Estates and Security Officer

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

**Main purpose of job**:
The British High Commission to South Africa oversees the UK Government’s operations in South Africa across the following locations:

- The British High Commission Pretoria (BHC)
- The UK Visas & Immigration Office in Pretoria
- The UK Department for International Trade in Johannesburg (DIT)
- The British Consulate General Cape Town

Its Estates and Security Teams, based largely in Pretoria with some staff in the locations above, are responsible for delivering property and security services to support the work of the Mission.

The Estates and Security Officer will work under the supervision of an Estates Manager and Security Manager and will help manage security and estates work at British High Commission’s Offices and properties in the Cape Town area. The Officer will also support security services for British Consulate Cape Town staff and Diplomatic families, and for UK Government visitors to Cape Town.

On the Estates side, the position will effectively act as a facilities manager for the Consulate office, a number of residential properties and the British High Commissioner to South Africa’s Official Residence in Cape Town.

On the Security side, the position will take on a role to provide accurate security advice and support to diplomatic families, staff and official visitors, to review security risks and implement mitigating measures to these risks, and to oversee works and installations.

The role requires an individual who is flexible across all these areas and who can demonstrate high standards of professionalism and deliver a very high quality customer service. The jobholder will need to be willing to work flexibly to help others, contribute to Estates and Security work covering all British High Commission locations and staff throughout South Africa, take on different tasks where work pressures are heavy, cover leave absences and deal with emergencies. This can involve calls and work dealing with customers and contractors in the evenings and weekends, for which a mobile phone is provided.

Whilst the role is based in Cape Town, the jobholder will be part of Estates and Security teams covering all of South Africa and will therefore need to work remotely to these other locations on a range of admin tasks. The individual will likely need to travel to Pretoria occasionally (funded fully by the British High Commission).

The Estates and Security Officer plays a crucial role in:

- Preparing our residential properties for occupation by our staff, which requires forward-planning, attention to detail and strong organisational and time-management skills
- Dealing with on-going maintenance issues in offices and residential properties, requiring skills in administration, IT and multi-tasking numerous concurrent activities
- Providing a professional service to our office staff and occupants of residential properties, for which a thorough understanding of customer service and good communications skills are essential
- Managing the work of contractors which are engaged to deliver property and security services, maintenance and other security works

The role is ideally suited to an individual who:

- Enjoys managing an operation and who takes pride in it running smoothly and without complaint
- Has strong administrative skills, and wants to develop experience in finance and running projects
- Is a good communicator and people-person, who takes pride in good service and enjoys working in a busy team

It is essential for the jobholder to have a valid driving licence as driving (in a company vehicle) to sites is required.

Experience of facilities management / property management or working in a security services delivery team would be a bonus.

**Roles and Responsibilities**:

- Organising tasks required in managing a portfolio of residential accommodation including site visits, managing contractors, tracking progress and record keeping.
- Organising work to deliver facilities management activates in offices and properties including planning / scheduling of work and ensuring staff have the correct information about works and property issues.
- Raising requisitions orders and receipting funds on the British High Commission’s IT systems, dealing with financial issues and budgeting requirements and researching and assessing works quotes and costs. These tasks include remote working for the British High Commission’s South Africa-wide Estates and Security teams by supporting budget and finance duties related to properties, offices and estates and security work at other British High Commission locations.
- Conducting property assessments, against periodic schedules or in response to issues arising, ensuring British High Commission standards are met, compliance with Health & Safety requirements, and a high standard of customer service for staff and residential occupants.
- Monitoring maintenance requests, ensuring that issues are addressed in