View Vacancy – Head of Visits – British Embassy Washington

Main purpose of job:

The British Embassy in Washington D.C. seeks an experienced protocol officer to join its Visits and Events Team as Head of Visits Team. The successful candidate will have overall responsibility for the organisation of visits to Washington and the wider US by British government Ministers, Parliamentary Committees, former Prime Ministers, Members of the Royal Family, and senior officials. The job involves unique exposure to UK and US Government leaders and procedures.

The US Network offers a unique career enhancing opportunity and is committed to supporting its staff through a variety of benefits including generous leave, insurance packages and a highly competitive 401k programme. In this role you will work in a diverse international environment alongside UK diplomats, armed forces personnel and other country-based staff operating across the British Government’s network of Consulates and Government Offices in the United States. This network provides a platform for approximately 30 Government departments and agencies to conduct their work in the United States and is made up of over 900 staff with a rich and diverse background, skill sets, and experiences. 

The ideal candidate will be a self-starter with exceptional organisational skills and the ability to get the most out of their small team, while maintaining high motivation and morale. They need to be aa good horizon scanner and someone who can develop relationships with key delivery nodes (White House, State, CBP etc). Knowledge and experience of US (and/or UK) protocol is desirable.  

Roles and responsibilities:

Direct planning, delivery, and follow up of some visits and oversight of all others, including:

• Securing and arranging calls on senior members of the US Administration, Congress, and other organisations, negotiating suitable timings and subject areas, conducting advance visits, agreeing security arrangements and clearances.
• Liaising with UK Government Departments on visit planning and logistics.
• Preparing accurate printed programmes for visitor arrivals.
• Meeting and escorting some visiting parties and advance teams.
• Arranging security and weapons clearance for visiting Protection Officers, and working with Diplomatic Security to host protection teams, and co-ordinate advance site visits, motorcade and Secret Service/DS protection cover.
• Working with the Embassy transport section, limousine companies, and individual drivers to produce a cost-effective transport plan; and with local hotel contacts to secure satisfactory and cost-effective accommodation.
• Organising port and overflight clearance for visiting VIPs. Arranging VIP airport and airline facilities, working with airlines and immigration officials to ensure smooth arrivals and departures.
• Co-ordinating office facilities at the Ambassador’s residence or hotel for delegations.

Managing the Visits Team to produce a high level of service of visits organisation to Embassy Groups and Whitehall Departments, and to encourage the professional development of the two visits officers, including:

• Ensuring access to a wide range of US government interlocutors to enable Embassy officers to achieve the Embassy’s strategic goals.
• Training and coaching Visits Officers to take lead responsibility for some visits.
• Regular performance discussions and thorough use of the Embassy appraisal system.
• Co-ordination of leave and overtime arrangements to ensure full and consistent service.
• Working with UK agencies and Embassy Groups to manage the flow of visits, highlight scheduling or political problems, act as an early warning system for difficulties, and de-conflict where necessary. Ensuring regular circulation of forward visits list.
• Spotting and resolving emerging problems with the visits systems, including accounting changes, US security co-operation, UK co-ordination of visitor flows.
• Maintaining contacts with key interlocutors in the White House, State Protocol, Principals’ offices, and in the Diplomatic Security Service.
• Overseeing invoices and payments related to visits and ensuring prompt and efficient service to visitors, and prompt repayments by UK Departments.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

• Direct management of two country-based Visits Officers.

• Minimum of 6 years of related work experience.
• Visits coordination experience essential, in government or in other environments.
• Undergraduate degree.
• Exceptionally strong organisational skills, reliability, team spirit, resilience, self-starting nature.
• Valid driving licence and (preferably) their own vehicle.
• High standard of written and oral communication.
• Good interpersonal and senior stakeholder management skills.
• Management experience highly desirable.
• Good working knowledge in all MS Office applications, specifically Word and Outlook.
• Applicants need to have the flexibility to work outside of office hours, including weekends and holidays, as needed.
• Must have legal status to live and work in the US in your own right, from time of application.

Under US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US has restrictions on the type of visas our non-diplomatic staff may hold.  If you are not a US Citizen or a US Permanent Resident, or the dependent of a diplomat (with an EAD card), you may not be eligible for employment with the UK government. We cannot accept student Visas (J1, F or M) nor other forms of work Visas (I, H, P).  If you hold a work visa it is best to check on your eligibility to work for a foreign government before applying for a position. The UK Government does not routinely sponsor work visas; the job advertisement will state clearly whether sponsorship is available. 

 You may refer to our website for additional information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-the-usa. All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work.