AUSTRALIAN CONSULATE-GENERAL, GUANGZHOU
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE
VACANCY
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) section of the Australian Consulate-General Guangzhou has a vacancy for a locally engaged staff member to fill the following position:
Consular and Passports Officer
This is a permanent position. Salary for this position will commence at LE4 Level. Applications are invited from both Chinese and Australian Nationals. The successful applicant is required to complete relevant pre-employment procedures before commencement.
The Roles and Responsibilities and Selection Criteria are attached below. Applications should be emailed to [email protected] and must include:
- A position application pitch of no more than 500 words detailing how your skills, knowledge and experience will allow you to fulfil the role successfully, with reference to the specific duties and skills detailed below;
- A current CV; and
- The names and contact details of two recent work referees
Referees should be from two different employers, where possible. Referees must also have been supervisors or managers, not peers. When providing referee details, please indicate whether the referee can speak fluent English, and ensure that:
• contact details are up-to-date and include both email and phone numbers; and
• the referee knows you have applied for the position.
Guidelines for preparing position application pitch can be found at https://guangzhou.china.embassy.gov.au/gzho/CareerEn2.html
Important information relevant for applicants considering applying for this position: The duties of this role will expose the successful applicant to distressed Australian citizens and permanent residents, including detained, imprisoned, hospitalised, psychiatrically ill, destitute individuals and victims of crime. Frequent visits to monitor the welfare of Australians incarcerated in Chinese detention centres and prisons will be required. The position involves responding to consular emergencies outside of usual business hours, and regular overnight travel.
Please note that applications should be in either Word or PDF format with a maximum e-mail file size of less than 2 MB. Human Resources Department will send out notification e-mails at the end of the closing date. Applicants who do not receive notification e-mails should confirm the delivery of their applications with the Human Resources Department.
For inquiries regarding this position, please contact the Human Resources section on the above email address.
Closing date for applications is 4.00pm, Friday 5 July 2019
Late applications may not be considered.
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JOB DESCRIPTION
About the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
The role of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is to advance the interests of Australia and Australians internationally. This involves strengthening Australia’s security, enhancing Australia’s prosperity, delivering an effective and high quality overseas aid program and helping Australian travellers and Australians overseas.
The department provides foreign, trade and development policy advice to the Australian Government. DFAT also works with other Australian government agencies to drive coordination of Australia’s pursuit of global, regional and bilateral interests.
About the position
This position manages DFAT’s Consular and Passports program inclusive of passport application and issue in accordance with the Consular Handbook, Passport Acts 2005 and better practice principles, and consular caseload including the meeting of operational requirements such as late night duty and out of city travel.
The key responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:
- High level management of the consular caseload including arrests/detentions, hospitalisations, medical evacuations, deaths, and whereabouts cases of Australian citizens
- Maintain statistics and written records of cases, including reporting to the DFAT in Canberra.
- Maintain hardcopy files of caseload documentation and provide advice to clients regarding Australian Government departments, local lawyers, local medical/dentist options
- Maintain relevant information databases and local consular instructions
- Develop and maintain a strong network of key contacts with the local authorities and emergency organisations relating to consular and passport functions
- Accompany Australian consular officials to meetings as required and provide high-level interpreting services
- Prepare official written communication for authorities in both English and Chinese languages
- Assist in the preparation and maintenance of the Consulate’s consular contingency plans
- Provide on-call consular duty services
- Assist with management of passport services, including processing passport applications and conducting client interviews with Australian citizens in accordance with the Australian Passport Act
- Maintain issued stocks of emergency passports and laminates
- Manage procedures relating to Australian diplomatic staff including the renewal of Australian staff diplomatic ID cards, provision of advice to Australian diplomatic staff, maintenance of Australian diplomatic staff information including expiry dates of Australian passports and Chinese visas
SELECTION CRITERIA
- Strong communication and negotiation skills including high level liaison. Ability to provide services to a wide range of clients, including handling of difficult and distressed clients and those involved in sensitive situations.
- Fluent in written and spoken English and Mandarin, Cantonese language skills would be an advantage. Demonstrated high level interpretation and translation skills.
- Ability to interpret and implement Australian government legislation and policies.
- Demonstrated problem solving skills with an ability to work with limited direction from supervisor.
- Demonstrated organisation and time management skills, inclusive of attention to detail.
- Experience in computer applications such as Microsoft. Ability to acquire knowledge of Consulate specific computer applications.
- Previous experience working in a Consulate environment an advantage.
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