Diplomatic Services operational officer : Employers and vacancy sources

The only employer for this role is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) , which is based in London and Milton Keynes. The FCO aims to promote and protect the UK's interests. It also gathers information which is used to advise the government and help ministers formulate Britain's foreign policy.

The range and variety of the work of the Diplomatic Service is large and comes into play whenever British interests have an international dimension. The Diplomatic Service works in association with other government departments and agencies including the Home Office  and the Identity and Passport Service . The Government Economic Service (GES)  also offers specialist diplomatic posts for economics graduates.

The role offers the chance to travel and to live and work in many different countries but it is important to be aware that you will be based at the FCO's UK offices for at least the first three years of your career at this level, while you gain an overview of the work of the Diplomatic Service.

See the FCO website for a comprehensive account of the work involved and the range of employment opportunities available.

Sources of vacancies

Vacancy information is produced by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)  and is available via their website. You can register to receive automated emails when vacancies are being advertised. Notices of vacancies may also be available from:

• Search graduate jobs on this site.
• Civil Service Jobs  
• Evening Standard   
• National publications, especially Guardian Jobs   
• Jobcentre Plus    
• Metro 
• Careers service bulletins, usually available online or at your careers service.

All recruitment is undertaken according to open and fair competition, as laid out by the Civil Service Commission  recruitment code. Previous applications are not taken into consideration, and many candidates apply more than once.

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