The British Embassy Riyadh has a vacancy for a Government Relations Assistant on a fixed term contract for two (2) years.

The jobholder will be responsible for the delivery of effective government relations duties, liaising with a wide range of Saudi government authorities to enable staff of the Embassy (and the wider to KSA Network) to obtain the necessary permissions to live, work, and perform their duties in Riyadh and to assist the Embassy and its visitors in conducting their business in Riyadh.

The jobholder needs to have excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Arabic and have good interpersonal and customer handling skills. There may be a requirement to work occasionally out of hours, including assisting with the arrival of staff/ VIPs or other protocol duties. 

Duties and responsibilities:

• Assist with the administration to obtain iqamas for staff and dependants, visas, insurance, driving licences, for staff and visitors.
• Submit requests and follow-up for work visas, visit visas for Embassy`s visitors, and family visa. Complete forms for visa extension.
• Submit requests and follow-up for residence permits (iqamas) for new staff joining the Embassy and their family members as well as their dependants accompanying them.
• Submit requests and follow-up for renewal of residence permits for local and diplomatic IDs, diplomatic driving licenses for diplomats and their wives, and diplomatic car registrations and diplomatic plates.
• Submit requests of flight and ships clearance to visit Saudi Arabia.
• Facilitate arrival and departure of VIP and official visitors to the Embassy at airports and make the necessary bookings of the VIP lounge. Take responsibility of their luggage to check and receive it at customs zones at the time of arrival and departure.
• Help obtain new health insurance for staff and cancellation, replacement, and addition of staff/ dependants.
• Assist with DQ access letters for visitors and those attending functions.
• Prepare invitation letters for visitors from overseas (visas applications).
• Deliver notes verbales and important letters to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) by hand. Follow up on requests delivered to MoFA as well as receive written replies from them.
• Reach out to MoFA, Traffic Department, Customs, and Passports Department with the aim of handling the Embassy’s paperwork.
• Liaise with Traffic Department regarding accidents that involve the Embassy`s diplomatic vehicles.
• Assist in drafting letters addressed to telecommunications and utility companies (electricity/ water) for requests that affect the Embassy.
• Help in obtaining exemption for diplomatic bags at airports. Help in obtaining exemption for luggage of arriving and departing diplomatic staff. Assist in clearing diplomatic shipments arriving via dry port.
• Provide help to the British Council in Riyadh.

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 or head of section. 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:

• Delivering at Pace – Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
• Managing a Quality Service – Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise, and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.
• Working Together – Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources, and support.
• Communicating and Influencing – Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity, and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses, and opinions of others.

Eligibility:

The position is available to Saudi nationals and to current holders of valid Saudi residence permits or transferable iqama. The successful candidate will be required to transfer their sponsorship to the British Embassy/ Consulate General.

• Excellent communication skills in English and Arabic, both verbal and written (this will be tested at interview). Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely. Accurate typing and proofreading skills.
• Holds a clean and valid KSA driving license.
• Excellent IT skills and office administration skills, with good knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams).
• A confident communicator with excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to engage at all levels internally and with external contacts and collaborate effectively across teams.
• Excellent customer service skills. Demonstrates courtesy and consideration in dealing with internal and external contacts.
• Strong work ethic and demonstrates high level of professionalism.
• Resourcefulness in solving problems and demonstrates good judgement.
• Ability to multi-task and respond quickly and flexibly to meet multiple and changing priorities.
• Proven record of organisational ability. Ability to prioritise and organise own workload and meet deadlines, while maintaining attention to detail and without compromising the quality of the work.
• Ability to work out of hours where required, including evenings and weekends.