View Vacancy – EG – Personal Assistant to the Defence Attaché and Business Manager (EO)

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

Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)

Job Subcategory

MOD (Ministry of Defence)

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

The British Embassy in Cairo is looking to recruit a Personal Assistant to the Defence Attaché and Business Manager under the Ministry of Defence, job grade Executive Officer (EO), on a fixed term contract of six (6) months with a possibility of renewal.

The jobholder will provide high-quality administrative, organisational and coordination support as the Defence Section Business Manager and personal assistant to the Defence Attaché, ensuring the effective delivery of all Defence Section outputs.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide comprehensive Personal Assistant support to the Defence Attaché, including full diary management, prioritisation, and coordination of meetings, travel and accommodation.
• Act as the central administrative hub for the Defence Section, coordinating activities, engagements, reporting outputs, and ensuring effective delivery of defence business.
• Coordinate transport and movements, including management and tasking of Defence Section drivers and scheduling of official travel.
• Manage all incoming and outgoing correspondence, maintaining accurate records and filing systems in line with information management policy, and acting as Information Manager for OFFICIAL records.
• Engage professionally with Egyptian Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other stakeholders as directed, supporting Defence Section objectives.
• Organise and deliver Defence Section events and training activity, including commemorations, receptions, official visits, and associated logistics and administration.
• Manage office administration, including procurement of supplies and ensuring adequate stock holdings.
• Line manages Defence Section drivers, ensuring effective performance, tasking and delivery.
• Undertake additional duties as directed in support of Defence Section priorities.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required. The job description may be reviewed to meet changes in business needs.

Key behaviours required for the role:

• Delivering at Pace – Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
• Managing a Quality Service – Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.
• Working Together – Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.
• Making Effective Decisions – Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.
• Seeing the Big Picture – Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider Civil Service priorities and ensure work is in the national interest.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Fluent English and Arabic, both written and spoken. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication;
• Proven experience in a Personal Assistant, Executive Assistant, or administrative role.
• Excellent organisational and planning skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands and deliver to deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills, including ability to engage effectively with senior officials and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a high-tempo environment.
• Flexibility to work outside normal hours.
• Strong IT skills including Microsoft Office.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Previous experience in an embassy or international environment.
• Experience of office management.
• Familiarity with military structures or prior experience working with defence organisations.

Required behaviours

Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together

Application deadline

14 July 2026

Grade

Executive Officer (EO)

Type of Position

Fixed term, with possibility of renewal

Working hours per week

36

Region

Middle East & North Africa

Country/Territory

Egypt

Location (City)

Cairo

Type of Post

British Embassy

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

USD

Salary

1,736

Type of Salary

monthly

Start Date

9 August 2026

Other benefits and conditions of employment

Eligibility:

If you are selected for this position, the Embassy will be able to employ you as long as you:

• Have the right to work and live in Egypt; and
• Receive the appropriate level of security clearance.

Working hours and remuneration:

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role, including a non-negotiable gross salary of USD 1,736 per month, subject to insurance and tax as per the usual regulations, based on a 36 hours per week. Normal working hours are from Sunday to Wednesday 08:00-15:30 and Thursday 08:00-14:00.

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.

We offer a competitive package including medical benefits, performance related bonus, recreational facilities, opportunities for job related training and development, etc. There are no other allowances payable as part of this package. No accommodation nor relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

This role is for a full-time employment, on a fixed-term contract of six (6) months with a possibility of renewal, subject to three (3) months’ probationary period.

The British Embassy is committed to helping staff develop in their careers through formal and informal training and coaching. A healthy and active Learning & Development committee supports staff in their goals. In addition, we have access to the substantial number of resources that the Embassy and UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s International Academy provide. The successful candidate will be encouraged to consider professional development subject to resource environment.

Additional information

How to apply:

Interested candidates must include 1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) 2) a motivation essay stating how you meet the requirements of the role; and 3) examples, in the relevant sections of the online application form, of how you meet the key behaviours and skills required.

Applications that do not include this information will not be considered.

Closing date of receiving applications is before 23:55 (Egypt local time) on 14 July 2026.

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.

Internal candidates (i.e., those who are currently employed by the British Embassy Cairo) applying for this position should consider informing their current line manager upon submission of their application.

Process:

The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around 2-3 months. The security clearance process includes checks available in country and with UK, dependant on the security level required for the role and the candidate’s profile and UK footprint. You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign, and we are working hard to minimise any disruption.

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

The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security-vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances.

Personal data collected will be treated in strictest confidence under the terms of the UK Data Protection Act and used for recruitment purposes only.

The FCDO operates an agile approach to delivery. To facilitate an agile workforce, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require. The British Embassy Cairo is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local Egypt employment law.

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.