Location:

Chicago, United States
Salary:

$72,657 / YEAR
Job type:

FULL_TIME
Posted:

4 months ago
Category:

Documentation and Information Management
Deadline:

04/09/2025

JOB DESCRIPTION

View Vacancy – Chief of Staff to the British Consul General – Chicago

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

Job Category

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Operations and Corporate Services)

Job Subcategory

Private Office

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Main purpose of role

The British Consulate General in Chicago is offering an exciting opportunity to join the Consul General’s team as Chief of Staff. This is a meaningful role which supports and further develops the special relationship between the UK and the US—contributing to work shaping international diplomacy to make a real difference globally.

The British Consulate General, Chicago offers a unique, career-enhancing opportunity and is committed to supporting its staff through a comprehensive benefits package- including generous leave, competitive insurance options, a top-tier 401(k) programme, and access to world-class learning and development resources.

We are committed to fostering a healthy work-life balance and supporting employee wellbeing through a structured hybrid working model that includes opportunities for remote work and flexible hours, where operational needs allow.

As Chief of Staff, you will contribute to strengthening UK-US collaboration across the Midwest. Working directly to the Consul General, you will be a focal point for all sections of the team. You will engage with external partners including senior Government officials in the UK and the USA and industry leaders. A key element of the role is managing our events programme at the Official Residence of the Consul General. These are high profile events that attract senior political and business figures that seek to promote the UK and UK business in a creative, eye catching and high-profile fashion. This role supports the UK’s broader strategic objectives and offers valuable experience in international engagement and cross-government collaboration.

We’re looking for a proactive, collaborative, and creative professional. Experience in a similar role would be ideal; but enthusiasm and a can-do attitude is key. An interest in politics and international trade would be helpful. As would experience in event management and visit planning. But this is a role where core skills can be developed for an ambitious candidate who wants to learn.

Roles and responsibilities

Manage all aspects of the Consul General”s (CG) calendar, prioritise the CG’s engagements for optimum impact. Coordinate with event leads to ensure the CG is properly briefed and prepared for events, coordinate speechwriting and ensure follow up is actioned by the team.
Plan and prioritise CG travel across our 14-state region, to Washington and to the UK. Schedule appointments with high-level contacts, as well as making hotel, car and flight bookings.
Coordinate incoming VIP visit programmes, help to manage logistics, manage input from internal and external stakeholders and produce briefing materials.
Manage events at the Official Residence, working closely with the catering manager to ensure high quality, creative and impactful events that present a modern and dynamic view of the UK.
Constantly look to improve our events injecting creativity and new ideas, driving more external sponsorship and partnerships for events and seek to include not-for-profit engagement so that we can contribute more to the local community. This involves occasional attendance at evening and early morning events.
This is a role with the potential to expand and change to meet the experience and skills of the right candidate and the needs of the Consulate General.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

Demonstrated relevant experience (preferably in a similar role, such as EA/PA or working for a similar organisation).
Strong written and oral communications skills, including the ability to communicate with all levels of society, both internally and externally. Good grammar and spelling essential.
Strong ability to prioritise, organise and multitask. Time-management skills and the ability to remain calm and professional under pressure are essential.
Superior problem-solving skills, common sense, and able to exercise good judgement at pace and in the face of competing priorities.
Knowledge, background or interest in visit management/event planning.
Strong team player who enjoys working with others and is able to integrate fully into a wider Network-based team.
Initiative, determination and willingness to be creative.
Flexible with working occasional long hours, including at weekends.
Advanced proficiency in using the Microsoft Office suite, as well as various platforms for remote/video conferencing, such as Zoom and Webex and Microsoft Teams.
Legal status to live and work in the US in your own right, from time of application. Please note this role is not open to visa sponsorship.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

An understanding of the challenges and sensitivities of working in the world of Government, politics and the media.
An interest in and appreciation for the UK, particularly the UK’s relationship with the United States and our broader foreign policy priorities.

Required behaviours

Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Working Together

Application deadline

4 September 2025

Grade

Executive Officer (EO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Permanent

Working hours per week

Region

Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories

Country/Territory

United States

Location (City)

Chicago

Type of Post

British Consulate General

Number of vacancies

Salary Currency

USD

Salary

$72,657

Type of Salary

yearly

Start Date

27 October 2025

Other benefits and conditions of employment

You must have the right to live and work in the US in order to take up this role, whether in your own right or as a dependant, and be able to demonstrate that when required. If you are not a US citizen, dual US citizen or US Permanent Resident, it is your responsibility check your eligibility to work for a foreign government in the United States, and specifically to work in this role at this location, and provide proof of your eligibility via an Employment Authorisation Document or other relevant document when required. The UK Government does not routinely sponsor work visas; the job advertisement will state clearly whether sponsorship is available.

We cannot accept student Visas (J1, F or M) nor other forms of work Visas (I, H, P).

You may refer to our website for additional information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-the-usa.

All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work.

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 working for a foreign government in the United States are subject to specific tax rules. As a result, the tax treatment of an employee’s compensation will vary depending on their work location and citizenship status—whether they are a U.S. citizen, dual citizen, lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or a foreign national without a green card.

In alignment with HM Treasury policy, employees of the UK government in the US who are deemed tax-exempt by the IRS (i.e., not liable for U.S. taxes) receive a tax-abated salary, also known as a net salary. For all other employees, the UK Government cannot withhold taxes (including FICA) on behalf of a US taxpayer. These employees must directly remit taxes on a quarterly and annual basis to the relevant tax authorities.

Additional information will be provided to successful candidates at the offer stage. Please note that the Embassy does not provide tax advice, and all employees are encouraged to consult with qualified tax professionals regarding their individual circumstances prior to accepting a job.

Additional information

Working patterns

This role is primarily in-person and full-time at 40 hours per week, with opportunity for some hybrid working, subject to operational needs. Employees will be expected to work from office full-time during the first 90 days of employment. After this time employees may work from home no more than 40% of the working week. All working hours and hybrid working are position specific and subject to change at any time, without notice. If you have any questions, please address them with the Hiring Manager.

Please note that the event management element of this role requires some out of hours work, for which schedules will be adjusted as appropriate.

The deadline for applications is 23:55 CDT on 4 September 2025.

All applicants must fully complete the online application form, including the sections for employment and educational details, experience, and behaviour-based questions. Only those applications that contain all required information will be considered. To ensure the sift process remains anonymous, please do not include any personally identifiable information in your application form.

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.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements

This job has expired.