AUH - Visits & Chancery Support Officer (AO)

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 60,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The British Embassy in Abu Dhabi seeks a Visits and Chancery Support Officer (Administrative Officer) for a full-time, fixed-term position. The role involves providing logistical and administrative support for high-profile visits and managing communications within the Chancery team. A strong candidate will have excellent organisational and communication skills with at least two years' experience in a similar position. Flexible working hours may apply, and the salary is 12,952 AED per month.

Benefits

25 days of leave per annum

Qualifications

• Minimum two years’ experience in administration support.
• Ability to prioritize and resolve problems proactively.
• Demonstrates advanced English communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide logistical and administrative support for high-profile visits.
• Manage Note Verbales and formal communications.
• Maintain contact lists and support the wider team.

Skills

Organisational skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Customer service

Attention to detail

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require. Job Category Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles) Job Subcategory Chancery Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

The British Embassy Abu Dhabi has a vacancy for a Visits and Chancery Support Officer, job, grade Administrative Officer (AO) on a fixed-term contract for one (1) year.

The team is at the heart of our operation and the jobholder can expect to work particularly closely with the Political, Economic, International Trade, Corporate Services, and Senior Leadership Group and other government departments in the offices of the Embassy in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The jobholder must be available in afull-time capacity to work on site at the British Embassy Abu Dhabi.

While this role is based in Abu Dhabi, the jobholder will provide support to visits across the whole UAE and will be expected to travel to Dubai as and when required.

The jobholder will report to the UAE Central Visits Team Manager butwill also provide support to the wider Chancery Team.

Duties and responsibilities :

Provide logistical and administrative support to ensure the smooth functioning of high-profile official visits to the UAE (40%)

• Coordination of high-impact visit programmes (usually working in support of a designated ‘Policy Lead’ and in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders).
• Making logistics and protocol arrangements for visits
• Communication of draft and final visit programmes, including keeping Senior Responsible Officers informed of visit arrangements
• Producing draft visit programmes and circulating these and subsequent updates
• Working with other Embassy teams to make visit arrangements, particularly Security, Government Relations Officers, and Transport teams
• Assisting with drafting ofNote Verbalesand ensuring that all necessary forms and security clearance details are submitted for a visiting party and accompanying Embassy staff
• Arranging meetings and events, including but not limited to issuing invitations and agendas, managing RSVPs, booking rooms, etc.
• Maintaining a central record of all visit programmes, briefing packs, and records to inform future visits
• Provide administrative support to the wider team as required

Provide administrative support to ensure the smooth functioning of Chancery (40%)

• Manage and submit Note Verbales and formal Embassy team communications for meetings, invitations and letter deliveries.
• Working with Embassy teams to assist in the delivery of Embassy events.
• Provide logistical support for external meetings.
• Administrative support for the section (including diary management).
• Responsible for drafting the Chancery ‘week ahead’ newsletter.
• Lead on departmental inductions for all new Chancery staff including introductory calls.
• Responsible for management of the sections information management filing system and databases.
• Maintain and update contacts list and CV’s for the section.

Provide wider admin support for special projects and priority Embassy work times administrative support to the Chancery team (including the GSF Project Manager 20%)

• Admin support to the for the Gulf Strategy Fund (GSF) Project Manager
• Admin Support for the Kings Birthday Party
• Participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any response to a crisis.

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 Embassy’s emergency planning and any other response to a crisis affecting UK citizens.

The FCDO is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We do not discriminate on anybasis, including categoriesprotected by law. In keeping with the FCDO’s commitment to disability inclusion in the workplace, hiring managers must incorporate the principles set out in the FCDO in the CBS recruitment process. Our CBS are recruited by Missions in-country in line with local employment laws.

Key behaviours required :

• Working Togethe r - 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 -Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.
• Delivering at Pace -Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
• Making Effective Decisions - Using evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully considering alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.
• Communicating and Influencing : Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity, and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses, and opinions of others.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Minimum two (2) years’ experience in administration support.
• High-level organisational and coordination skills, including the ability to prioritise, meet deadlines, and proactively identify and resolve potential problems.
• Demonstrates advanced ability to communicate fluently and effectively in English, both orally and in writing.
• Excellent interpersonal skills. Able to maintain a range of contacts to build effective working relationships and work closely with senior staff and their contacts.
• Excellent customer care skills and the ability to respond to a range of customer needs, including at senior levels.
• 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 team player with the ability to work flexibly both in a small team and individually with autonomy.
• Excellent customer service skills. Demonstrates courtesy and consideration in dealing with telephone callers and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrate advanced ability to communicate fluently, effectively, and persuasively in English, both orally and in writing.
• Very good level of IT skills and literacy in Microsoft Office applications (MS Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).

Desirable qualifications,skills and experience

• Previous relevant experience either in an embassy / foreign diplomatic mission or an international organisation, and / or in the delivery of Corporate Services.
• Experience working with Government Officials, Ministries and Institutions.
• Experience of visit and / or event organisation.

Required behaviours Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Working Together Application deadline 20 July 2025 Grade Administrative Officer (AO) Type of Position Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal Working hours per week 40 Region Middle East & North Africa Country / Territory United Arab Emirates Location (City) Abu Dhabi Type of Post British Embassy Number of vacancies 1 Salary Currency AED Salary 12,952 Type of Salary monthly Start Date 1 September 2025 Other benefits and conditions of employment

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).

The salary for this role is AED 12,952 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.

This role is for a full-time employment, on a fixed term contract basis for one (1) year, subject to six (6) months’ probationary period.The contract may be extended, subject to satisfactory performance and on on-going business requirement.

The Embassy is open from Monday to Friday from 0700 to 1800 hrs. The Employee’s normal weekly working hours are forty (40) Monday to Friday (inclusive). This is inclusive of one-hour paid rest break for each five (5) hours worked; the timing of the rest break shall be approved by the Employee’s Line Manager and in accordance with operational requirements.

The jobholder should be flexible in their approach to hours worked as these will be dictated by operational needs and may involve working out of hours (evening and / or weekend), especially during events and visits. Flexible working arrangements may be considered based on operational requirements and agreement with the line manager, and in line with FCDO and Embassy policies.

The jobholder will be based in Abu Dhabi and will be expected to be present on site.

The Embassy has an active Learning and Development Committee, and the whole of Post is committed to providing the time and resources for staff to develop personally and professionally. The 70 / 20 / 10 learning and development model is applied in a flexible manner, with extensive informal and formal opportunities readily available.

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