Rarely a dull moment is one way to describe the work of an Executive Assistant who supports the work of the Diplomatic Service.

Our Executive Assistants in the Diplomatic Service (grade A2) usually spend the first two years on the job working in London which is followed by an overseas posting. An average day can range from helping to coordinate the smooth running of an Embassy and general clerical duties to organising a schedule for a Ministerial or Royal visit.

A day in the life…

Tricia Carlin - Generalist

I joined the FCO in February 2003 spending my first 18 months in Human Resources Directorate. My work in HR covered assisting with diversity initiatives and attending careers events to promote job opportunities in the FCO. Early on I realised that, for me, the best aspect of working with the FCO is the possibility of moving into new and perhaps completely different areas of work every couple of years. Since I enjoy facing fresh challenges this is a fantastic prospect. Admittedly, working in London was tough financially but the move overseas has lifted the burden.

I am now eight months into my three-year posting in Istanbul and love it! The bulk of my job is managing the Registry (the Consulate's central filing system) and being the administrator for our IT and communication systems. There are a few more interesting elements to my job, including the running of language immersion training for staff preparing to work in Turkey and even heading a staff committee looking into earthquake preparedness! To make any posting work, I think you need to be an outgoing person and take the initiative to shape your own experience.

Istanbul is a vibrant city and a fantastic place to live and work. It's also a great jumping off point for destinations in Europe and Asia, so I plan to make the most of my travel package. The people I work with are great and I've heard some amazing stories of their experiences while working with the FCO overseas. Probably the biggest challenge I have faced in Turkey has been the language barrier, but this is something I can tackle as the FCO offers up to 250 hours of language training. I have an excellent tutor here and should get much more out of my posting in just a few months time.

At the back of my mind I'm beginning to think about the next move in my career. Either taking another overseas posting or sitting the assessment for the next grade up and returning to London. But there's plenty of time to decide as I am really enjoying my job!

Salary

The starting salary for Administrative Assistants is £19,914 (inclusive of a £3,000 London Location Allowance – payable only when working in London).

What skills do I need?

• To be literate and numerate.  Most Executive Assistant jobs involve drafting letters and handling accounts.
• Commitment, flexibility and the ability to adapt to a wide range of challenges.
• Able to work as part of a team
• Able to assess and prioritise your workload. Your job is likely to combine a number of different roles where you are expected to judge conflicting priorities, often under pressure.
• Willing to take on challenges in difficult circumstances but also able to cope with the routine work such as filing papers, retrieving files or sorting through visa applications. Patience, concentration and accuracy are also important skills for the job.

We are particularly interested to hear from applicants with PA and secretarial skills and experience.

Education and official requirements

Applicants must meet our nationality and residency requirements.