View Vacancy – Driver (FRA26-0011366)

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

Driver / Messenger

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Who Are We

The British Embassy in Paris is part of a worldwide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. Working across a broad range of diplomatic, policy and corporate activities, we support the UK’s relationship with France and advance UK interests in one of our closest international partnerships

We are currently looking for a Driver to join the Corporate Services team in Paris and support the safe and effective delivery of Embassy operations.

Main Purpose of the Role

This role is central to the successful delivery of Embassy operations and official engagements. The successful candidate will provide professional driving support for Embassy staff, senior officials and visiting Ministers, while also contributing to a range of administrative and office support activities across the France Network as required.

The successful candidate will:

• Provide safe, reliable and timely transport for key Embassy staff attending meetings, events and official engagements;
• Work closely with Executive Assistants and other teams to plan and coordinate transport requirements;
• Lead the planning and delivery of transport for ministerial visits, high-profile events and wider France Network activities;
• Deliver transport logistics support for UK Ministers and senior UK officials visiting France;
• Ensure Embassy vehicles are maintained to a high standard of cleanliness, safety and readiness at all times;
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support the delivery of high-profile visits and events;
• Support teams across the UK Delegation to the OECD (UKDel) and France Network with transport requirements for complex or high-profile activities when required;
• Provide administrative support related to transport operations and fleet management, including maintaining records, coordinating logistics, resolving ad-hoc transport-related issues, and supporting teams with administrative, technical, IT and security-related tasks as required.

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to work at the heart of the UK-France partnership, supporting senior Embassy staff, visiting Ministers and high-profile official events across France.

No two days are the same. Alongside providing professional driving support, you will play an important role in the delivery of ministerial visits, diplomatic engagements and major Embassy events, working with colleagues from across the UK-France Network.

You will join a supportive and collaborative Corporate Services team and have access to a wide range of learning and development opportunities offered by the FCDO.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Proficiency in French (written and spoken) at C1 level and English (written and spoken) at B2 level, according to the CEFR framework or equivalent;
• At least five years’ professional experience as a driver, with demonstrable experience of providing safe, reliable and customer-focused transport services;
• Valid Category B driving licence with a good driving record;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to interact confidently and professionally with senior stakeholders;
• Proven ability to handle sensitive information with absolute discretion and confidentiality;
• Ability to work flexibly, including occasional early mornings, late evenings and weekends/public holidays, with overtime paid where applicable.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• C1 driving permit;
• Previous experience working for a government organisation, diplomatic mission or international organisation;
• Knowledge of diplomatic protocol and experience supporting ministerial or senior official visits;
• Good knowledge of Paris and its road network;
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Required behaviours

Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service, Working Together

Application deadline

3 August 2026

Grade

S1

Type of Position

Full-time, Fixed Term

Working hours per week

35 hours (3 shift pattern: 08:00-16:30; 09:30- 18:00; 11:30-20:00)

Duration of Post

9 months

Region

Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia

Country/Territory

France

Location (City)

Paris

Type of Post

British Embassy

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

EUR

Salary

€2,650 gross per month + meal contribution. Overtime payments and on-call allowances may apply where required.

Type of Salary

monthly

Start Date

1 September 2026

Other benefits and conditions of employment

This is a full-time fixed-term contract covering a temporary absence and expected to last until May 2027, with the possibility of extension depending on the return date of the post holder. The monthly salary is €2,650 gross. In addition, staff receive a meal contribution. The remuneration package may also include overtime payments and on-call allowances where these duties are required, in accordance with local Terms and Conditions of Service.

All appointments are subject to professional background check satisfactory security clearance. The successful applicant will be required to provide a copy of their passport or national identity card for all nationalities held, an up-to-date criminal record (casier judiciaire) for recent countries of residence (which can be obtained online at https://casier-judiciaire.justice.gouv.fr), two written proofs of address (utility invoices and/or bank statements) and two references.

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy Paris in France are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local French employment law and FCDO guidance for Local Staff. The posts we offer are not an entry point into the UK’s Diplomatic Service.

Your application will only be considered if you follow the guidance below:

• Your application must be sent in English only.
• Your application must clearly indicate all nationalities you hold.

The successful candidates will be subject to professional background checks and security clearance.

The start date mentioned in the advert is just an expected start date. The appointment can start earlier or later depending on several factors.

Driving Licence Requirements: Candidates shortlisted for interview will be required to undertake a practical driving assessment as part of the selection process. Additionally, please note that successful candidate may be asked to provide evidence of their driving licence status, including details of any current penalty points and driving record.

Visa/work permit requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in France and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract. Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country.

Learning and Development opportunities: The France Network puts a very strong emphasis on L&D and the jobholder will be able to benefit from opportunities offered by the Diplomatic College and civil service learning, as well as informal opportunities within the Embassy on topics.

The successful applicant will be encouraged to be actively involved in the corporate life of the British Embassy, contributing to the wider objectives of the British Government’s through the France network and supporting the British Embassy’s positive working environment.

Working Pattern: The position is based on a 35- hour working week. 3 x shift pattern (0800-1630; 0930- 1800; 1130-2000h). Due to the nature of the work there is the requirement to work some irregular hours, particularly starting early and finishing late, during the working week. There may also be requirements to work on weekends and public holidays. The successful candidate will be entitled to overtime payments for working additional hours.

Equal employment: We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or gender identity. We particularly encourage applications from candidates with protected characteristics. The FCDO France Network want to maximise the potential of everyone who chooses to work for us, regardless of their background.

Further information: Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles.

Additional information

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

Please be advised that the British Diplomatic Missions will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a job.

*Please note for more information on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment levels please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your language skill is going to be assessed.

The British Embassy Paris wants to create a diverse, inclusive and friendly environment in which people can perform at their best because they feel supported; are able to be themselves in the workplace; and have opportunities to develop and grow. We want all our colleagues, regardless of grade, background or experience, to share our strong sense of purpose and ambition to deliver the best possible outcomes.

We know that diversity of background, experience and thought will help us achieve our goals. We actively encourage applications from colleagues from Minority Ethnic and underrepresented backgrounds and from groups with protected characteristics.

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 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.