View Vacancy – Honorary Consul – Cusco (Voluntary Position)

Honorary Consuls are volunteers who help British embassies, high commissions, and consulates to provide a more accessible and responsive service to British and other nationals for whom we have consular responsibility abroad. They provide information and assistance primarily to British nationals who get into difficulties overseas.

In Peru, the British Embassy currently has four Honorary Consuls, based in Arequipa, Cusco, Iquitos, and Trujillo. We are looking to appoint a replacement Honorary Consul for Cusco.

 As part of the British Embassy Lima team and the wider Americas Consular Network, you will help us deliver modern and efficient consular services to British nationals in the region of Cusco. You will also maintain good local contacts in this area, acting as a liaison between the local community and the Embassy, and advise the British Embassy of issues or concerns affecting the British nationals in the region of Cusco. The successful candidate will be required to do the following: 

Assistance Work – providing consular assistance to British & other entitled nationals within current guidelines and under the direction of the consular team at the British Embassy Lima. This could include visiting British nationals in hospital, or in detention, and providing support to family members following bereavement (if they are in or travel to Peru), as well as liaising with local funeral directors. At times, assist the consular team on a child safeguarding or abduction/custody matters, and providing advice and assistance following a rape or sexual assault. All assistance will be agreed with and led by the Consular team in Lima. Keeping the Vice Consul and Consular Officers informed of developments in local cases in the area. In exceptional circumstances help facilitate Emergency Travel Documents for British nationals only when this has been agreed in advance with the Consular team in Lima.  Participating in call out arrangements for emergency cases out of hours when our Global Response Centre in London requests local support from the Consular team in Peru (although this is rare).

Crisis Response – respond immediately, as directed by the British Embassy Lima, to a crisis involving British nationals (e.g. road/rail/boat/airline accident, serious fire, natural disaster) and at any other time. Liaise with the local authorities in the event of such an emergency. Establish the scale of the situation and report back promptly to the British Embassy. If appropriate, and only if directed to do so, assist consular colleagues to support affected British nationals.

Outreach – in conjunction with the Consular team assist with the delivery of the outreach programme in Cusco and the surrounding region. To advise and inform on our wider consular priorities and issues affecting British nationals in Peru. Outreach programme to focus on assistance, travel safety, emergency response, crisis (civil protection) and British nationals/British Community (general local procedures, social groups, tour operators etc). Maintaining and updating the contacts and identifying new contacts and stakeholders, including among law enforcement authorities. On occasion, you may be required to represent the British Embassy Lima at key events in Cusco, subject to the agreement of the Deputy Head of Mission/Vice Consul.

• Professional person of good standing in the local community in Cusco.
• Good local knowledge and ability to build excellent relationship with the local authorities, emergency services and other partners in Cusco.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written (English). Effective oral Spanish.
• Good organisational skills and the ability to work efficiently and accurately under pressure.
• Genuine interest and ability to assist people.
• Ability to handle personal issues/information and deal with staff and clients in a friendly and sensitive manner.
• High degree of personal resilience and empathy.
• Ability to support the British Embassy in its crisis response – acting as the first point of contact for British nationals in Cusco during the critical first hours of an incident or crisis.

Language requirements: 

Language: Spanish and English