The British Consulate General in Jerusalem (BCGJ) is a sovereign post which leads UK engagement with the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) in support of His Majesty’s Government (HMG) objectives. BCGJ is a close-knit office with a strong culture of collaborative working and supportive relationships in a politically challenging context.

The Consulate General has an opportunity for a Residence Manager, job grade Executive Officer (EO) on a permanent contract. 

This is an exciting role in a dynamic, diverse and international working environment suited to a self-starter who can work independently as well as part of a team. The Consul General’s Residence in Jerusalem supports the work of The British Consulate’s foreign policy objectives and UK interests. This includes events and entertainment in order to build and maintain a network of senior and influential contacts; hospitality and corporate events to promote British interests and highlight cooperation between UK and the OPTs; accommodation for official visitors; meetings, training and other events to promote and support the work of the Consulate.

The Residence is also the home of the Consul General and their family, and their privacy must be protected. It is essential that the house and grounds are well-run to support all these activities, projecting a positive image of the UK, and demonstrating high standards, excellent service and value for money. The jobholder will work closely with the Consul General and their family, and the entire Consulate team especially the Corporate Services team where the role of Residence Manager sits.

The Residence Manager manages three Residence staff and is responsible for supervising an external team of caterers, waiters, event contractors, ad hoc workers, maintenance suppliers, subcontractors and specialists, as and when the need arises. 

Duties and responsibilities:

– Seeing the Big Picture, Managing a quality service and Making Effective Decisions (40%)

• Oversee arrangements for all official events at different scales, in addition to house guests to ensure the highest levels of service and confidentiality at all times;
• Maintain an accurate forward plan of upcoming Residence events; and event planning:
• Plan, co-ordinate and execute all aspects of a Residence event based on a brief from the event lead;
• Coordinate menus with the internal chef or contracting chef as may be the case, according to the event, ensuring suitability, seasonal variations and value for money;
• Coordinate purchase of supplies for the Residence and events according to official procurement guidance;
• Manage contract suppliers for the provision of temporary demountable structures for events and ensure compliance with health and safety regulations including food hygiene standards.

– Delivering Value for Money and Working at Pace (20%)

• Deliver accurate annual residence budget forecasting and management based on need of all customers and events forecasted, as well as day-today running of the house and stock management on a monthly basis and as required in collaboration with HCPS and the finance department;
• Draw up accurate event cost proposals to ensure events remain within budget as authorised;
• Manage all procurement tendering contracts and competitions in collaboration with the procurement officer and the finance department, to ensure value for money contracts and suppliers are kept up to date and within market.

• Support VIP visits and field trips in so far as it relates to meals, lunch packs, meal preparations etc.

– Working in a team (20%) and developing self and others (10%)

• Work with your residence team and Corporate Services team to oversee day-to-day maintenance of the house and its grounds;
• Work with the estates and procurement team to assemble a group of reliable contractors for general repairs and help project-manage large-scale construction projects as and when required;
• Manage the inventories and upkeep of Government Art Collection, silverware, crystal glassware and linens together with furniture and fittings;
• Line Manage a team of 3 Residence staff as well as external suppliers and providers as required from time to time;
• Support your team with their personal development in enhancing their capabilities and building a strong, efficient and resilient Residence team.

– Crisis and General Role (10%)

• Support the Logistics Manager during crisis by holding the responsibility of Welfare Manager dealing with associated responsibilities in the interests of all staff and their wellbeing during crisis;
• Actively participate in the H&S Committee to ensure H&S Management in line with FCDO policy;
• Engage a corporate responsibility as required of all staff to support the work of the mission and the welfare of their staff.

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 Consulate General’s emergency planning and any other response to a crisis affecting UK Citizens.

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.
• Making Effective Decisions – Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.
• Working Together – Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources, and support.

• Developing Self and Others – Focus on continuous learning and development for self, others and the organisation as a whole.

• A confident communicator with proficient communication skills in English, both verbal and written with perfect grammar and vocabulary.
• Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication. Fluent in Arabic, both written and spoken.
• 5 years’ management experience within a hospitality operation including event management.
• Line management experience.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Has a great eye for detail while seeing the bigger picture.
• Creative, flexible and able to work in a high pace working environment.
• IT proficient including Microsoft Office skills.