The British Government’s Embassy in Washington, DC has an exciting opportunity for a versatile person to join the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Accommodation Team as Housing Desk Officer. This is a great opportunity to contribute to the life of one of the biggest and busiest missions in the UK diplomatic network. The team supports UK-based (diplomatic) staff and their families to find safe and secure accommodation that enables them to move to the US and join the Embassy community as smoothly as possible. This role is busy and demanding but also rewarding.

We are looking for a highly motivated individual who has a real passion for service delivery. The successful candidate will be energetic and enthusiastic, and will be able to confidently work autonomously and be resilient. They will be approachable and have strong communication skills. They will need to quickly familiarise themselves with the Embassy’s working practices and policies, but also be able to find creative and pragmatic solutions to challenges. They will need to be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment while maintaining good attention to detail and strong written and oral communication skills. Experience in the property sector is welcome, but not essential.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Support the delivery of all Embassy accommodation services for the approximately 100 personnel posted to Washington DC, United States, alongside two other housing officers and the housing manager.
• Act as the initial customer contact point for all accommodation and furniture-linked enquiries ensuring the timely resolution of requests with accurate information and with an empathetic approach.
• Work with our realtor to source properties to lease in the Washington, DC Metro area, ensuring they meet policy requirements and are safe and secure.
• Allocate furniture to customers within the specified locations, ensuring timely delivery upon arrival and successful pick-up upon departure of personnel.
• Maintain an up-to-date inventory of all British Embassy furniture stock within outlined databases. Support the Housing Manager in the minimisation of stock holdings and management of supply risk.
• Establish and manage utility accounts for Embassy residential properties.
• Liaise with Finance Team to arrange timely payments of rental payments for accommodation.
• Maintain up-to-date records on financial systems and ensure data accuracy and compliance with Embassy and FCDO policies.
• Conduct March-Ins and March-Outs with officers, supporting with resolution of any landlord disputes, and managing the process for the return of security deposits.
• Arrange temporary accommodation for entitled incoming personnel ensuring a cost effect solution.
• Assist the Accommodation Support Officer with the upkeep and management of all records and management information.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure): N/A

• Organization
• Excellent communication
• Positive attitude
• Comfortable working in teams
• Experience with Microsoft Office

Language requirements:

Language: English
Level of language required: Fluent

Under US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Permanent Residents or A visa holders with EAD cards*. If you hold a visa other than an A visa you are not currently eligible to work at our office. Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/government/world/usa. All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work.

• A visas are acceptable at the Embassy and Consulates. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas, and British Defense Staff (BDS) outposts accept A or NATO visas.

• Experience with Microsoft Teams

The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance.

The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communciating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).

Working Patterns:

Requires standard working pattern of 40 hours/week, but isable to accommodate a varied working pattern.

This role is a full time position and does require set working hours each day.

The British Embassy and its US Network embraces hybrid working, allowing its staff to typically work from home 1-2 times a week (dependent on business requirements). We are an organization that also recognises the critical value of team work and we embrace and endorse collaboration by ensuring that all staff attend the office flexibly yet regularly.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6-12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.

Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.

Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.

The British Embassy is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and to creating a diverse working environment, free from discrimination, where everyone is included and treated fairly, based on merit alone. We are an equal opportunity employer, making all employment decisions without regard to race, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other criterion protected by law.