Operations

Global Management

Most of our Technical Officers work abroad. They provide ongoing support for technical systems and installations and ensure the safety and functionality of buildings. As part of the team, you’ll help us to keep our customers secure and ensure their buildings and systems are fully operational.

Property Management

Join our team of security cleared property specialists and you could find yourself anywhere in the world providing property management advice and services across a wide range of disciplines, including Mechanical, Electrical, Building and Civil Engineering as well as Health and Safety and Environmental Management.

• Mia - Head of Sustainable Operations Support Team
  

  My job

  I manage a team of health and safety and environmental professionals. We provide health and safety services to the FCO, run a health and safety helpline, deal with incidents and advice, which could be about anything from fire retardant furnishings in properties to the implications of bat droppings in swimming pools! You never know what will arrive. We go abroad to do health and safety audits in around 25 plus posts each year. We also give health and safety advice on smaller construction projects.

  On the environmental side we are working on the "Greening the FCO" change programme, providing the FCO with the science and policy background relating to the environment and climate change agenda. We are currently measuring the carbon footprint of the estate here in the UK and abroad, and helping the FCO reduce its carbon footprint. This side of our work is very high profile and there are always lots of exciting projects.

  My experience and qualifications

  I did a degree in Environmental Risk Management. For the first 3 years of my career with FCO Services I worked mostly in the health and safety field, but then Environmental Management became increasingly sought after because of the climate change agenda. I previously worked as an Environmental Manager in the automotive industry and have worked as a consultant in both health and safety and environmental fields. When I first arrived my biggest learning curve was in property and estate, about which I have subsequently learned a huge amount.

  Working for FCO Services

  I love the fact you find yourself travelling to places that you would never go on holiday. Every trip gives you a unique opportunity to learn more about the world and current affairs, and in a way that watching the news could never do. I have visited over 30 countries in my time here, and every trip has been memorable. I love working in this team, as you have the opportunity to bring value to new projects and best practices. There is a huge amount of personal development and since I have been here I have done a Masters in Sustainable Development funded by FCO Services.

  Top tips for someone coming new into a similar job

  Apart from professional qualifications and skills, you have to be very proactive and have a bit of a thirst for adventure. You will need the skills to deliver advice, you need to be pragmatic using risk assessment and your judgement, and be brave enough to make that professional call and accept accountability. You also need to be flexible and resilient as, although regular travelling sounds exciting, it can be very stressful as well.

• Rebecca - Senior Mechanical and Electrical Engineer
  

  My job

  I work with a team of qualified Mechanical and Electrical Engineers. We visit properties mostly abroad, looking at electrical installations, completing risk assessment including some testing and formulating reports on what needs to be done to bring things up to the FCO standard. We also have knowledge of local standards and requirements. In the UK we work with posts to get funding to carry out our recommendations and then complete them, for example designing a re-wire or putting together a specification so work can be tendered and then project managing the job to conclusion.

  We give technical advice to building and civil engineers and colleagues working in other areas, such as Management Officers responsible for day to day running of embassies, Technical Works Officers (who are colleagues.based abroad) or Technical Management Officers (who work abroad on technical and secure services such as telephony, alarms, CCTV and confidential IT or security systems).

  My experience and qualifications

  I am a Chartered Electrical Engineer. I was sponsored through university on an electro-mechanical engineering degree and have previously worked for four years in engineering consultancies. I got involved with the FCO on their Millennium Bug contract, having seen the work of the FCO and as they were recruiting I applied in open competition and have now been here for ten years.

  Working for FCO Services

  The most fantastic thing is the travel and working with some really interesting people. We used to be regionally based, I originally covered Europe (Scandinavia and the Baltic) and have since covered West and East Africa, and in the first eight years I probably went to around 70 countries and 80 different posts including the majority of the Caribbean Islands. I have been really pleased with the flexibility of the department. After I had a child two years ago I didn’t want to be visiting 20+ posts a year, so I started to get involved more with the business management of property management. I have been closely involved in working with our new commercial process and our financial systems, helping to bill customers and making sure we get paid for the work the department completes. I've become more directly involved with customers and helping them to understand the technical side of our work.

  Top tip for someone coming new into a similar job

  People might worry about Government bureaucracy, but while it does exist, it is far outweighed by the wonderful challenges of working overseas and the ability to use your technical skills in lateral way. Take every opportunity that comes your way - courses, countries, customs and systems.

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ICT Operations

Joining our ICT Teams, you’ll support our IT installations and work directly with customers to provide high quality standards of care within secure environments.

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