Deputy Head of Corporate Services HEO at the British High Commission (BHC) Nigeria

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.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Deputy Head of Corporate Services HEO 

Job ID: 21/22 LOS
Location: Lagos
Type of Position: Permanent
Start Date: 1 September 2022
Grade: Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Type of Post: British Deputy High Commission
Job Subcategory: Corporate Services Support
Job Category: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Operations and Corporate Services)

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)  

• The British Deputy High Commission (BDHC), Lagos, employs over 150 staff, and is the centre of our trade, private sector development, and law enforcement cooperation with Nigeria.  We also act as a regional hub for a number of projects and services across West Africa. BDHC Lagos is part of the UK’s wider diplomatic network in Nigeria and operates in partnership with the British High Commission, Abuja.
• Our Corporate Services team is the core of BDHC and responsible for the entire operational platform including Estates management, Transport, IT, Finance, Human Resources (HR) and Protocol.
• Working closely with the Head of Corporate Services (HCS), the Deputy Head will provide effective Corporate Services to the BDHC, ensuring excellent service delivery, value for money and robust compliance.  You will be expected to deliver results both individually and through leadership of the large (70+)  Corporate Services section.
• Alongside your specific portfolios, you will support the HCS in giving the team strategic leadership and in developing staff. You will also deputise for the HCS when required.

Roles and Responsibilities

What will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:
Corporate Services- General:

• Supporting the HCS in the day-to-day running of the BDHC platform. Delivering high-quality services in all Corporate Services functions.
• Responsibility for specific portfolios within the platform and all related activities.
• Ensuring excellent customer service, value for money and compliance with policies/ procedures and audit requirements.
• Setting clear performance standards and monitoring performance against Key Performance Indicators across the platform. 
• Contributing to strategic planning for the platform, working with the HCS and the Nigeria Network CS Management team.
• Building and maintaining a constructive interface between Corporate Services, other sections in FCDO and external service providers.
• Long-term planning to ensure the consistent provision of Corporate Services during periods of high demand.  This will include financial and team planning. 
• Crisis preparedness: You will play a key role in ensuring that the BDHC is fully prepared for any crisis, coordinating preparedness across the Corporate Services team and supporting crisis logistics specifically.
• Leadership and management of projects and change management where required.
• Deputising for the HCS as required and undertaking the HCS role during periods of absence.

Financial Management:

• Responsible for leading on all finance related process including; management of Post’s operational budget, forecasting, reconciliation and all other finance related processes. Working proactively with budget holders and the Head of Procurement to ensure accurate, timely and evidence based forecasts are produced. 
• Maintaining a clear overview of financial and compliance performance at post, proactively ensuring compliance with all financial risk management and audit requirements, escalating any identified risks with identified areas for improvement.
• Leading on providing financial reports to HCS, SLT and Network Finance Manager, presenting information in a clear and accessible way to inform strategic decisions.
• Improving post capability on finance and risk management by sharing guidance, tools and training opportunities.
• Working with Nigeria Network Finance Manager to provide advice, direction and assurance on all finance issues within the category portfolio.

IT:

• Oversight and management of all IT related activities at post, including leading on IT change management activities, all major IT service incidents and IT security at post.
• Leading the IT support team to assess, diagnose and troubleshoot user and system issues. Monitoring tickets and managing through to resolution, working closely with key stakeholders and service providers, to ensure issues are resolved according to SLA’s.
• Managing IT suppliers to ensure efficient and secure service delivery, according to FCDO standards.
• Ensuring all service and support functions remain responsive to customer needs.
• Managing and communicating all technical change with appropriate governance.
• Putting in place a programme of continual service improvement across the wider service delivery function

Transport:

• Responsible for managing the Transport section by ensuring the Transport Manager provides an efficient and effective transport service.
• Working closely with the Security team and all other key stakeholders to ensure safe delivery of Transport services.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

• Line management- Transport Manager (EO), 3 x ITSO officers (AO), 1 x Post Accountant (AO), 1x Fuel Officer(AO): ensuring regular feedback on their performance and conducting annual appraisals on time. Assist staff with their training and with learning and developing.
• Counter signing of up to four other AO staff.
• Oversight of 25 drivers in the Transport team.
• Oversight and management of post admin budget circa £2.3 million.

Desirable Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Degree in Computer Science; with professional Information Systems qualifications, Microsoft would be preferable
• ACCA/ICAN/CIMA diploma
• Experience of managing IT Service Desk processes
• Experience in user desktop support, in particular Microsoft Exchange, Office 365 and MS Teams
• Knowledge of NTEs, VPNs and global communication methods.
• Good working knowledge of networking and PC infrastructure

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience  

• Minimum of 3 years experience in Corporate Services management or a similar environment.
• Minimum of 2 years relevant professional experience in IT support services and IT Management.
• Excellent communication skills – written, oral, one-to-one, group, formal presentations – ability to vary style, pace and presentation to suit the audience.
• Budget management skills/experience.
• Able to adapt to a quick changing and evolving business environment; working proactively and autonomously.
• Ability to prioritise and deliver high quality results on multiple areas of work with tight deadlines.

Required behaviours:

• Changing and Improving, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace.

Salary  
NGN 1,009,419 / Month

Other Benefits and Conditions Of Employment:

• Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):
• The British Deputy High Commission Lagos encourages a learning and development culture.
• Training for all aspects of the role will be available and wide varieties of personal development opportunities are available to all BDHC staff.

Application Closing Date  
11th July, 2022.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Additional Information  

• Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
• The British Deputy High Commission in Lagos is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.
• Employees recruited locally by the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Nigeria.
• Spouses/registered partners of UK Based Staff are able to work within the BDHC but their salary will be abated at the appropriate tax rates.
• All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit.
• The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to Obtain the relevant permit; Pay fees for the permit; Make arrangements to relocate; Meet the costs to relocation
• The British Deputy High Commission does not sponsor visas/work permits except where it may be local practice to do so.
• Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.
• Information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Competency Framework can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework Please note: AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
• Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted 
• The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position