Main purpose of job:

The British Defence Staff in the United States has an exciting opportunity for a dynamic person to join the United States Support Group Accommodation Team as an Accommodation Support Officer. This opportunity is a rewarding role which supports and further develops the special relationship between the UK and the US. The Accommodation Team delivers accommodation support across the USA for UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) civilian and military personnel (ca 900+ people posted across the USA). You will work with clients arriving in the US, assisting them to find and furnish accommodation, deal with lease issues, and coordinate property vacation procedures.

The US Network offers a unique career enhancing opportunity and is committed to supporting its staff through a variety of benefits including generous leave and insurance packages. It also promotes a culture of flexibility which enables people to better maintain wellness through an excellent work/life balance approach that encompasses hybrid working, including working from home and flexible hours, where possible. In this role you would be working in a diverse international environment to support UK armed forces personnel and their civilian counterparts across the United States. This is made up of over 900 staff with a rich and diverse background, skill sets, and experiences.

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 are looking for a highly motivated individual who has a real passion for service delivery. Accommodation Support Officers should be able to operate comfortably in a high paced environment, have good communications skills and be able to think innovatively and creatively in their approach to problem solving. Whilst experience in an associated sector would be advantageous, it is not essential; applications from candidates with broader experience are also welcomed. A positive attitude and strong work ethic will be paramount.

The role is part of a flexible resource model where all team members are expected to work across team outputs (accommodation, furniture, logistics and administration), but may also have a specialist focus on a day-to-day basis depending on business requirements (e.g. finance, warehousing).

Roles and responsibilities:

• Support the delivery of MOD accommodation services for the approximately 900 personnel posted across the US.
• Act as the initial customer contact point for all accommodation and furniture linked enquiries ensuring the timely resolution of requests.
• Sourcing leased properties primarily in the Washington, DC Metro area, and support customers in self-sourcing properties in the wider US.
• Allocate furniture to customers within the specified locations, ensuring timely delivery upon arrival and successful pick-up upon departure of personnel.
• Support personnel across the MOD diaspora operating under the self-sourcing framework by providing policy and sourcing advice including lease approvals.
• Establish and assist with all essential utilities accounts for the Washington, DC Metro area.
• Liaise with Finance Teams to arrange payments of for any accommodation related expenses, ensuring payments are done with in specified time frame.
• Conduct Move-Ins and Move-Outs within the DC Metro area-based personnel supporting the Housing Manager with resolution of any landlord disputes. Manage the process for the return of security deposits.
• Arrange temporary accommodation for entitled incoming personnel ensuring a cost effective solution.
• Assist the BDSUS Accommodation Manager with the upkeep and management of all records and management information.
• Support wider Accommodation Team and Support Group outputs as required.

Essential on arrival:

• Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment with excellent organisational skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Strong commitment to customer service.
• Strong proficiency in MS Office Suite, including Access database, MS Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Must have a current driver’s license.

Language requirements:

Language: English

Level of language required: Fluent

Desirable:

• Previous MS Teams experience.

Learning and development opportunities:

The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communicating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).

The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance. Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount. Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.

Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.

The British Embassy is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and to creating a diverse working environment, free from discrimination, where everyone is included and treated fairly, based on merit alone. We are an equal opportunity employer, making all employment decisions without regard to race, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other criterion protected by law.

Working patterns:

Requires standard working pattern of 40 hours/week, but is able to accommodate a varied working pattern. This role is a full time position and does require set working hours each day.

The British Embassy and its US Network embraces hybrid working, allowing its staff to typically work from home 2 or 3 times a week. We are an organization that also recognises the critical value of team work and we embrace and endorse collaboration by ensuring that all staff attend the office flexibly yet regularly.