Vice Consul - British Consulate General Chicago

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 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.

As 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 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. 

Please note. 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.

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 such as arranging and conducting citizenship ceremonies.
• 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 
• Exceptionally, participating in call-out arrangements for emergency cases out of hours when our Global Response Centre in London requests additional support.
• “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. Respond to crisis events as necessary.  
• 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.
• The Vice Consul role manages one Pro-Consul

Essential qualifications, skills and experience  

• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, including the ability to communicate at all levels.  
• 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.
• Substantial relevant work experience (to include working with the public and staff management skills)
• Experience of line management 
• Experience of managing outreach programmes including undertaking a wide variety of public speaking duties.  
• 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.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience  

• A valid driving license
• Budget management experience 

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

Eligibility

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 dependant, 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. 

You may refer to our website for additional information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-the-usa.

Core Hours/Hybrid Working

While many jobs in the US Network are able to offer flexibility in terms of working hours, 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.

As this is a job share, the working pattern is expected to be Wednesday (half day) full day Thursday and Friday. Consular teams provide a front-line service to British nationals and there may be times when remote working is not possible. 

All working hours and hybrid working are position specific and subject to change at any time, without notice. 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.

Learning and Development

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.).   

Additional information  

The deadline for applications is 23:55 (Local Time) on 28 July 2026

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 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

Job Category  

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Consular Roles)

Job Subcategory  

Consular

Required behaviours  

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

Grade  

Executive Officer (EO)

Type of Position  

Permanent, Part-Time, Jobshare

Working hours per week  

20hrs per week - Wednesday pm (4 hours) and Thursday and Friday (8 hours each)

Region  

Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories

Country/Territory  

United States

Location (City)  

Chicago

Type of Post  

British Consulate General

Number of vacancies  

1

Salary  

USD $30.38 per hour

Start Date  

14 September 2026