The British Embassy Riyadh has a vacancy for an Administrative Officer under the Economic Diplomacy Team for a fixed-term contract until 31 March 2025. There is a possibility of extension of the contract depending on performance and operational requirements.

The jobholder will support the British Embassy’s Economic Diplomacy Team to advance the UK-KSA economic partnership under Vision 2030. You will provide administrative support to the team, supporting operational logistics, leading on administrative tasks, contributing to visit programmes for senior UK officials, and assist in liaising with Saudi Arabia’s Ministries.

The jobholder will have opportunities to gain experience on some of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) most high-profile priorities, and will provide a secretariat function, including cross-team support, policy/ governmental engagement and supporting high-level visits.

The Embassy in Riyadh is a large diverse team, delivering key priorities against a wide range of UK Government objectives. The environment is challenging, and the issues can be complex and fast moving. The jobholder will need to be able to make effective decisions, work well in a team, have great organisational skills, and the resilience to deliver in a dynamic environment to be successful in the role. The jobholder will also work closely with the Economic Liaison Officer (grade EO) in order to coordinate their support of the team. 

Duties and responsibilities:

– Visits and events

• Assist in organising visit programmes for the visiting UK Ministers, Special Representatives, and senior officials, coordinating logistics across the Embassy.
• Support organisation of the Economic Diplomacy Teams events.

– Political

• Liaise and develop productive relationships with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other Saudi stakeholders in order to secure meetings relating to policy work and high-level visits.
• Develop background understanding of the Economic Team’s policy focuses and identify how they interact with UK and Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.
• Provide administrative support to assist with contacting Saudi Ministries and Government Organisations.

– Team support

• Lead on administrative tasks in the Embassy’s Economic Diplomacy Team.
• Organising travel and accommodation for the Economic Diplomacy Team.
• Provide organisation and management of Economic Diplomacy Team’s office, such as diary coordination, arranging meetings and other logistical support.
• Draft diplomatic notes, as well as provide interpretation support in meetings and translation of documents from Arabic to English.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible as specific responsibilities could change in the future and this would be at the discretion of the line manager. The job description may be reviewed to meet changes in business needs. The jobholder may also take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any other response to a crisis.

Key behaviours required:

• Making Effective Decisions – Using evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully considering alternative options, implications, and risks of decisions.
• Working Together – Forming effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds; sharing information, resources, and support.
• Managing a Quality Service – Delivering service objectives with professional excellence, expertise, and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.
• Delivering at Pace – Taking responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.

Eligibility:

• The successful candidate must be able to secure a local residence and work permit in Saudi (iqama) OR already have the right to work and reside in Saudi.
• The British Embassy provides visa sponsorship. The successful candidate will be required to transfer their visa under the Embassy’s sponsorship.

• Excellent communication skills in English and Arabic, both written and spoken. Ability to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely.
• Ability to prioritise own workload and meet deadlines, without compromising the quality of the work.
• Ability to work autonomously and carry out routine work with minimal supervision in a fast-paced and changing environment.
• Collaborative approach to colleague and stakeholder partnerships. Ability to maintain a range of contacts to build effective working relationships.
• Resourcefulness in solving problems and demonstrates good judgement.
• Team player who is capable of working on their own initiative.
• Strong IT skills and literacy in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams). Competence in email and calendar management.