Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)
**Main purpose of job**:
The British consular network supports British nationals, and their families, when they encounter difficulties overseas. As Pro Consul, you will deliver a high quality consular service to British nationals in Brazil, act as a key member of the wider consular network and support the smooth running of the Consular Section according to guidance and best practice.
The successful applicant will play an important, front-line, role in ensuring British Nationals in Brazil receive a professional, high-quality support service, in line with Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) guidance. This will include providing excellent, empathetic and efficient consular assistance, tailored to the needs and circumstances of those you help; providing notarial and documentary services; managing stakeholders, websites and other communications channels; and taking part in outreach with our partners. Together with the Vice Consul, the jobholder will provide remote cover for consular colleagues in our diplomatic missions across Brazil and the wider Americas network as necessary.
The role involves direct interaction with the public, with local, regional and UK authorities, with colleagues across the consular network in Brazil (Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Recife, Rio, Sao Paulo), the Americas and London, and with external stakeholders such as local government authorities, airlines and hospitals.
**Roles and responsibilities**:
**Assistance**
Maintain close links with local authorities including, but not limited to police, prisons, hospitals, care homes and other British Government teams and departments who work with us to help British Nationals;
- Maintain accurate and concise case records using FCDO IT platforms;
- Facilitate and print Emergency Travel Documents (ETD) through liaison with our ETD centre.
- Arranging and facilitating citizenship ceremonies;
- Assist the Vice Consul in supporting colleagues in Brasilia and Consular Honorary Consuls who occasionally conduct consular work, and our Consular Agent network by providing guidance as necessary and participating in their training.
- Exceptionally, participate in call-out arrangements for emergency cases out of hours when our Global Response Centre in London requests additional support.
**Counter and Notarial Services**
- Provide a range of in-person and remote notarial services;
Maintain a cash float and ensure adherence to other financial reporting requirements.
**Partnership/Prevention and Project Work**
- Support the Consular Network in Brazil reduce the number of preventable incidents and minimise risks to British Nationals overseas by supporting delivery of relevant projects;
Actively seek out and maintain partnerships with local authorities, members of the public and their legal representatives, airlines, tour operators, hotels and British Government Departments in order to achieve strategic goals. Maintain and update our contacts database;
- Contribute to improvements to customer service delivery across the whole Consular section, including provision of accurate information for public-facing documentation and guidance.
- Make travel bookings and arranging meetings and events for the team;
- Accompany the Vice Consul or CROM on outreach visits to different areas of Brazil to build and maintain contact network.
**Team Work and Learning**
- Personal administration and management including participation in the annual appraisal system, completing personal development plans and maintaining skills and knowledge proficiency;
- Provide support to colleagues dealing with traumatic events, distressed British people and complex cases;
- Contribute to learning and development initiatives for the whole team, providing and accepting constructive feedback to a professional standard.
**Crisis work and Resilience**
- Prepare for crisis handling and implementation of the Consulate Crisis Management Plan, including participation in crisis management exercises and use of the crisis IT systems;
- Regularly maintain and update the consular elements of Post’s Crisis Management Plan; ensure consular staff have access to and are familiar with the Crisis Hub;
- Maintain a readiness to respond to a declared crisis, based on named roles within the Crisis Management Plan; provide regional resilience support where required;
- In crisis/emergency situations work as required to support the Consular responses (sometimes on a shift pattern working unsociable hours).
**Other**
In times of peak operation demand, work flexibly within the Section and within the Consulate;
- All staff are expected to make a corporate contribution to the smooth running of the British Consulate General, either through a committee membership or another voluntary role to support the vision and values of the Embassy.
Essential qualifications, skills and experience
We are looking for someone who thrives on working with and helping others. You will