Main purpose of job:

The British High Commission Jamaica is seeking their next Community Liaison Officer to join their team in Kingston. The successful candidate will work closely with management for the well-being of all staff at the British High Commission Jamaica. The primary function is to advocate for, and provide support to, UK-based staff and families (FCO and PAGs) on family and community issues, principally in the areas of information gathering, welfare and communication.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Information gathering for UK-Based officers and their spouses/partners and families. To include (where applicable) information primarily on spouse/partner employment at Post; children’s education (through completion of separate HR School and Nursery Information Sheets of authorised schools at Post); a comprehensive information pack on childcare at post, feedback on adult education; career and training opportunities; single officer and foreign-born spouse/partner issues; recreational facilities; social matters; and completion of Spouse and Partner Annual Employment Report.
• Welcoming all staff on posting/temporary duty/flexible deployment and helping them and their families to ensure as smooth an integration as possible into the life of the Post community; providing a temporary domestic equipment float; following up to check that the settling in process is working; being a source of referral and support where questions, problems and difficulties arise; providing short Post community induction. CLOs are not expected to be medically trained and have no medical responsibility.
• Advocating for UK-based staff and families in addressing issues of importance with Post Management, including as their representative on Post Management Committee, evacuation/contingency planning and housing committees.
• Communicating effectively on community and social matters across Post to all staff and organising and facilitating community and social events where possible. The CLO should participate in the Post Management Board; Post Security Committee/ Evacuation and Contingency Planning; and Social Club Committee. The CLO should advertise details of career support services and courses to eligible UK-Based spouses/partners at Post. CLO is expected to establish/maintain some form of communication for staff and spouses/partners across Post, such as a WhatsApp group, in accordance with the FCDO social media policy.
• Managing key sources of information including the Welcome Pack and the Post Report and Fact Sheet. CLOs should be accessible and able to provide information in areas including pre-Posting information, spouse/partner employment at Post; child and adult education, childcare, recreation facilities and training opportunities.
• Involvement in Emergency Planning. The CLO must be aware of and involved in any Post contingency and evacuation plans.

All the above tasks require the CLO to have strong links with senior management, relevant FCO departments and the Diplomatic Service Family Association London office.

Essential on arrival:

• Must have the legal status to live and work in Jamaica.
• Good written and oral communication skills;
• First-rate inter-personal skills, with exceptional ability to deal empathetically with people in a positive, proactive and supportive manner, even under pressure;
• Good initiative and ability to work with limited day to day direction;
• Strong networking, collaborative and teamwork skills with colleagues, managers and a broad range of external contacts and partners;
• Ability to present and speak confidently at meetings, including with senior staff;
• 2 years of relevant work experience;
• Proficient with Microsoft Office/Office 365.

Language requirements: 

Language: English
Level of language required: Fluent