Diary Secretary to His Majesty’s Ambassador, Washington DC

The British Embassy in Washington DC is looking for an experienced and proactive Diary Secretary/Scheduler to support His Majesty’s Ambassador to the United States. This role sits at the heart of one of the UK’s most important diplomatic missions and supports the delivery of the UK’s broader strategic objectives in the United States. It offers a unique opportunity to gain experience in international engagement, high-level stakeholder management, and cross-government collaboration. Working to the Chief of Staff, you will play a central role in managing the Ambassador's schedule and shaping the strategic deployment of their time. As the Ambassador's scheduler, you will oversee a complex and high-profile programme of engagements, ensuring competing demands are balanced effectively and that the Ambassador's time is focused on advancing the Embassy's highest priorities. You will act as a trusted adviser to the Ambassador, Chief of Staff and senior staff, providing sound judgement and recommendations on prioritisation, stakeholder engagement and programme decisions. Operating at the heart of the Ambassador's office, you will lead detailed discussions with colleagues across the Embassy, wider US Network and Whitehall, as well as with external stakeholders, to coordinate and refine the Ambassador's programme. You will build strong relationships with senior officials and diplomatic contacts, challenge and assess bids for the Ambassador's time, and ensure engagements are strategically selected, meticulously planned and delivered seamlessly. Through proactive oversight and effective stakeholder management, you will help maximise the Ambassador's impact and support the delivery of wider UK objectives in the US. This is a busy, varied and rewarding role at the heart of the Embassy. It offers exposure to some of the most important and high-profile issues in the UK-US relationship and provides insight into the work of the Ambassador and wider senior leadership team. The successful candidate will become a valued member of a friendly, collaborative and high-performing office. In this role, you will work at the centre of the British Embassy and its network of Consulates General across the USA, comprising more than 900 staff and supporting the work of approximately 30 UK Government departments and agencies. Roles and responsibilities: Lead management of the Ambassador's schedule, exercising judgement to balance competing priorities and maximise the strategic use of the Ambassador's time. Coordinate and prioritise meetings, events, calls and engagements, providing clear recommendations on scheduling decisions and emerging priorities. Assess and manage invitations to the Ambassador, evaluating opportunities against Embassy objectives and advising on engagement priorities. Oversee and coordinate requests for use of the Ambassador's Residence. Engage with senior stakeholders across the Embassy, wider US Network and Whitehall to resolve competing demands. Maintain oversight of schedule changes, ensuring effective communication and swift resolution of scheduling challenges. Develop and sustain trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders, serving as a key point of contact for matters relating to the Ambassador's schedule. Provide agile support to the wider Private Office team, contributing to the effective operation of the Ambassador's office and delivery of mission priorities. Essential on arrival: Previous experience of scheduling/diary management required. Excellent secretarial skills, including touch and/or speed typing and proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite. Excellent organisational skills and a keen eye for detail. Strong team player who can multitask and work flexibly based on the changing needs of the team and business. Excellent verbal/written communication and senior stakeholder management skills. Must hold one of the following passports: UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand. Language requirements: Level of language required: Expert Desirable qualifications, skills and experience : Previous experience working in a private office, executive support, diplomatic, or government environment. #J-18808-Ljbffr