Honorary Consul

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Honorary Consuls are volunteers who help British embassies, high commissions, and consulates to provide a more accessible and responsive service to British and other nationals for whom we have consular responsibility abroad. They provide information and assistance primarily to British nationals who get into difficulties overseas.

In Peru, the British Embassy currently has four Honorary Consuls, based in Arequipa, Cusco, Iquitos, and Trujillo. We are looking to appoint a replacement Honorary Consul for Cusco.

**Assistance Work -** providing consular assistance to British & other entitled nationals within current guidelines and under the direction of the consular team at the British Embassy Lima. This could include visiting British nationals in hospital, or in detention, and providing support to family members following bereavement (if they are in or travel to Peru), as well as liaising with local funeral directors. At times, assist the consular team on a child safeguarding or abduction/custody matters, and providing advice and assistance following a rape or sexual assault. All assistance will be agreed with and led by the Consular team in Lima. Keeping the Vice Consul and Consular Officers informed of developments in local cases in the area. In exceptional circumstances help facilitate Emergency Travel Documents for British nationals only when this has been agreed in advance with the Consular team in Lima. Participating in call out arrangements for emergency cases out of hours when our Global Response Centre in London requests local support from the Consular team in Peru (although this is rare).

**Crisis Response** - respond immediately, as directed by the British Embassy Lima, to a crisis involving British nationals (e.g. road/rail/boat/airline accident, serious fire, natural disaster) and at any other time. Liaise with the local authorities in the event of such an emergency. Establish the scale of the situation and report back promptly to the British Embassy. If appropriate, and only if directed to do so, assist consular colleagues to support affected British nationals.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience
- Professional person of good standing in the local community in Cusco.
- Good local knowledge and ability to build excellent relationship with the local authorities, emergency services and other partners in Cusco.
- Excellent communication skills, both oral and written (English). Effective oral Spanish.
- Good organisational skills and the ability to work efficiently and accurately under pressure.
- Genuine interest and ability to assist people.
- Ability to handle personal issues/information and deal with staff and clients in a friendly and sensitive manner.
- High degree of personal resilience and empathy.
- Ability to support the British Embassy in its crisis response - acting as the first point of contact for British nationals in Cusco during the critical first hours of an incident or crisis.

**Language requirements**:
Language: Spanish and English

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience
- Good knowledge of multi-cultural Britain, its language, and geography.
- Proficiency in MS Office.
- Preferably a British national (formal resident in Peru), but not mandatory Preferably a British national (formal resident in Peru), but not mandatory.
- Required behaviours- Communicating and Influencing Application deadline
- 7 July 2024

Type of Position
- Part-Time, Flexible working, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal

Working hours per week
- 4 hours a week

Region
- Latin America and Spanish speaking Caribbean

Country/Territory
- Peru

Location (City)
- Lima

Type of Post
- British Embassy

Number of vacancies
- 1

Salary Currency
- GBP

Salary
- Honorarium of £2,300 at the end of financial year

Start Date
- 1 September 2024

Other benefits and conditions of employment

**This role will be based at the British Consulate in Cusco.**

Additional information

**To Apply**:

- Complete the Online Application Form
- Complete the Experience, Professional Skills and attach CV and Personal Statement in the Online Application Form.

The British Embassy in Lima is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.

The FCDO operates an agile workforce. To facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require.