Senior Protocol Officer (Inward and Outward Visits)

Eligibility

This role is open to House of Commons, Parliamentary Digital Service and R&R Client Team employees only.

Introduction 

The Speaker's Office provides support to the Speaker of the House of Commons in the execution of his official duties. The Speaker’s Office team undertakes work ranging from:

• Ensuring that the business in the Chamber runs smoothly before the House sits and during the sitting itself (producing speaking lists, processing requests for urgent questions and ministerial statements, giving the Speaker guidance when in the Chair);
• Responding to Members, colleagues and public about points of procedure and handling a high volume and wide range of other queries;
• Arranging official events and international conferences, overseeing diplomatic and protocol arrangements for a variety of meetings with senior stakeholders;
• Managing heritage state apartments with works of art and historical objects collections;
• Managing the Speaker’s social media channels and producing internal and external communications;
• Supporting the Speaker in his various roles as Chair of the House of Commons Commission, Speaker’s Committee on IPSA, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, Honorary Joint- President of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK (CPA UK) and British Group Inter-Parliamentary Union (BGIPU).

The Role 

This is a new and exciting role in the Speaker’s Office supporting Head of Protocol to deliver a high-quality inwards and outwards visits programme.

It is an exciting opportunity for a highly organised individual to help deliver and inwards and outwards visits programme for the Speaker. You help deliver a high quality, purposeful and engaging programme. This role plays a vital part in supporting Speaker-led diplomacy, both nationally and internationally; consequently, offering the postholder challenge, variety, and opportunities for development.

Some of the responsibilities for this role include:

• Support the day-to-day delivery on the inwards visit programme for visiting Speakers and other VIPs by:
  • Provide the secretariat to any planning group for visits and produce action logs.
  • Liaising with internal teams to put together a programme that meets the aims and objectives of the visitor.
• Support the international outwards visits programme of the Speaker aligned with his aims and objectives by:
  • Provide the secretariat to any planning group for visits and produce action logs.
  • Produce all outward visit programme documentation ensuring all documents are of a high standard and are of a high quality.
• Support the Speakers attendance at key speaker conferences.
• Provide the secretariat to any planning group for visits and produce action logs.
• Produce all outward visit programme documentation ensuring all documents are of a high standard and are of a high quality.

Skills and Experience 

To be successful in this role you will demonstrate:

• Experience of supporting events through their planning, managing and delivering high quality events to budget and on time.
• Experience of supporting public engagement projects, including delivering high quality engagement programmes and activities.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to effectively prioritise tasks.
• Well-developed communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to communicate effectively to and with a wide range of stakeholders whilst upholding the values of equality, diversity and inclusion. 
• Understands the demands of Parliament and is able to be responsive and flexible to these demands with short notice. Understands how Parliament operates and the structure and decision-making processes of the Administrations of both Houses.

Next Steps and Additional Information

• Application Form - If you would like to apply for this role, please submit an application providing evidence against criteria 1-5 in the Job Description. 

More information on the role and the full criteria can be found in the Job Description.