Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location East Kilbride You will be required to work from this location in line with FCDO policies on Hybrid Working (minimum 60% in the office). Please note that there are plans to move our East Kilbride office to a central Glasgow location in the future. About the job Job summary The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office pursues our national interests and projects the UKs role in the world. We promote the interests of British citizens, safeguard the UKs security, defend our values, reduce poverty and tackle global challenges with our international partners. We employ more than 17,000 staff in 179 countries and territories, across our diplomatic and development offices worldwide, which consists of 282 officially designated Posts. Our UK-based staff work in King Charles Street, London, Abercrombie House in East Kilbride and in Milton Keynes. We are looking to recruit talented and enthusiastic individuals to join the FCDO in our Human Resource (HR) Services department at AO level. Successful candidates will have good organisational skills, take responsibility for their own work and be committed to high standards of customer service. You will have strong literacy and numeracy skills, experience and confidence in the use of Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, Teams and Word) and Windows 10, although not essential, experience with Power BI or similar would be useful. You should have a passion for service delivery and be keen for a career in operational delivery and/or HR roles. The positions are Home Civil Service roles, initially based in East Kilbride, providing administrative support and corporate services to the FCDO in the UK and overseas. We are not recruiting for a specific position and you will be placed into a role in the HR Services department based on business need. Job description Roles and Responsibilities HR Services Administrative Officers provide professional office administration and support on a variety of customer service functions including payroll, pensions, recruitment, payroll data management and internal and external communications. All roles are customer-oriented. These tasks, essential to the ability of the FCDO to deliver its objectives, form the core of all AO job specifications. The HR Services department will configure the roles to meet specific business needs but they will typically include: Professional Office Administration/Support : Creating and maintaining electronic filing systems; databases and distribution lists; dealing with telephone and email enquiries; organising meetings/events and taking notes in meetings; maintaining stationery supplies; corporate roles such as first aider, for which training will be provided. Knowledge and information Management : maintaining excel spreadsheets, databases, records and desk notes. Customer Services : Providing guidance for staff on HR regulations, dealing with customers professionally and resolving queries within agreed timeframes. Project Management Support : Monitoring progress against objectives; ensuring project remains on schedule; anticipating and managing risks; maintaining accurate records. Working in HR Services Previous new entrants to HR Services have said the following: As a new entrant into HR coming from a different field, I have been supported and encouraged by the team, which has made me grow both professionally and personally. They have provided guidance, shared their knowledge and are always open to answering my questions. I have also been able to expand my knowledge by undertaking a certification. I have learned a lot in a short time and I am excited about the journey ahead. I joined the FCDO as an HR Administrative Officer. I have learned so much about the Onboarding process for both New Entrants and Existing Civil Servants and have now crossed over into Appointments and Interchange which has given me the opportunity to broaden my knowledge and gain valuable experience. The best thing about the role is the level of support you receive within a genuinely friendly team. I joined the FCDO as an HR Administrative Assistant and have learnt so much from my colleagues, who are experts in their areas and always willing to share knowledge, help and support. I enjoy working with candidates as they make their way through the onboarding process until they join the FCDO team I look forward to taking you on that journey Person specification You must be a British Citizen at the time of application and, if invited to interview, you will need to bring proof of identity (British Passport/Driving Licence etc.) with you. As these roles require you to attain Developed Vetting (DV) security clearance, you will need to be at least 18 years of age at the time of your interview. Please note that obtaining DV clearance can take approximately three months depending on your individual circumstances. For more information about this process, click here. Attaining DV will require you to have been resident in the UK for five of the last ten years. At least one year of this must have been a consecutive twelve-month period. Serving overseas with HM Forces, in some other official capacity as a representative of His Majestys Government, or having lived overseas as a result of your parents or partners Government employment counts as UK residency for the purposes of security clearances. It is essential in your application that you provide evidence and proven examples in each of the following Minimum Criteria and Behaviours as far as you are able to do so. These responses will be further developed and discussed with those candidates invited for interview. Minimum Criteria Strong literacy, numeracy and IT skills. Competent using IT packages including Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Teams), Windows 10 and experience of mailbox management. Strong interpersonal, team-working and communication skills (oral and written). Good organisational, analytical and planning skills with the ability to work to tight deadlines. Ability to make effective decisions, identify problems and propose solutions to maintain a quality service. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Delivering at Pace Managing a Quality Service Making Effective Decisions We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form: Delivering at Pace Managing a Quality Service Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: Motivation Question at Interview Benefits Alongside your salary of £28,000, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office contributes £8,111 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. · A Civil Service Pension. · 25 days Annual Leave per annum. · 9 days Public and Privilege holidays per annum. · Learning and Development tailored to your role. See the attached candidate pack. Things you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Ability, Experience and Technical skills. Please see the attached candidate pack for the selection process details. After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Verbal Test and Civil Service Numerical Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application. Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 03/03/2025. If you fail to complete the online test and full application before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website. Reasonable Adjustment If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: Contact Government Recruitment Servic e via fcdorecruitment.grs cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. Complete the Assistance required section in the Additional requirements page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if youre deaf, a Language Service Professional. Further Information A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Any move to FCDO from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band. Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicants details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section. The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences. If there is any evidence of plagiarism, including presenting the ideas and experience of others as your own, your application will be withdrawn. If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out. In order to process applications without delay, we will be sendi ng a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure Scotland on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Infodisclosurescotland.co.uk This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window). See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Nationality requirements Open to UK nationals only. Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). Apply and further information This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window). Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name : FCDO Recruitment Team Email : fcdorecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : fcdorecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk Further information The FCDOs recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should, in the first instance, contact External.Recruitmentfcdo.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the FCDO, you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commissioners. Attachments Hints and Tips on Behaviour Examples Opens in new window (pdf, 85kB) Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V15) 2025-02-06 Opens in new window (pdf, 245kB) Final Candidate Pack - EK -06.01.2025 Opens in new window (pdf, 245kB) Share this page Print Email Gmail Facebook LinkedIn