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Diplomatic Services operational officer : Salary and conditions

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  1. Job description
  2. Salary and conditions
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  • The starting salary at operational officer grade is around £25,000, inclusive of a £3,000 London location allowance.
  • The range of typical salaries at senior levels varies, as salaries are performance related.
  • Annual performance increments are applied if performance reaches a satisfactory level.
  • A well-regarded and competitive pension is available.
  • A range of allowances is available to officers posted overseas. These include: hardship allowances for posts where living conditions are considered difficult; education allowances for children; travel expenses; and rent-free accommodation.
  • Working hours are mainly nine to five, possibly with some extra hours, depending on the department in which you are based. Some of the work may involve being on-call 24 hours a day or undertaking short overseas visits (say one to five days). Hours may vary for overseas posts.
  • The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)  is committed to a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from women, disabled people and members of ethnic minorities. Mature graduates are also welcomed.
  • Initially, new entrants will normally be based in the central London offices of the FCO, although there are some posts in Milton Keynes.
  • If you are posted overseas, postings are usually three to four years in length, although this may vary. You can state your preference as to where you would like to be posted, but you should be prepared to serve in any country.
  • About two-thirds of your career will be spent overseas.
  • Dress code varies between departments. If you are in regular contact with the public, dress is required to be smarter.
 
AGCAS
Written by AGCAS editors
Date: 
March 2011
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