British High Commission Events & Residence Manager EO Jobs in Ghana
Main purpose of job:
To design and deliver high quality, innovative events that promote the UK and our work in Ghana, and to manage the High Commissioner’s Residence, ensuring that we get maximum value from this prestigious asset.
Events are an important way of delivering and drawing attention to HMG’s work in Ghana. We use them to support delivery across our five campaign goals, to build relationships, and to attract Ghana to the UK by showcasing British values, culture, and other strengths.
The job holder will be based in the Strategic Partnerships and Diaspora Relations team and, with them, will devise and organise events to promote British soft power in Ghana. They will also provide support to teams across the High Commission holding events to support delivery of their objectives.
Events should be innovative and memorable – guests should be made to feel special and should want to come back! While most events are held at the Residence, the job holder will also support BHC events held at external venues as appropriate.
The position will require a practical, hands-on approach to ensure the smooth, efficient, and cost effective delivery of events and operation of the Residence, as well as a strategic perspective to ensure events are innovative and memorable, and that the Residence portrays the appropriate image of the UK in Ghana.
This is a demanding but rewarding position that will be a lot of work but a lot of fun. It requires a passion and drive for excellence, creativity and innovation, outstanding inter-personal and organisational skills, committed teamwork and dedicated customer focus.
Roles and responsibilities:
The core of the role is to ensure the smooth running of the Residence both as a venue for official events (meals, receptions, meetings, etc.) and as a family home, delivering to the highest standards of efficiency, sustainability, accuracy and value for money
Events management
Working with the Strategic Partnerships and Diaspora Relations team, as well as colleagues across the UK, to design and deliver high quality, impactful events, building the reputation of the UK (and British High Commission) in Ghana.
Developing the concept for the event and project managing delivery, liaising with Residence staff, BHC colleagues and external suppliers to ensure cost effective, timely and high quality implementation. This includes but is not limited to ensuring guest lists are appropriate and invitations sent in good time, working with the Residence Chef to prepare delicious, modern menus, planning room layout, hiring equipment (e.g. marquee, audio visual, lighting, heating), hiring and managing casual staff.
Residence management
Ensuring BHC Accra makes maximum use of its most valuable asset: maintaining it in top condition, ensuring the ambience and feel of the Residence create the appropriate impression on all guests, working with the High Commissioner’s Outer Office, SP&DR team and wider BHC colleagues to ensure an appropriate tempo of events (from smaller engagements with 2-10 people, through to large receptions, dinners or parties for tens or hundreds of guests). This will include:
Working through the Residence team to manage inventories (silverware, glassware, crockery, linen, Government Art Collection, furniture, domestic equipment) and ensure equipment is kept in excellent condition, well ordered, replaced and disposed of appropriately.
Working through the Residence team to ensure the highest standards of cleanliness, hygiene and presentation at all times. Ensure the Residence is always ready to offer a welcoming, professional and impressive service to visitors and guests.
Working with Corporate Services, Estates and TWG teams to ensure the Residence and grounds are kept in optimal repair: identify and report repair/improvement work, drive implementation, oversee repairs and maintenance jobs.
In liaison with HC’s Outer Office, maintain a calendar of visitors and events, ensuring the Residence plans in advance.
Deliver Income Generation target, managing negotiations directly with customers, ensuring value for money, ensuring IG events complement rather than detract from the exclusive and prestigious nature of the High Commissioner’s Residence.
Co-ordinate arrangements for all official visitors staying at the Residence, ensuring that rooms are prepared for overnight guests, and the highest levels of service are provided, and that all visitors receive a warm welcome and are made to feel comfortable and at home.
Across both events and residence management, the jobholder will:
Pay close attention to detail and as well as applying strategic oversight, such that the overall objective and concept are successful and impressive, that team members know and are able to deliver their responsibilities, that quality is impeccable.
Ensure the Residence and all events comply with all relevant Health and Safety rules and wider Embassy guidance, including ensuring external companies and individuals fully understand and comply with such rules and guidance.
Make purchases in accordance with FCDO procurement guidance; purchase and manage stocks to ensure value for money. Work with the Residence staff to ensure stocks and supplies are regularly reviewed and deliveries are appropriate supervised.
Remember that the Residence is both a professional workspace and a private family home. Liaise closely with the High Commissioner and spouse to ensure the right balance between those two functions, for example ensuring private family time is not interrupted, staff understand and do not impinge on the family’s privacy, visitors are notified to the family and appropriately supervised, and the private living quarters meet the needs of the family.
Resources managed (staff and expenditure):
With the SP&DR Team Leader, ensure effective use of and tight management of the events budget and dedicated portion of High Commissioner’s budget (split to be confirmed).
Lead and manage a team of four Residence staff and, when required, casual event staff, providing support and direction as necessary. Ensure that the Residence staff receive adequate and regular training to undertake their duties and are encouraged to contribute ideas and suggestions. Manage their performance and complete all management processes on time and to prescribed standards.
Ensure effective deployment of staff resources, clear forward planning and prioritisation, and flexible delivery in line with operational requirements. Ensure all outsourced employees are properly trained and maintain our high standards.
Coordinate leave to ensure efficient operation of the Residence, bearing in mind events, activities, public holidays, HMA’s leave, etc.
The Residence & Events Manager will be expected to undertake other duties that may reasonably be required and which are in accordance with the grading and core competencies of the job.
Four Residence staff members
Entertainment and Representational budget tracking and forecasting
Essential qualifications, skills and experience
Focus on excellence and quality at the detailed and strategic level
At least 2 years experience managing a busy residence or similar facility or have 2 years experience working in the hospitality industry
Must be a graduate
At least 1 year budget management experience
At least 1 year event planning and management experience
Creativity, innovation and drive
Outstanding inter-personal skills, excellent team player, able to negotiate effectively, always treats others with respect
Dedicated customer focus
Confident, discreet, trustworthy, adaptable self-starter with a problem-solving mind-set
Excellent organisational skills, able to prioritise, can deliver to time and quality, effectively planning and delegating to avoid pressure, but able to deliver calmly and effectively when the pressure builds
Proven people management skills, capable of motivating and leading a team
Flexibility in terms of working hours and duties – prepared to work some evenings and occasional weekends
Good IT skills (including Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel; able to learn FCDO’s financial management programme)
Desirable qualifications, skills and experience
Knowledge of the food and beverage sector
Facilities management
Housekeeping
Contract management
How to Apply
For more information and job application details, see; British High Commission Events & Residence Manager EO Jobs in Ghana
Find daily jobs in Ghana. Jobs – Ghana jobs. Search our career portal & find the latest Ghana job positions, career opportunities & jobs in Ghana.
Jobs in Ghana – banking jobs, IT jobs, accounting jobs, NGO jobs, business administration, ICT, UN jobs, procurement jobs, education jobs, hospital jobs, human resources jobs, engineering, teaching jobs, and other careers in Ghana.
Find your dream job from 1000s of vacancies in Ghana posted and updated daily – click here!
