HR Manager - Corporate Services FCO

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Brussels, Belgium

A full time position as a Human Resources Manager in the Corporate Services Benelux office has become available.

Background

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s diplomatic missions in Benelux are part of a world-wide network of 230 Posts, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. The Benelux Corporate Services (CSB) delivers corporate services to the British Embassy, the UK delegation to NATO and the UK Representation to the EU as well as to our embassies in The Hague and Luxembourg.

We are looking for a specialised HR Corporate Services Manager to join our busy and dynamic Corporate Services Team at a time of rapid change. The successful candidate will report directly to the Director of Corporate Services, and will lead an enthusiastic and highly motivated team to deliver professional HR services to over 350 staff.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Human Resources:

• Lead and manage the CSB Human Resources team (5 staff);
• Oversee terms and conditions of service for locally-employed staff and ensure compliance with local labour law. Build and maintain relations with Local Staff Association;
• Provide expertise on recruitment, compensation, and performance pay processes as needed; review and authorise local employment offers. Handle employment termination;
• Provide guidance on sensitive staff matters for both diplomatic and locally employed staff, including management issues, dispute resolution and Protocol. Liaison with legal advisers as necessary;
• Ensure locally-employed staff pay scales and performance related pay increases are reviewed regularly and fairly. Ensure expenditure on pay remains within budget allocation;
• Drive improvements to our Human Resources policies and processes for the Benelux Network;
• Oversee Brussels Missions’ local training, coordinating with FCO’s Regional Training Centre.

Other Duties:

• Form part of the CSB leadership team, building and maintaining CSB’s stakeholder relations, including with senior staff in the Benelux missions and in FCO’s London offices;
• Lead and deliver on cross-cutting projects as required taking forward good management and development of CSB’s work;
• Assist the Director of Corporate Services with any HR corporate communications to Benelux staff, including updating Brussels Post Report and fact sheets;
• Participate in and provide input into internal Boards and committees focused on corporate policy development and wider organizational issues, both with local colleagues and counterparts in London.

Skills Required:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with a strong customer focus;
• Ability to work with contacts and colleagues at all levels, including the ability to bring different groups of stakeholders on board;
• Demonstrated ability to manage and motivate staff;
• Strong organizational, analytical, project and time management skills, combining good attention to detail with an ability to see the overview;
• Decisive, resilient under pressure and flexible with a proven track record of delivering results to a high standard within tight deadlines;
• Ability to travel within the Benelux region and to the UK as needed;
• Willingness to work additional hours as necessary (time off in lieu is given).

Essential Qualifications:

• A college/university level degree in Human Resources Management or related business discipline, or equivalent experience. In depth knowledge of Belgian labour law is an advantage;
• At least 5 years experience of managing staff;
• Completely fluent English, oral and written. Fluency in Dutch and/or French strongly preferred;
• Strong IT skills - complete familiarity with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook;
• Experience in/awareness of working in a diplomatic mission or similar environment.

This position will be filled on a fixed term contract.

Gross monthly salary: €3377.32

Applications with a full CV and cover letter in English should be sent to the Recruitment Officer, CSB British Embassy, Avenue d’Auderghem 10 B-1040 Brussels or brussels.recruitment@fco.gov.uk by 31 January 2012. Only applicants called for interview will be contacted.

We expect to hold interviews the week commencing 6 February 2012 with a view to the successful applicant commencing employment as soon as possible, ideally March 2012.

Specific training and mentoring for the role will be provided for the successful candidate. This may include training in London and the region. You must have pre-existing work authorisation for Belgium in order to apply.
The British Missions in Brussels are an equal opportunities employer. Applications are welcome from all suitably qualified applicants regardless of age, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or physical disability. We aim to reflect the diversity of society.