Foreign & Commonwealth Office Hiring for DXB – Government Relations Officer – AO Job at Dubai Full Time

The British Embassy Dubai has a vacancy for a Government Relations Officer on a fixed-term contract for two (2) years.

The Government Relations Department is vital to the efficient running of the British Diplomatic missions in the UAE. The purpose of this role is to enable staff of the British Embassy to obtain the necessary permissions to live, work, and perform their duties in the UAE and to assist the Embassy and its visitors in conducting their business in the UAE.

The jobholder will be responsible for the delivery of effective government relations duties. This is a challenging role that requires excellent interpersonal and customer handling skills. You will be responsible for making applications to and liaising with a wide range of UAE government authorities. You will be a strong team player and will work closely with colleagues within the Government Relations Department and UAE HR Department to enable staff to live and work in the UAE.

There is a requirement to work occasionally out of hours, including assisting with the arrival of staff/ VIPs or other protocol duties. There will also be a requirement to travel to Dubai occasionally for work purposes; including providing cover for our Abu Dhabi based Government Relations Officer during periods of absence.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Dealing with UAE authorities regarding the smooth arrival and departure of UK-based staff and Embassy VIPs/ guests.
• Receiving, recording, organising, prioritising work and updating customers on progress.
• Preparing applications for submission to UAE authorities, the majority of which will need to be written in Arabic.
• Arranging Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) clearance, employment visas, and Emirates IDs for staff.
• Liaising with the entities such as MoFAIC, Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA), Ministry of Interior (MoI), Customs, Traffic Department, British Council, and other Embassies and Consulates.
• Assisting with driving licences, alcohol licences, and vehicle registrations for diplomatic staff.
• Arranging with Customs and contractors the release of unaccompanied airfreight, heavy baggage, and cargo for UK-based staff and/ or the Embassy.
• Obtaining UAE visit visas for staff from other British Embassies.
• Obtaining visas from other Embassies to enable Embassy staff to carry out their duties abroad.
• Arranging meetings for Embassy officials with UAE authorities, maintaining relationships between the Embassy and various government or official departments.
• Providing guidance about UAE processes and procedures.
• Drafting note verbales to UAE government departments.
• Attending VVIP movements and acting as translator when required.
• Taking part in part in Embassy’s emergency planning and response to a crisis affecting UK citizens.

Key behaviours required:

• 
  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.
• 
  Delivering at Pace – Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.

Eligibility:

• Applications will only be considered from those who are currently residing in the UAE and with a current and valid UAE resident visa.
• Applicants must be able to obtain a valid UAE police clearance certificate.

• Experience of working within an embassy or foreign diplomatic mission or equivalent; or as a PRO for a major multinational company for a minimum of three (3) years.
• Good knowledge of the ICA and smart system.
• Experience of working in or dealing with the UAE Government: Immigration, Customs, MoI, and other UAE authorities.
• Excellent communication skills in English and Arabic, both verbal and written (this will be tested at interview).
• A confident communicator with excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to engage at all levels internally and with external contacts and collaborate effectively across Embassy 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.
• Excellent IT skills and office administration skills, with good knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, particularly MS Excel, which will be used for recording data and producing, reports.
• Holds a valid UAE driving license.
• Ability to work out of hours where required, including evenings and weekends.

• Knowledge of local UAE labour law.
• Knowledge of Immigration, Customs, and MoI laws in the UAE.
• Holds a bachelor’s degree.

Working hours and remuneration:

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role, which includes 25 days of leave per annum (calculated pro-rata)

Salary is at AED 11,736 per month.

There are no other allowances payable as part of this package. No accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

The Embassy is open from Monday to Friday, from 07:30 to 18:00. Conditioned working hours are 38 hours per week (including breaks), and specific working hours for this role will be confirmed at a later time.

The successful candidate should be flexible in their approach to hours worked. There may be some work out of hours and occasionally anti-social hours required, including assisting with the arrival of staff/ VIPs or other protocol duties. There will also be a requirement to travel to Dubai occasionally for work purposes; including providing cover for our Abu Dhabi based Government Relations Officer during periods of absence.

The successful candidate will be required to transfer their visa under the Embassy’s sponsorship.

How to apply:

Interested candidates must include to their online application form

• an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• a covering letter/ motivation essay stating how you meet the requirements of the role
• 
  Examples in the relevant sections of the online application form of how you meet the key behaviours and skills required.

Applications that do not include this information will not be considered.

Closing date for applications is at 23:55 UAE local time on 3rd February 2023.

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.

Process:

The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around two months. You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign, and we are working hard to minimise any disruption.

Due to the large number of applications, we receive, only those shortlisted for the next step of the recruitment process will be contacted.

The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security-vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

The British Embassy Dubai an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.