FCDO: Chief of Staff to the British Consul General – Chicago – Chicago

• An understanding of the challenges and sensitivities of working in the world of Government, politics and the media.
• An interest in and appreciation for the UK, particularly the UK’s relationship with the United States and our broader foreign policy priorities.

You must have the right to live and work in the US in order to take up this role, whether in your own right or as a dependant, and be able to demonstrate that when required. If you are not a US citizen, dual US citizen or US Permanent Resident, it is your responsibility check your eligibility to work for a foreign government in the United States, and specifically to work in this role at this location, and provide proof of your eligibility via an Employment Authorisation Document or other relevant document when required. The UK Government does not routinely sponsor work visas; the job advertisement will state clearly whether sponsorship is available.  

We cannot accept student Visas (J1, F or M) nor other forms of work Visas (I, H, P). 

You may refer to our website for additional information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-the-usa.

All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work.

The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communicating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).

The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance.

Employees working for a foreign government in the United States are subject to specific tax rules. As a result, the tax treatment of an employee’s compensation will vary depending on their work location and citizenship status—whether they are a U.S. citizen, dual citizen, lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or a foreign national without a green card.

In alignment with HM Treasury policy, employees of the UK government in the US who are deemed tax-exempt by the IRS (i.e., not liable for U.S. taxes) receive a tax-abated salary, also known as a net salary.  For all other employees, the UK Government cannot withhold taxes (including FICA) on behalf of a US taxpayer. These employees must directly remit taxes on a quarterly and annual basis to the relevant tax authorities.

Additional information will be provided to successful candidates at the offer stage. Please note that the Embassy does not provide tax advice, and all employees are encouraged to consult with qualified tax professionals regarding their individual circumstances prior to accepting a job.

Working patterns

This role is primarily in-person and full-time at 40 hours per week, with opportunity for some hybrid working, subject to operational needs. Employees will be expected to work from office full-time during the first 90 days of employment. After this time employees may work from home no more than 40% of the working week. All working hours and hybrid working are position specific and subject to change at any time, without notice. If you have any questions, please address them with the Hiring Manager.   

Please note that the event management element of this role requires some out of hours work, for which schedules will be adjusted as appropriate.

The deadline for applications is 23:55 CDT on 4 September 2025.

All applicants must fully complete the online application form, including the sections for employment and educational details, experience, and behaviour-based questions. Only those applications that contain all required information will be considered. To ensure the sift process remains anonymous, please do not include any personally identifiable information in your application form.

Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’.  If during the reserve period of 12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.