Srr - Corporate Services Projects Officer (Ao)

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

The British Embassy Riyadh has a vacancy for a Corporate Services Projects Officer on a fixed-term contract of two (2) years. There is a possibility of extension of the contract depending on performance and operational requirements.

The jobholder will support the Corporate Services Team in Riyadh, providing administrative support to the Head of HR, Finance, Policy and Compliance and lead on value added tax (VAT) returns.

**Duties and responsibilities**:

- Manage the administration of contracts and personnel files held locally. Ensure all contracts and HR records are kept up to date and meet legal and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) criteria.
- Issue all probation letters, employment contracts, and retirement letters in a timely manner, ensuring soft and hard copies are filed centrally.
- Co-ordinate with Accounts Manager/ Regional Pay & Benefits Team to ensure payroll records are accurate and up to date.
- Collate new starters and leaver information and present a brief introduction at the monthly Town Hall meeting.
- Update and maintain the KSA Induction Pack for new starters and manage and further develop the KSA Network-wide employee induction process, a monthly programme held for all new employees.
- Lead on ad-hoc projects for Corporate Services, including Locally Employed Staff Travel Assistance Scheme (LESTAS), Terms and Conditions of Service (Ts&Cs), VAT returns, and any ad-hoc projects.
- Lead on the annual review of flights for eligible Country Based Staff (CBS) under LESTAS, and update policy to reflect any changes required. Lead on the annual LESTAS Committee for agreement on policy changes, flight costs, and raise any queries raised by the committee to the Senior Leadership team for review.
- Lead on the annual VAT returns for the KSA Network (Riyadh & Jeddah), liaising with the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority (ZATCA) and the wider Embassy to ensure all relevant claims are submitted within the deadline and respond to any audit queries raised by ZATCA.
- Review the KSA Network Ts&Cs and identify any anomalies between current Ts&Cs, FCDO guidance, and local labour law. Work closely with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Regional HR Hub and local Honorary Legal Advisor (HLA) to ensure all proposals are in line with law. Present the proposed changes to the Senior Leadership Team for approval. Lead on presenting the proposed changes to the Country Based Staff Association (CBSA) for their review and comment. Once approval has been received, re-write the main Ts&Cs handbook along with all corresponding policies. Review and feed into policy on legal matters, liaise with the MENA Regional HR Hub on KSA labour law, and provide updates to Senior Management Team.
- Lead on automating key systems within Corporate Services to reduce man-hours on routine tasks, e.g., monthly payslips, booking systems, and a central corporate services homepage with useful guidance/ links and a service helpdesk
- Support the L&D Committee to manage the training budget of approximately SAR 150,000.00 per annum.
- Cover additional Corporate Services duties as requested by the Head of HR, Finance, Policy and Compliance and the Deputy Director of Corporate Services.

The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be flexible as specific responsibilities could change in the future, and this would be at the discretion of the Line Manager and Senior Management. The jobholder may also take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy emergency planning and any response to a crisis. The jobholder will also be required to be flexible and support other corporate functions as required.

**Key behaviours required**:

- Communicating and Influencing - Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others.
- Working Together - Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.
- Changing and Improving - Seek out opportunities to create effective change and suggest innovative ideas for improvement. Review ways of working, including seeking and providing feedback.
- Managing a Quality Service - Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.

**Eligibility**:
Essential qualifications, skills and experience
- Familiarity with FCDO or UK government/ public sector processes and policies on financial/ budget management, forecasting, and payments.
- Excellent English Language skills, both written and spoken. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with a strong customer focus. Able to maintain a range of contacts to build effective working relationships and work well with staff and teams wi