

In return, we guarantee a fascinating, personally rewarding career at the centre of world events.Main Purpose of Job

We are looking to recruit talented and enthusiastic individuals to join the FCDO at HEO level. Successful candidates will have excellent people and organisation skills to be able to lead and motivate themselves and others. You will have a pro-active approach to problem solving and sound judgement to assess and deliver against a myriad of challenges. You will have excellent literacy and numeracy skills and have experience and confidence in the use of Microsoft Office and Windows 10. During your time in the FCDO, you will be supported in your personal development and have access to our International Academy and a wide range of opportunities to gain new skills and experience.

The positions are Home Civil Service roles within the FCDO, based across our UK locations. Candidates should be flexible and open to working in a range of roles that may include policy development, programme management, team leadership and public facing roles. As part of a global network that operates on a 24/7 basis every one of us has an essential role to play for the FCDO to deliver our departmental strategic objectives and support our global network. Roles will be across the FCDO UK operation and cover a range of work streams: Policy, Operational, Programmatic and People facing. We are not recruiting for a specific departmental vacancy; instead, you will be placed into a role based on business need.

There is some flexibility to work from home in most positions, our current policy is that staff should expect to spend 40-60% of their time in the office.

Roles And Responsibilities

FCDO Departments will configure the roles to meet specific business needs but they will typically include:

• Policy & Strategy Development: Leading on a geographic or thematic policy area; monitoring, analyzing and reporting on events and developments; working with colleagues in our global network and across HMG to develop policy options to deliver FCDO priorities.
• Project & Program Management: Setting and monitoring progress against objectives; ensuring project remains on schedule and budget; anticipating and mitigating risks; maintaining accurate records.
• Working with Ministers and Parliament: Briefing Ministers and seniors in writing and orally; attending Parliament; drafting responses to MPs letters.
• Budget Management: Responsible for designing and overseeing contracts and budgets for development and programme spend; understanding commercial and procurement policies.
• International engagement: Working with the HMG network in the UK and overseas; checking information; building relationships and engaging stakeholders within HMG and across the private sector; working with NGOs, think tanks and emerging voices to identify and engage new opportunities to collaborate and deliver HMG priorities.
• Consular Roles: Directly supporting British nationals and others by quickly and accurately responding to enquiries and leading on complex cases or supporting crisis responses. This often involves direct engagement with members of the public for which additional training is provided.
• Staff Management: providing guidance, support and development for staff you manage or within your team, checking and clearing work from others, working with your senior leadership team to set the direction and priorities.

Higher Executive Officers provide team leadership, policy delivery and programme development and delivery. They are the largest group by grade in the FCDO. No two roles are the same and individuals are expected to motivate themselves and others to deliver and develop to high standards.

Most roles will operate with a degree of autonomy but supported by teams and management. The ability to see the bigger picture and anticipate issues and solutions is core to most roles at HEO grade.

Person Specification

It is essential in your application that you provide evidence and proven examples in each of the following Minimum Criteria, the Behaviours and the Technical question as far as you are able to do so. These responses will be further developed and discussed with those candidates invited for interview.

Essential Criteria

• 3 A level passes at A-C in any subject or International Baccalaureate pass [equivalent] or Substantial or relevant experience in a professional environment.
• Excellent literacy and numeracy.
• Competent using IT packages including Microsoft Office – Outlook, Excel and, ideally, knowledge of Microsoft Windows 10.
• Strong interpersonal, team-working and communication skills (oral and written).
• Good organisational, analytical, and planning skills with the ability to work to tight deadlines.
• Proven experience of ability to make effective decisions, identify problems and propose solutions.3 A level passes at A-C in any subject or International Baccalaureate pass [equivalent] or Substantial or relevant experience in a professional environment.

To check whether your qualifications are deemed to be equivalent to A levels please email GRS with the details: [email protected].

You must provide copies of your certificates that detail the examination board with dates these qualifications were achieved.

Please ensure you leave enough time before the closing date of this campaign to send a qualification query, to allow for an eligibility check to take place.

We must receive all queries before 21st February 2022.Behaviours

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership

Technical skills

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Motivation question.

Benefits

• A Civil Service Pension.
• 25 days Annual Leave per annum.
• 9 days Public and Privilege holidays per annum.
• Learning and Development tailored to your role.

See the attached candidate pack.Things you need to knowSecuritySuccessful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting.

See our vetting charter.People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.Selection process detailsThis vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.Please see the attached candidate pack for the selection process details.

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete the New Civil Service Judgement Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 11:30 am on 28th February 2022. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.Nationality requirementsOpen to UK nationals only.Working for the Civil ServiceThe Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.Apply and further informationOnce this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.Contact point for applicantsJob contact :Name : FCDO Recruitment TeamEmail : [email protected] Recruitment team :Email : [email protected]Further informationThe FCDO’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should, in the first instance, contact [email protected]. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the FCDO, you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commissioners.

Attachments Hints and Tips on Behaviour Examples Opens in new window (pdf, 85kB) HEO 182896 PP Opens in new window (pdf, 966kB) Share this page

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