The British Embassy Abu Dhabi has a vacancy for a Director Corporate Services for the UK in UAE Network, job grade G7 on a fixed-term contract for three (3) years.

The jobholder will lead our busy and dynamic Corporate Services Team across the UK in UAE Network, including our Embassies in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. This is a senior administration role, responsible for ensuring the team of over 50 staff deliver effective management, finance, procurement, human resources, estates, transport, logistics, Government Relations, and IT services to the UAE Network. The UAE Network is one of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) largest and most complex platforms, with over 400 staff from 17 UK government departments represented across the two locations.

With the planned onshoring of the Network’s sizeable UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) operation back to the UK (c. 230 staff), the job holder will be required to oversee the reconfiguration of the existing Corporate Services team to support a slimmed down mission.

This role is vital to the success of UK efforts in the UAE, and to making the network a welcoming, supportive place to work, where our colleagues are valued and able to develop. The successful candidate will be an experienced professional with proven managerial, strategic, and financial skills and an eye for detail. They will have a track record of motivating and developing teams, and creating an inclusive, healthy work environment.  They will take pride in delivering a quality service, and identifying and delivering opportunities for improvement, and be passionate about their people. They will have demonstrable experience of line managing successful teams and they will have the tact and confidence to engage effectively with other diplomatic missions, our host government, and external partners.

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 promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Leadership and Management: Oversee the work of a diverse, multi-skilled Corporate Services Team spread across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, comprising Finance, HR, Government Relations, Estates, and IT provision, amongst other roles. Inspire, lead, and develop team members, creating an inclusive environment which values difference, supports staff, challenges poor behaviours, and resolves conflict. Serve as the focal point for senior interaction on platform issues, including through managing the relationship with the many diverse departments on our platform.
• Change Management: Prepare the network for the departure (by 2027) of the majority of UK Visas and Immigration staff from post, mitigating the impact on the network and ensuring the Corporate Services Team is best placed to deliver in the face of a tightening financial situation. Actively seek opportunities for efficiencies, innovation, and improvement across the range of Corporate Services activity, and compassionately manage the reduction in support staff necessitated by the departure of UKVI.
• Finance and Procurement: Provide oversight of the UK in UAE Network budget (c. £8.5m), ensuring spending delivers value for money and adheres to FCDO policies and procedures. Ensure spending remains targeted at supporting post activity, and that forecasting and budgeting are completed (with the Regional Finance and Procurement Hub in Manila) in a timely and effective manner. Ensure that contracts and procurement are undertaken in compliance with best practice and corporate policies and contribute to our business objectives.

• Estate Management: Oversee the Network’s estate portfolio, including the embassy sites themselves, and our range of leased properties across Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Ensure our estate meets Health and Safety, financial and security standards. Oversee major work to improve the condition of the estate in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Be visible across the estate and ensuring teams uphold high levels of service delivery.

• Human Resources: Oversee network Human Resources activity, including workforce planning, casework for complex cases, and ensure adherence to FCDO policy and local labour practices. Work with the FCDO’s regional HR Hub (co-located in Abu Dhabi), and oversee the work of our Government Relations Team, ensuring we remain compliant with host government requirements.

• Crisis and Community: Ensure the Corporate Services Team, and wider members of the network community, are prepared for potential crises, including playing a personal role in any post crisis response. Be a leading voice in the Network community, actively contributing to making the network a better place to work and leading on efforts to respond to our annual People Survey.
• Other Tasks. Undertake other tasks as required for the good operation of the network and delivery of our objectives.

Resources managed:

Financial management of £8.5m budget, and line management of around 50 staff.

Key behaviours required:

• Leadership: Show pride and passion for public service. Create and engage others in delivering a shared vision. Value difference, diversity and inclusion, ensuring fairness and opportunity for all.
• Changing and Improving: Seek out opportunities to create effective change and suggest innovative ideas for improvement. Review ways of working, including seeking and providing feedback.
• 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.
• 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

Applicants must be able to obtain an appropriate level of UK Security Clearance and be able to obtain a valid UAE police clearance certificate. 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 and maintain the level of clearance required. 

• Evidence of successful line management and leadership across a large organisation.
• Experience overseeing budgets and conducting procurement and/or contract management.
• A track record of ensuring compliance against corporate policies.
• An ability to work across cultural and national identities, building and fostering a diverse team.
• A proven ability to remain calm under pressure, including in times of crisis.
• Confidence using IT, including Office365, particularly Teams, Outlook, SharePoint, and Excel.
• A willingness to occasionally work outside conditioned hours if required, including in support of crises.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and verbal.