Administrative Officers

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office pursues our national interests and projects the UK’s role in the world. We promote the interests of British citizens, safeguard the UK’s security, defend our values, reduce poverty and tackle global challenges with our international partners. We employ more than 17,000 staff in 179 countries and territories, across our diplomatic and development offices worldwide, which consists of 282 officially designated Posts. Our UK-based staff work in King Charles Street, London, Abercrombie House in East Kilbride and Hanslope Park in Milton Keynes.

We are looking to recruit talented and enthusiastic individuals to join the FCDO at Administrative Officer (AO) level. You will have excellent organisation skills, take responsibility for your own work, and be committed to high standards of customer service. The positions are Home Civil Service roles based in King Charles Street (London), Hanslope Park (Milton Keynes) or Abercrombie House (East Kilbride) providing administrative support and corporate services to the rest of the FCDO in the UK and overseas. These tasks are essential for the FCDO to deliver its departmental strategic objectives and to support its global network.

Administrative Officers provide professional office administration and support on transactions processing, projects, budgets, customer services functions, and internal and external communications.

We will configure roles to meet specific business needs, but they will typically include:

• Professional Office Administrative/Support: Creating and maintaining electronic filing systems; databases and distribution lists; dealing with telephone and email enquiries; organising meetings/events and taking notes in meetings; maintaining stationery supplies; a corporate role such as fire warden or first aider, for which training will be provided.
• Project Management Support: Monitoring progress against objectives; ensuring projects remain on schedule; anticipating and managing risks; maintaining accurate records.
• Budget Management: Budget monitoring, requisitioning, and raising purchase orders, and manipulation of data using spreadsheets; assisting with budget forecasting; understanding commercial and procurement policies.
• Customer Services: Providing guidance to customers, dealing with them professionally and resolving queries within agreed timeframes

Open to UK nationals only.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Please see the ‘Hints and Tips’ that are provided for your information about how to prepare Behaviour examples at the Application and Interview stage.

Application Stage

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Verbal Test, Civil Service Numerical Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 26/10/2026. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

If you successfully pass these tests, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application which will comprise of the following:

• A CV detailing your employment history. CVs will be assessed against the Essential Criteria outlined in the Person Specification section above.
• A Personal Statement of 500 words explaining how you consider your skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with specific reference to the Essential Criteria. These responses will be explored further during the interview process for shortlisted candidates.

The Behaviours you will be assessed on at the application stage are as follows:

• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service

Please ensure that you allow sufficient time to complete the whole application process before the closing deadline.

IMPORTANT: If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme and require Reasonable Adjustments in order to complete your application/online tests, please ensure Government Recruitment Service (GRS) are aware of this on the date of application and certainly by the closing date.

In the event of a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift by a lead criterion. For this campaign we will be using your Personal Statement. Only candidates who meet the minimum standard in this will have the rest of their application fully assessed.

Interview Stage

At the start of your interview, you will be asked a non-assessed warm-up question about your motivation for applying for the role.

The Behaviours you will be assessed on during the interview are as follows:

• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions

After the Interviews, three Merit Lists will be created, one for roles in King Charles Street (London), one for Hanslope Park (Milton Keynes) and one for roles in Abercrombie House (East Kilbride). Successful candidates will be appointed in merit

order to the location that they selected a preference for at application stage.

Please note that the FCDO carries out name-blind (anonymised) recruitment to help build a more diverse and inclusive workforce. The personal information on your Application form and/or CV will be concealed during the sifting phase, and only the names of those who are being invited for Interviews will be made known to the Panel.

The FCDO has appointed the Government Recruitment Service to manage the process.

Please see the timetable below for indicative dates:

Closing date: for completed applications 23.55 on Monday 26th October 2026

Online Testing: Between Thursday 24th September and 23:55 on Monday 26th October 2026

Panel interview: Weeks commencing Monday 11th and Monday 18th January 2027

If you are successful at the application stage, you will be invited to attend a panel interview at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. This will be held remotely on Microsoft Teams and details will be given to candidates who are successful at the sift

stage. There may be other opportunities in the future. Candidates who meet the required level at interview, will be kept on a Reserve List for 12 months. Should this, or another substantially similar role arise within this period, we may fill it with a Reserve candidate

from this campaign. There is no guarantee that Reserves will be offered a role. If you are conditionally offered and accept a role your name will be removed from any other FCDO Reserve Lists. Please note that the FCDO will not reimburse any travel costs or expenses incurred

as part of the selection process.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via fcdorecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to FCDO from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems reading the Candidate Pack, such as through screen reader software, please contact our Team via fcdorecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk and we will share a Word version of this.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.