JOB DESCRIPTION

View Vacancy – General Foreman (37/25 NR)

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

Corporate Services Support

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Main purpose of job:

Responsible for scheduling, coordinating and supervising the technical work of all site operatives, ensuring that all work is delivered safely, on time and within budget along with managing equipment and materials required.
The foreman is also responsible for planning works within the Estate including detailing time frames and staging of works and identifying associated costs to complete the works. They will be responsible for establishing the bill of materials for each job and identifying large projects that should be escalated through the Forward Maintenance Register (FMR).
The Foreman will jointly line manage, with another AO Foreman, the Technical Works Group (TWG) comprising of painters, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, and masons.

Roles and responsibilities:

Property Surveys:

• Conduct proactive surveys of properties anticipated to be vacated with a projected outlook of at least 12 months.
• Detailed surveys identifying scope of works required, estimated time frames and scheduling, staffing requirements and bill of materials
• Escalating larger works identified during surveys to the Deputy Estates Manager and Technical Works Supervisor for placement on the FMR for funding
• Conduct joint end of posting checks with departing diplomatic staff to highlight any defects before they depart post.
  Conduct joint arrival checks with newly arrived diplomatic staff to highlight critical technical features of the property and any defects.

Supervision and Scheduling of Works:

• Provide day to day oversite of work taking place across the estate. Work with colleagues on scheduling and inspection of works.
• Schedule projects to ensure timeline delivery to completion for expected new arrivals.
• Guide the team on priorities.
• Provide clear guidance and demonstrate best practice in work
• First point of contact for complaint resolution and updating with the customer through the Corporate Services Helpdesk (CSHelpdesk)
• Oversee workloads and coordinate with the Admin Officer on job allocations and managing of workloads.
• Identify needs for additional staff, coverage during long periods of absence and movement of staff between projects.
• Prioritising of work with the Admin Officer and Team Leaders to ensure equitable assignment of work in priority ranking

Contractor Supervision and Engagement:

• Set out the programme of works and oversite of contractors hired to complete technical works on behalf of the BHC.
• Schedule site visits for tender processes and agree scope of works with the TWG Estates Accommodation and Technical Officer for tendering.
• Hold suppliers accountable to agreed timelines, materials, and scope for efficient delivery of projects on time and in budget.
  Monitor progress through a schedule of works and address non-compliance
• Spot check quality of work with contractors and ensure they are compliance with BHC requirements

Health & Safety:

• Ensure work is completed in compliance with best practice health and safety standards
• Actively participate as a representative on the BHC Health & Safety committee
• Spot check contractors for health and safety compliance ensuring a safe working environment at all times.
• Escalate any negative observations to the Health & Safety Officer and Deputy Estates Manager Technical Works

Line Management:

• Collaborate with the General Forman Non-Residential joint delivery of projects and scheduling of works as required.
• Recognise good performance through award schemes, 1:1’s, team meetings and line management meetings, and with the support of HR, where there are incidences of poor performance or disciplinary issues within the technical team, help guide line managers on swift and responsive actions.
• Work with mission wide learning and development, mental health first aiders, and first responders to ensure staff under direct line management are supported in a safe working environment.

Resources managed:

• 1 AA Carpentry Team Leader
• 1 AA Mason & Painting Team Leader
• 1 AA Electrician Team Leader
• 1 AA Plumbing Team leader

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Diploma/Craft certificate or degree in construction from a reputable institution
• Minimum 5 years’ experience overseeing technical worksand management of technical projects
• Project Management Experience
• Line Management Experience and Team Leadership
• Certificate in Masonry, Carpentry, Generator Maintenance and/or general works
• Clean driving record with valid Kenyan driving licence (must pass a BHC drivers test during interview phase)

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Diploma or degree in construction from a reputable institution
• NEBOSH Certificate
• Health & Safety training to UK standards

Required behaviours

Changing and Improving, Communicating and Influencing, Leadership, Making Effective Decisions

Application deadline

5 December 2025

Grade

Administrative Officer (AO)

Type of Position

Fixed term, with possibility of renewal

Working hours per week

44

Region

Africa

Country/Territory

Kenya

Location (City)

Nairobi

Type of Post

British High Commission

Number of vacancies

1

Salary

KES 248 493,35 (Base salary is subject to tax and other statutory deductions)

Type of Salary

monthly

Start Date

2 March 2026

Additional information

“Please ensure that your application is authentically written based on your own experiences. If AI tools are used, their usage must only be limited to specific tasks such as ensuring formatting consistency and keyword relevance. The core content, personal narratives, and responses to behaviour and skill-based questions must genuinely reflect your professional journey, experiences, and achievements. We place great importance on originality and individual effort throughout the application process. Any form of plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification.”

Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening.
Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.
Base salary is subject to tax and other statutory deductions
Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Nairobi are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Kenya.
It is essential that the applicants already have the right to live and work in Kenya without the need to apply for a work permit.
Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.
Information about the Civil Service Success Profiles can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles. Please note: AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates and appointment is subject to that clearance.
Please log into your profile on the application system on a regular basis to review the status of your application.
Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

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.