Corporate Services Manager

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.
The British Embassy in Stockholm is part of a world-wide diplomatic network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. The Embassy is now looking for a new Corporate Services Manager, to provide strategic direction to the British Embassy Stockholm's corporate services. As the driving force for corporate delivery, you will be a core member of the Embassy senior leadership team and management board, helping the Embassy deliver on its corporate and wider objectives.
You will lead and develop a diverse team of corporate service staff, and oversee contractors, to deliver excellent, cost-effective services to partners from across the UK Government on the platform of the British Embassy.

Roles and Responsibilities
Strategic Planning and Leadership 30%
- Provide strategic leadership and planning in support of the embassy's corporate agenda including the country business plan and risk management.
- Act as trusted advisor to the embassy leadership team and partners on the platform, 'horizon scanning' to enable proactive resource and activity planning.
- Manage the Embassy platform (supporting a range of cross Government partners) and support regional teams, influencing at a senior level to maintain and strengthen inclusiveness.
- Actively build and deepen relationships with key stakeholders within the embassy, with wider Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) actors and with external partners (at other diplomatic missions, government departments and suppliers) to maintain informed and current corporate knowledge.
- Ensure local policies are reviewed and aligned to global and local requirements and adopted by all partners on the platform.
- Lead and monitor the delivery of services against the local corporate services charter.

People 25%
- Lead on the overall employer proposition, including terms and conditions of service and pay and benefits for Country Based Staff, ensuring compliance with local labour law.
- Provide guidance and act as an escalation point on sensitive staff matters for diplomatic and Country Based Staff, including management issues and dispute resolution, engaging with specialist HR functions where necessary.
- Lead, develop and effectively performance manage a diverse team of corporate service staff.
- Champion and embed a collaborative and inclusive culture.Delivery 35%
- Oversee all corporate delivery across finance, HR, and protocol working closely with regional HR, finance and procurement hubs and the Global Processing Transaction Centre (GTPC).
- Direct the management of the estate, ensuring that UK and local standards are met through planned and reactive maintenance and in compliance with corporate procedures, including local and UK health and safety regulations and policy.
- Oversee supplier relationships, acting as an 'intelligent client' by identifying requirements, appropriate service level agreements and key performance indicators to manage and monitor 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.
Resilience 10%
- Respond to operational crisis, providing leadership and flexing team prioritisation as required.
- Ensure cross training within corporate services roles to provide resilience within the teams and across the region.
- Work with the Regional Corporate Services lead to plan long term resource and development needs.
- Ensure wellbeing and engagement are maintained within the corporate services team, seeking regular feedback and embedding the values of resilience, respect and positive customer service principles.

Essential Skills
Minimum 3 years of middle management experience working for international organisation, preferably with direct involvement in HR and /or Finance policy and implementation.
- Experience in managing cross functional teams.
- High levels of discretion, with a resilient, flexible and 'can do' attitude.
- Able to challenge and influence senior stakeholders.
- Experience in managing suppliers and outsourced service delivery.
- Level of language required: (C1 level) Strong English written and oral, able to effectively communicate complex analysis of your subjects in English

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience
- Previous experience of local labour law would be an advantage.
- C2) Local language communication skills - able to effectively communicate complex analysis of your subjects in local language.

Required competencies
Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing

This is a full-time, permanent position (40 hours per week). The British Embassy is open to considering flexible working requests, including some remote working. However, due to the nature of the role, it will not be possible to do the job fully remotely.
According to the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, locally employed staff should either be Swedish citizens, EU citizens or permanent residents of any nationality registered in the population register when beginning their employment. Registration in the population register is not possible once employment has begun. For more information, please consult:
https://www.government.se/government-of-sweden/ministry-for-foreign-affairs/diplomatic-portal/diplomatic-guide/8.-employment/8.1-locally-employed-staff/
The successful candidate will be subject to confirmation of a background check and security clearance.