View Vacancy – AUS (Canberra) – Corporate Services Manager, HEO

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)

The UK in Australia Network consists of five Missions – the British High Commission in Canberra, as well as Consulates-General in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney. The Corporate Services Team is responsible for ensuring that the network operates effectively and efficiently: providing HR, finance, procurement, security, transport, IT, and estates services to approximately 150 staff across Australia.

The Corporate Services Manager (CSM) works closely with, and reports to, the Director of Corporate Services (HCS), providing leadership, direction, and management of the wider corporate services team and budgets. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring services are delivered in line with FCDO policy and procedures, while also being focused on continual improvement and adapting to the needs of an evolving Network.

The role requires expertise and experience in corporate services and/or operational delivery. The successful candidate should have excellent interpersonal, problem-solving and decision-making skills. They will need to develop a good understanding of compliance and legal requirements, both from the UK and in Australia, and be comfortable delivering at pace.

Strategic Planning, Leadership and Management

The CSM supports the CS Director deliver high quality corporate services, engaging with local leadership and partners on platform to identify needs, and respond to feedback. Use horizon-scanning and data to support proactive resource and activity planning and improve service resilience.

Set short and long-term priorities to ensure workloads within the CS team are managed effectively, and risks are identified and mitigated. Line manage corporate service officers responsible for specific functions such as HR and finance, and oversee team management of c12 people, championing wellbeing and inclusion. Instil a continuous improvement mentality within CST and Australia Network, leading on corporate projects and the change management required to deliver them

Operational Delivery

Oversight of local budget management: oversee local procurement and contract management processes, and monthly budget forecasting and reconciliation of accounts. Check and authorise expenditure or claims for reimbursement. Ensure accurate records are kept for audit purposes, and expenditure is in line with FCDO policy and processes.

Provide guidance and act as an escalation point on sensitive HR matters, including performance management issues and dispute resolution, engaging with regional Hubs, Country Based Staff Association, and legal counsel if necessary.

Act as a decision or escalation point for CS staff responsible for estates, IT, and transport where required. Work closely with specialist colleagues based in the UK or in regional Hubs to access relevant advice and guidance, and ensure this is applied appropriately.

Governance support

Provide data and reporting to enhance performance monitoring or effective application of audit controls. Support the effective operation of governance committees, including through the preparation of papers and recommendations, and follow-up to agreed actions, to ensure policies are aligned to global and local requirements.

Champion Business Continuity ensuring plans are regularly reviewed, tested, and understood across the network.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure): Local budget of approximately £3-4 million. Team management for approximately 12 staff.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Experience (at least three years) in leading a team at middle management level
• Strong interpersonal, decision making and relationship building skills
• Good budget management (planning, forecast and implementing)

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Experience managing suppliers and outsourced service delivery.
• Experience working for international organisation or government agency.

Required behaviours

Changing and Improving, Delivering at Pace, Leadership, Managing a Quality Service

Application deadline

2 June 2026

Grade

Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Permanent

Working hours per week

38

Region

Asia Pacific

Country/Territory

Australia

Location (City)

Canberra

Type of Post

British High Commission

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

AUD

Salary

AU$ 131,683 PA + 12% superannuation

Type of Salary

monthly

Start Date

3 August 2026

Other benefits and conditions of employment

Salary is at AU$131,683 per annum (paid out monthly), plus 12% superannuation

Appointment is subject to an AFP records check and UK security clearance.

Open to Australian citizens, and New Zealand, Canada, UK, or US passport holders who hold a valid visa with permission to work and reside in Australia (this also includes dependants of UK based diplomatic officers posted to Australia). Due to the role responsibilities and requirements, the successful applicant must be capable of achieving SC(O) level clearance. Applicants must possess the appropriate passport and visa as part of the pre-employment requirements. Please note that achieving SC(O) clearance may take about 8 weeks.

Comprehensive learning and development opportunities:

The Australia network offers a wide range of learning and development opportunities, including job-specific training and broader developmental opportunities. This includes some mandatory on-line learning, as well as opportunities to job-shadow colleagues. Some training courses may be held at another UK overseas mission. The successful applicant will also be encouraged to take part in broader British High Commission activities.

The British High Commission is committed to providing all staff with learning and development (L&D) opportunities and we will work with you to develop your own L&D plan.

Working patterns:

The standard working hours for this role is 38 hours per week, with working schedule to be agreed with the Line Manager. The overall package includes the standard 14 days of public holidays that the UK in Australia Network works to, as well as 22 days’ annual leave.

The salary on offer is not negotiable.

Although this role is based at the British High Commission in Canberra, there may be a need for occasional travel to other British Missions in the Australia Network to understand their operations and help local CS teams deliver.

Additional information

Your application must be submitted before 23:55 AEST-Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC/ GMT +10) on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”

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.

Applications must include a current CV and kindly omit any personal information such as Name, Contact Details, Birthday and Gender.

All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.

Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. 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”.

Advertised start date is provisional and subject to completion of reference and security checks.

Kindly check your application centre or email regularly for any update on the status of your application.

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.