British High Commissioner’s Residence and Events Manager

Main purpose of job:

• The British High Commissioner’s Residence is a fantastic property that acts both as boutique hotel for visiting VIP guests from the UK and as the key events venue for the British High Commission. The Residence and Events manager will be responsible for overseeing the day to day running of the house (the personal home of the High Commissioner and family), managing the team of staff (chef, groundskeeper, housekeepers) and designing and delivering high quality innovative events that showcase the UK and help us deliver our objectives. They will need excellent team working skills, a can-do attitude, attention to detail and bags of creativity.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Designing and delivering exceptional events: Event scheduling with the High Commissioner and colleagues; liaise with internal and external organizations for all event details and logistics; supervise and manage all official events; monitor and manage any additional casual staff required for events including training and providing event briefings; create a warm, welcoming environment for all guests, visitors and houseguests to the Residence; event/guest background research and development.
• Management of the Residence team: Manage all Residence staff (4) providing guidance of prioritization of tasks for upcoming functions; manage staff overtime and TOIL to ensure that hours are manageable; ensure staff are following procedures for corporate credit cards, expenditures, procurement, etc; complete staff appraisals; supervise cleanliness of Residence and gardens.
• House Management duties: Oversee overall effectiveness and efficiency of the Residence; liaise with Corporate Services team on Residence requirements including work requests, procurement procedures for upcoming work and/or maintenance and forward planning for upcoming projects.
• Administrative duties: Oversee and manage the Residence’s budget; record event information in central filing system (includes number of guests, cost and cost per person); accounting duties and tracking including costing post-event; event budget forecasting; monitor casual staff requirements with contract company, including logging hours and submitting timesheets; record keeping and filing of event/residence paperwork; preparation, printing, mailing of event invitations, guest list management and preparation of printed material (name cards, menu cards, buffet cards, etc); inventory stock management and ordering of alcoholic beverages.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

• Four Residence staff members
• Entertainment and Representational budget tracking and forecasting

Working patterns:

• Many of our events are held in the evenings. The successful candidate will be required to work frequently out of hours work (including occasionally weekends). All staff are compensated by time off in lieu for the additional hours worked.

Essential on arrival:

Event planning, budget management, staff management, including casual employees.

Language requirements:

Language: English (French an asset)

Desirable:

Experience of working in diplomatic environment.

Learning and development opportunities:

The High Commission offers a wide range of excellent learning and development opportunities from management training to French language classes. All staff are encouraged to take advantage of these.

Other:

The British Embassy Network offers a strong benefits package. This package includes generous vacation and leave time, flexible working patterns, and enriching learning and development opportunities.

The Residence Manager is at the heart of a dynamic team, which works to promote Britain through showcasing the best of the UK. Imagination, resilience and great team-working and leadership skills are the essentials to make a success of this exciting job.

The official residence at Earnscliffe is part of Canada’s history and is a huge asset to the High Commission. However, we are temporarily relocating to a new Residence as we undertake renovation work on the building. The new Residence Manager will need to be prepared to work innovatively with the team to design how we deliver our events in a new space (after over 90 years at Earnsclffe).

Additional information:

• Must have the legal status to live and work in Canada. Applicant is expected to appear in person for approx 60% of week but working from home is permitted and encouraged when realistic to do so.
• Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6-12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.