JOB DESCRIPTION

View Vacancy – Residence Kitchen Porter

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

Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)

Job Subcategory

Protocol, Visits and Events

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Main purpose of job:

The British Ambassador’s Residence has an excellent team of staff responsible for the well being and entertainment of all guests within the Residence. It involves a vast programme of events and visits that requires the utmost professional team to aid in this essential part of Diplomatic life. The Kitchen porter is an important position within this highly effective team, and reports directly to the Head Chef.

Roles and responsibilities:

Cleaning to an exemplary standard of the following:

• Kitchen – Daily light duties and weekly scheduled heavier duties.
• All dishes used in the course of food preparation, including Pyrex and glass.
• All pots and pans and kitchenware.
• All kitchen equipment and accessories; ovens, fridge/freezer, fryer, microwaves, steamers, blenders. They must be kept to high hygienic standards beyond the normal certification.
• Assisting in the unpacking and stacking orders in the dry food store and vegetables for the walk-in fridge.
• Removal of trash and recycling bottles and cardboard (flattened and packed).
• Floors a minimum of twice daily, more if required. All kitchen surfaces, inside and out.
• Follow a monthly deep cleaning programme for preventative maintenance.
• Occasional food prep work.
• Other duties as directed.

Language requirements:

Language: English

Level of language required: Proficient

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

Health and Safety courses and fire safety training

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

Essential on arrival:

• Must be dependable with a strong work ethic.
• Applicants must also have a willingness to work overtime on an as-needed basis.
• Scheduling flexibility is a must, as the position may require evenings and weekends.
• The ability to follow direction exactly and be willing to take on any task.
• Previous experience in a similar environment.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

Desirable:

• The ability to work using your own initiative in slower business periods.
• People skills and the ability to work well as part of a close team are extremely important.
• The ability to lift up to 50 lbs, and perform frequent manual labour.

Required behaviours

Delivering at Pace, Developing Self and Others, Managing a Quality Service, Working Together

Application deadline

26 September 2025

Grade

S3

Type of Position

Full-time, Permanent

Working hours per week

40

Region

Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories

Country/Territory

United States

Location (City)

Washington

Type of Post

British Embassy

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

USD

Salary

$20.14

Type of Salary

hourly

Start Date

17 November 2025

Other benefits and conditions of employment

US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US has restrictions on the type of visas our non-diplomatic staff may hold. If you are not a US Citizen or a US Permanent Resident, or the dependent of a diplomat (with an EAD card), you may not be eligible for employment with the UK government. We cannot accept student Visas (J1, F or M) nor other forms of work Visas (I, H, P). If you hold a work visa it is best to check on your eligibility to work for a foreign government before applying for a position.

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.

Please note: 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.

Please note that the tax arrangements imposed by the US on staff working for foreign governments, as well as those imposed by the UK Treasury on British and dual nationals working for the UK Government overseas, are atypical. The UK Government cannot withhold taxes (including FICA) on behalf of a US taxpayer. Instead, a US taxpayer is required to file taxes as if they are self-employed, and a FICA allowance is granted for those required to pay the employer contribution. Certain categories of staff (for example dual UK-US nationals and some visa holders) who work at Consulates General are not subject to US taxes. For those not subject to US taxes the UK Government reduces gross pay to a level broadly equivalent to taxed net pay. There are also social security implications for dual UK-US nationals. Please keep all this in mind when looking at the salary and the benefits package. If you are offered a job with the UK’s US Network you will be given further tax and social security information relevant to your personal circumstances and place of work; you are advised to consider this information and its impact on your circumstances carefully – potentially with the advice of a tax professional – before accepting a job.

Additional information

Closing date of receiving applications is before 23:55 (Local Time) on 26 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.

Working patterns:

Standard 40 hour week, with occasional overtime, late nights and early morning shift work.

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.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements