View Vacancy – Vice Consul, Chicago (Part Time)

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.

Job Category

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Consular Roles)

Job Subcategory

Consular

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

The British Government’s Consulate in Chicago is offering an exciting opportunity to join the Consular Team as part time Vice Consul. This is a meaningful role which supports and further develops the special relationship between the UK and the US – contributing to work shaping international diplomacy to make a real difference globally. This is a job-share working 20 hours per week.

The US Network offers a unique, career-enhancing opportunity and is committed to supporting its staff through a comprehensive benefits package- including generous leave, competitive insurance options, a top-tier 401(k) programme, and access to world-class learning and development resources.

We are committed to fostering a healthy work-life balance and supporting employee wellbeing through a structured hybrid working model that includes opportunities for remote work and flexible hours, where operational needs allow.

In this role, you will be part of a dynamic international environment spanning the British Government’s extensive network across the United States and the United Kingdom, which includes the Embassy in Washington, the UK Mission to the United Nations, multiple Consulates, and other Government Offices—comprising over 900 staff and supporting the work of approximately 30 UK government departments and agencies.

A Vice Consul in the Consular Team, you will work with your job share partner to contribute to strengthening UK-US collaboration by providing consular assistance to British nationals in the States covered by Chicago – Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Positioned within the Consulate in Chicago, you will be will be part of the America’s consular network reporting to the Consular Regional Operations Manager (CROM). You will work closely with internal stakeholders such as policy and media teams along with senior leadership, and external partners including US government agencies and other diplomatic missions. This role supports the UK’s broader strategic objectives in delivery of consular services to British nationals abroad and offers valuable experience in international engagement and cross-government collaboration.

We’re looking for a proactive and collaborative professional with experience in supporting people in difficult situations. You’ll bring strong communication and prioritization skills and a commitment to provide a high standard of assistance to British nationals.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Managing the provision of consular assistance in accordance with current guidelines, including visiting British nationals in hospital or in jail, and providing support to family members following bereavement, a child abduction or custody matter, and providing advice and assistance following a rape or sexual assault.
• Overseeing casework and managing to a satisfactory conclusion ensuring service standards and consular public targets are met;
• Liaising with US authorities, members of the public and their legal representatives, airlines and tour operators, and British Government Departments in order to achieve strategic goals.
• Designing, costing and implementing an effective Prevention strategy for the consular district and monitoring and reporting budget expenditure;
• Proactively leading on consular issues at the Consulate-General, including representing the consular view at key internal and external meetings and activities, including some public speaking duties.
• Maintaining close links with local authorities including, but not limited to, law enforcement, correctional facilities, medical examiners, hospitals, morgues and mental health facilities.
• Maintaining close and proactive dialogue with the Consular Regional Operations Manager on matters within the consular district.
• Processing emergency travel document applications
• Planning and delivering all aspects of consular preparedness for the FIFA World Cup matches to be held in Kansas City in June and July 2026. Support the wider consular network in North America throughout the tournament period.
• Exceptionally, participating in call-out arrangements for emergency cases out of hours when our Global Response Centre in London requests additional support.
• Respond to crisis events as necessary. “Crisis” includes situations where the number of British nationals in need of support exceeds the Consular team’s capacity and necessitates a wider response, for instance following a mass casualty incident. This role will lead on Consular aspects of crisis preparedness and response, including ensuring emergency equipment is tested regularly and fit for purpose. Ensure that the Consular team is fully trained and understand their role in a crisis, and that the wider Consulate General is equipped to support Consular in case of crisis.
• Contributing to a positive local working environment at the Consulate General, including undertaking a non-consular internal responsibility which supports this (eg. First Aider, organising team building events, mentoring).
• Supporting colleagues in other parts of the America’s consular network as required.

Resources Managed:

• The Vice Consul manages one Pro Consul.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Substantial relevant work experience including working with the public, supporting people in difficult situations and staff management.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, including the ability to communicate at all levels.
• Experience of managing outreach programmes.
• Ability to prioritise, effectively manage and execute multiple tasks.
• Proficiency in IT and MS Office.
• Initiative, drive & determination with superior problem-solving skills, sound judgement, common sense and the ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Experience of line management.
• A good knowledge of multi-cultural Britain, its language, and geography.
• An ability to handle distressing situations and engage with vulnerable people while remaining compassionate, resilient and effective.
• Proficiency in English language

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• A valid driving license
• Budget Management Experience

Required behaviours

Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Seeing the Big Picture

Application deadline

21 December 2025

Grade

Executive Officer (EO)

Type of Position

Permanent, Part-Time

Working hours per week

20

Region

Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories

Country/Territory

United States

Location (City)

Chicago

Type of Post

British Consulate General

Salary Currency

USD

Salary

$30.38

Type of Salary

hourly

Start Date

2 February 2026

Other benefits and conditions of employment

All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work.

You must have the right to live and work in the US in order to take up this role, whether in your own right or as a dependent, and be able to demonstrate that when required. If you are not a US citizen, dual US citizen or US Permanent Resident, it is your responsibility check your eligibility to work for a foreign government in the United States, and specifically to work in this role at this location, and provide proof of your eligibility via an Employment Authorisation Document or other relevant document when required. The UK Government does not routinely sponsor work visas; the job advertisement will state clearly whether sponsorship is available.

The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communicating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).

Working Patterns

As this is a job share, the working pattern will be Wednesday (half day) full day Thursday and Friday.

Core business hours are 09:30 to 15:00 (in the local time zone) Monday through Friday.

Employees will be expected to work from office full-time during the first 90 days of employment. After this time employees may work from home no more than 40% of the working week, subject to operational needs.

All working hours and hybrid working are position specific and subject to change at any time, without notice. Consular teams provide a front line service to British nationals and there may be times when remote working is not possible. If you have any questions, please address them with the hiring manager.

Consular Work

You will sometimes be expected to deal with people going through very difficult/stressful, even traumatic, experiences. We recognise this may affect our staff and we provide wellbeing support to help manage their own experience of these challenging situations.

Unique Tax Rules

Please note that the tax arrangements imposed by the US on staff working for foreign governments, as well as those imposed by the UK Treasury on British and dual nationals working for the UK Government overseas, are atypical. The UK Government cannot withhold taxes (including FICA) on behalf of a US taxpayer. Instead, a US taxpayer is required to file taxes as if they are self-employed, and a FICA allowance is granted for those required to pay the employer contribution. Certain categories of staff (for example dual UK-US nationals and some visa holders) who work at Consulates General are not subject to US taxes. For those not subject to US taxes the UK Government reduces gross pay to a level broadly equivalent to taxed net pay. There are also social security implications for dual UK-US nationals. Please keep all this in mind when looking at the salary and the benefits package. If you are offered a job with the UK’s US Network you will be given further tax and social security information relevant to your personal circumstances and place of work; you are advised to consider this information and its impact on your circumstances carefully – potentially with the advice of a tax professional – before accepting a job.

Additional information

Closing date of receiving applications is before 23:55 (Local Time) on 21st December 2025

All applicants must fully complete the online application form, including the sections for employment and educational details, experience, and behaviour-based questions. Only those applications that contain all required information will be considered. To ensure the sift process remains anonymous, please do not include any personally identifiable information in your application form.

Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.