View Vacancy – BMA – Executive Assistant to HMA and DHM (AO)

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 Subcategory

Chancery

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

The British Embassy Bahrain is seeking an Executive Assistant to His Majesty’s Ambassador (HMA) and Deputy Head of Mission (DHM). This is a permanent position requiring excellent organisational and communication skills to manage a dynamic and high-profile office.

Duties and responsibilities:

The successful candidate will act as main point of contact for the Ambassador’s Office. The jobholder will organise, manage the Ambassador’s busy daily programme, and ensure sound logistical arrangements are in place, liaising where appropriate with colleagues to decide which meetings are of strategic importance before making arrangements.

The jobholder will also be expected to:

• Coordinate diary for HMA and DHM, involving Transport Management and Drivers. Factor in travel time and schedule. Liaison between Embassy and senior stakeholders. Ensure HMA and DHM are well prepared for meetings by providing or arranging pre-meeting briefing/updates with the Embassy team and collating any relevant information.
• Liaise with Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), VVIP and external stakeholders including the Royal Court, Embassies, Bahraini government, and private sector companies to instigate and follow up on requests for appointments for HMA/ DHM, consulting Embassy colleagues as required.
• Draft and despatch official communications, letters, and emails on behalf of HMA. Forward correspondence received by official methods.
• Act as lead point of contact for VVIP and other visa enquiries managed through HMA and DHM’s offices, including for sensitive and complex cases and out of hours as required.
• Manage telephone calls and enquiries received on behalf of HMA and DHM.
• Manage the flow of information between HMA/ DHM office and Embassy sections. Organise the Team Leader weekly meetings.
• Maintain an accurate and accessible electronic and manual filing system where appropriate.
• Ensure correct procedures for inward guests, including as per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tarasul Protocol Website.
• Ensure that the Gifts Register policy is regularly circulated and correctly completed, and the rules are observed.
• Review and distribute HMA’s inward correspondence and invitations. Despatch outward correspondence and invitations.
• Organise HMA”s visit programmes and make the necessary travel arrangements including possible engagement in country.
• Cover for the Residence Manager during times of leave and absence.
• Meet and greet HMA’s and DHM”s guests as and when required. Organise security access to the Embassy compound.
• Support Communications Team with HMA/ DHM messaging; keep them informed of significant activity for social media channels.
• Send political notes verbales, keeping the log of all notes leaving the Embassy.

Events

• Support on major events such as the King’s Birthday Party (KBP) and Christmas carols.
• Ensure that HMA’s key contacts are included in the guest list for HM The King’s Birthday Party.
• Ensure VIP guest needs are met if staying overnight (i.e. accommodation). Produce pocket guides for VIP guests, etc.
• Collate guest lists and provide secretarial support, as required.

Wider corporate activity

• Act as Secretariat for the quarterly One HMG Committee and Country Board, including organising meetings, taking the minutes, ensuring follow up on actions by liaising with subject leads, and flagging risks.
• Carry out research tasks as directed by HMA/ DHM.
• The Job Holder, as with all members of staff, will contribute to the life of the Embassy community beyond their formal job description. This could include broader roles such as fire warden or joining a People Committee.
• The Job Holder will form part of crisis preparedness, exercising and any operational response.
• Respond flexibly and actively to evolving priorities and needs.
• The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including out of hours.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible as specific responsibilities could change in the future, and this would be at the discretion of the line manager. The job description may be reviewed to meet changes in business needs. The jobholder may also take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any other response to a crisis.

Key behaviours required:

• Working together– Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.
• Managing a Quality Service – Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.
• Communicating and Influencing – Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others.

Eligibility

• The successful applicant will be required to obtain the necessary security clearance. Higher clearances can be granted only to certain nationalities. For this reason, candidates must be of British, American, Australian, Canadian or New Zealand nationality in order to gain the level of clearance required for this role.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Previous experience as a Personal Assistant or Executive Assistant to a senior leader.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and communications skills with an excellent standard of English.
• Initiative to solve problems, able to work rigorously and independently using personal judgement but raising matters of concern and seek guidance where necessary.
• Able to organise and prioritise a heavy workload.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).

Required behaviours

Communicating and Influencing, Managing a Quality Service, Working Together

Application deadline

5 January 2026

Grade

Administrative Officer (AO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Permanent

Working hours per week

35

Region

Middle East & North Africa

Country/Territory

Bahrain

Location (City)

Manama/Bahrain

Type of Post

British Embassy

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

BHD

Salary

1094

Type of Salary

monthly

Start Date

15 February 2026

Other benefits and conditions of employment

Working hours and remuneration:

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role. The salary for this role is at BHD 1094 per month based on 35 hours per week.

If you are exempt from paying local social insurance in Bahrain, your salary will be abated by an amount equivalent to the social insurance that would otherwise be payable. Further information on this may be provided at interview if necessary.

No accommodation nor relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

The package includes private medical insurance and learning and development (L&D) opportunities. Specific training and mentoring for the role will be provided, and your Line Manager will help you develop a personalised L&D plan and will share opportunities, resources and guidance to ensure you continue your learning.

This role is for a full-time employment on a permanent contract. The successful candidate will be subject to a three-month probationary period. The appointment is subject to satisfactory local and UK security clearances.

Normal working hours at the Embassy are from 07:30-14:30 from Sunday to Thursday, with core working hours from 09:00-13:00. The Embassy operates a flexible working policy, which entitles staff to work more flexibly as long as the core hours are worked. This will be considered based on operational requirements and agreement with the line manager, and in line with FCDO and Embassy policies.

Limited working from home flexibility is allowed e.g.1 day a week but the expectation is the jobholder will work mostly from the Embassy in support of senior colleagues.

The jobholder should be flexible in their approach to hours worked as these will also be dictated by operational needs and may involve working out of hours (evening and weekend).

Additional information

How to apply:

Interested candidates must include in their online application form the following:

1. an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV);
2. a covering letter/ motivation essay stating how you meet the requirements of the role; and
3. specific examples in the relevant sections of the online application form of how you meet the key behaviours and skills required.

Applications that do not include this information will not be considered.

Applications must be submitted before 23:55 Bahrain local time on 5 January 2026

Applications submitted after the stated deadline will not be considered.

Process:

Due to the large number of applications we receive, only those shortlisted for the next step in the recruitment process will be contacted.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful at interview may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of six (6) months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

The start date mentioned in the 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 and reference checks.

The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around 2-3 months. The security clearance process includes checks available in country and in the UK, dependant on the security level required for the role and the candidates profile and UK footprint. You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign, and we are working hard to minimise any disruption.

The British Embassy Bahrain is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local labour law.

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.