Srr - Deputy Head of Corporate Services (Heo)

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

The British Embassy Riyadh has a vacancy for a Deputy Head of Corporate for a fixed-term contract of two (2) years.

The main purpose of the job is to provide strategic direction to Corporate Services, leading an efficient, cost effective, and professional team to deliver all services to the KSA Network and to Partners Across Government (PAGs) on the KSA platform.

As a leader in corporate delivery, the jobholder will require excellent management, interpersonal and communication skills, tact, discretion, and an ability to deliver consistently across a broad range of responsibilities. The jobholder will be required to show an understanding for and sensitivity in handling Embassy and host government requirements.

In particular, we are looking for a skilled manager able to bring the best out of their staff and able to organise the work and team to ensure delivery whilst adhering to Embassy protocol and standards.

**Duties and responsibilities**:

- Strategic planning and leadership
- Design, develop independently, and implement Corporate Services with agreement from Senior Management to delivery strategy; disseminating key messages, improve stakeholder networks; engage Senior Managers and One HMG Partners and lead effective corporate communications campaigns.
- Lead engagement with Partners Across Government (PAGs) to deliver specific corporate policies.
- Provide advice to Senior Management and PAGs on complex corporate issues.
- Actively build and deepen relationships with key stakeholders internally, within Regional and Global Hubs, and with external partners (at other diplomatic missions, government departments, and suppliers) to remain informed and maintain corporate knowledge.
- Review and refine business cases drafted by the team to support Network priorities and to lead on securing financial approval.
- Engage, analyse, and report on developments in Corporate Services policy, highlighting opportunities to the Head of Corporate Services (HCS) and Senior Management Team (SMT).
- Inform and steer Corporate Services communications across the Network. Lead and deliver Corporate Services communication strategy.
- Research and draft local policies to ensure they are aligned to global and local requirements and adopted by all PAGs on platform.
- Lead and monitor the delivery of services against the local Corporate Services Charter.
- Delivery
- Deliver Corporate Services Strategy across the Network; specifically those related to policy, finance, improvement plans, reviews of terms and conditions of service (TACOS), compliance reviews, and customer service.
- Oversee corporate delivery across Finance, HR, and Protocol, working closely with the Regional HR, Finance, and Procurement Hubs and the Global Transaction Processing Centre (GTPC). Ensure full use of self-service access to Corporate Services and regionalised services.
- Direct and lead the management of the Estate, ensuring that UK and local standards are met through planned and re-active maintenance and in compliance with corporate procedures, including local and UK health and safety regulations and policy.
- Act as the ‘intelligent client,’ identifying requirements, appropriate service level agreements (SLAs), and key performance indicators (KPIs) to manage and monitor supplier contracts.
- Oversee the local delegated budget in accordance with corporate policies to ensure on-budget expenditure and value for money.
- Instil a continuous improvement mentality within the team, leading on corporate projects and the change management required to deliver them.
- First direct liaison for staff associations and committees.
- Lead and manage CS reports to deliver quality customer service to internal stakeholders.
- Submit policies/ processes within working practises and regulations with freedom to exercise discretion, with reviews to be incorporated into the long-term strategy and the work will be reviewed by the HCS and SMT.
- Finance and compliance
- Monitor ACCA compliance risks and contribute regular reporting to the HCS and SMT.
- Oversee compliance to ACCA requirements to ensure Network compliance.
- Report to HCS, SMT, and a range of governance boards across the Network to improve CS activity.
- Lead on opportunities for savings across the Network, submitting recommendations and proposals to the HCS.
- Oversee and develop a strategy for internal audit requirements and compliance to Data Protection Requests.
- People
- Lead on the overall employer proposition, including terms and conditions of service (TACOS) and pay and benefits for County Based Staff (CBS), adhering to compliance in line with local labour law.
- Provide guidance, and act as an escalation point on sensitive staff matters for diplomatic and CBS, including management issues and dispute resolution, engaging with specialist HR functions where necessary.
- Champion and embed a collaborative and inclusive culture.
- Lead on complex Government