View Vacancy – KWT – Defence Section Office Manager (EO)

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

MOD (Ministry of Defence)

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Main purpose of the Job:

The Defence Section Office Manager (DSOM) is a key member of the UK Ministry of Defence team within the British Embassy Kuwait. Working directly with the Defence Attaché (DA) and Assistant Defence Attaché (ADA), the DSOM is responsible for the effective operation of the Defence Section Outer Office and plays a pivotal role in delivering UK Defence Engagement activity in Kuwait.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, taking ownership of tasks, and building effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Executive Support and Office Management

• Support the DA, ADA and wider Defence Section in delivering operational priorities and Defence Engagement objectives.
• Act as the first point of contact for the Defence Section and represent the DA on routine matters where appropriate.
• Manage the DA’s diary, meeting agenda preparation, programme, travel and transport arrangements ensuring effective coordination of meetings, visits and engagements.
• Maintain awareness of Defence Section priorities, proactively identifying potential scheduling conflicts, emerging issues, and operational risks, escalating where appropriate.
• Arrange and coordinate briefings, office calls and official engagements for the DA with Kuwaiti military and government counterparts.
• Draft, translate and quality assure official correspondence, including Note Verbale, briefing material, and diplomatic communication in English and Arabic, ensuring accuracy and professionalism, acting as a key liaison between the Defence Section and Kuwaiti partners.
• Identify opportunities to improve Defence Section business processes and introduce efficiencies that enhance the delivery of Defence Engagement activities.
• Deputise for the DA or ADA on agreed matters to ensure continuity of business operations.
• Ensure timely, accurate and effective information flow across the Defence Section, keeping internal and external stakeholders appropriately informed of key developments and priorities.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues across the Embassy, Kuwaiti Government, military organisations, international partners, and other key stakeholders to support Defence Engagement activities.
• Maintain key documents and records to support business continuity and informed decision-making.
• Line manage and coordinate the Defence Section Driver, ensuring effective delivery of transport support.

Event Organisation and Management

• Plan and coordinate programmes and visits for senior UK military and defence officials visiting Kuwait.
• Support official visits by senior Kuwaiti Ministry of Defence officials to the UK.
• Maintain the Defence Section Contacts Database and Military Influence Lists to support strategic engagement and Embassy events.
• Plan and deliver Defence Engagement events on behalf of the DSK such as Remembrance Day and Alumni Dinner.
• Coordinate Defence Section contributions to wider Embassy-sponsored visits, events and engagement activities.
• Take ownership of the Defence Section’s communications by managing social media content and working with the Embassy Communications Team to promote UK Defence activity in Kuwait.

Wider Support

• Lead on obtaining diplomatic clearances for military aircraft and naval vessels, coordinating with relevant authorities to secure timely approvals.
• Act as the principal liaison with the Kuwait Ministry of Defence (KMoD), Kuwait Armed Forces (KAF), Kuwait National Guard (KNG) and Kuwait Coast Guard (KCG) Outer Offices to support Defence engagement activities.
• Support wider Embassy business, including contingency planning, crisis response and other corporate activities as required.

Resources Managed:

• Direct line management of the Defence Section Driver

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 participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any response to a crisis.

Key behaviours required for the job:

• Managing a Quality Service: Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise, and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.
• Delivering at Pace: Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
• Working Together: Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources, and support.

Eligibility:

If you are selected for this position, we will be able to employ you as long as you:

• Are legally resident in Kuwait (Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country); and
• Complete and successfully pass all local and UK security checks, including professional background checks.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Proven experience in an executive support, office management, administrative or business coordination role.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands, manage multiple tasks simultaneously and consistently deliver high-quality work to tight deadlines.
• Excellent written and spoken English and Arabic, with the ability to communicate confidently and professionally with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience planning, coordinating and delivering official visits, meetings, programmes and events involving senior stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound judgement, anticipate issues, proactively identify solutions and take ownership of tasks while contributing effectively as part of a small high-performing team.
• Demonstrable ability to draft, translate and quality assure official correspondence, briefing material and other documents accurately between English and Arabic while maintaining the appropriate professional and diplomatic tone.
• Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build and maintain productive working relationships with senior government officials, military officers, colleagues and external partners.
• Demonstrated professionalism, discretion and integrity when handling sensitive information and confidential matters.
• Strong IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams).

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Previous experience within an Embassy, diplomatic mission, international organisation or defence environment.
• Experience working with Kuwaiti Government ministries or senior military organisations.
• Experience supporting senior executives or leadership teams within a complex organisation.
• Experience supervising or managing staff.
• Experience creating quality social media content and supporting organisational communications.

Required behaviours

Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service, Working Together

Application deadline

26 July 2026

Grade

Executive Officer (EO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Permanent

Working hours per week

38

Region

Middle East & North Africa

Country/Territory

Kuwait

Location (City)

Kuwait

Type of Post

British Embassy

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

KWD

Salary

1217.196

Type of Salary

monthly

Start Date

13 September 2026

Other benefits and conditions of employment

Working conditions and remuneration:

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role, including a non-negotiable gross salary of KWD 1217.196 per month. The package includes a good level of medical insurance, a return flight fare to your home country for non-Kuwaitis every year, relevant social security payments for Kuwaiti nationals, and an engaging working environment. Leave entitlement is 30 days per year (on pro rata basis) plus 14 public holidays.

There are no other allowances payable as part of this package. No accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

This position is for a full-time employment, on a permanent contract, subject to a 90 working day probationary period.

Conditioned working hours are 38 hours gross per week (this is made up of 35.5 hours net per week and a daily 30-minute lunch break). The normal working hours are 07:30 – 15:30 from Sunday to Wednesday and 07:30 – 13:30 on Thursday. Due to the nature of the work, the jobholder should be flexible in their approach to hours worked as these will be dictated by operational needs and may involve working out-of-hours (evening / weekend) during events and visits. Where out of hours work is necessary, in agreement with the line manager, the jobholder would be expected to work shorter hours in the week.

The Embassy has an active Learning and Development Committee, and the whole of Post is committed to providing the time and resources for staff to develop personally and professionally. The 70/20/10 learning and development model is applied in a flexible manner, with extensive informal and formal opportunities readily available. There will likely be an expectation of undertaking training specific to crisis response/ management in 2026.

Additional information

How to apply:

Interested candidates must include:

1. An updated Curriculum Vitae (CV);
2. A covering letter/motivation essay stating how you meet the requirements of the role; and,
3. 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.

Closing date of receiving applications is on 26th July 2026 by 23:55 hrs (local time).

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.

Internal candidates (i.e., those employed by the British Embassy in Kuwait) applying for this position should consider informing their current line managers upon submission of their application. 

Process:

The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around two-three months. The security clearance process includes checks available in country and with 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.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful at interview may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of twelve (12) 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 FCDO operates an agile approach to delivery. To facilitate an agile workforce, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require. The British Embassy Kuwait 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 Kuwaiti employment 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.