Consular Affairs Officer

**A. BASIC DETAILS**

Job title : Consular Affairs Officer

Mission: : Singapore - Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Job level : scale 6

Number of hours : 37.5 per week

**SPECIFIC INFORMATION**

In the position as Consular Affairs Officer you work in a small team at our Consular Affairs department. The Consular Affairs Officer works closely together with the Senior Consular Affairs Officer. The Consular Affairs Officer is accountable to the Head of the Consular department.

The Consular Affairs Officer does not only provide consular services, but also informs authorities and interested third parties on legislation (and its interpretation) in the assigned field of work, implements specific regulations and performs various sensitive/complex duties. The Consular Affairs Officer must be fully familiar with virtually every facet of consular work, including those that are more sensitive and complex.

Substantive knowledge and understanding of Operational Processes are required for the preparation, organisation and execution of the work. Also required is the ability to independently adapt one’s approach and the execution and progress of one’s own work in the event of irregularities, delays, etc.

**B.1.1 RESULT AREAS AND RESULTS**

**1. Consular services**

**2. Information and knowledge transfer**

**3. Implementation of specific regulations**

**4. General Support
**B.1.2 TASKS**

**1. Consular services**
- Providing customers with background and other information and giving them guidelines and advice (orally and in writing) on various regulations, laws, policy and other measures and goals of agreed consular policy and related legislation. It is of great importance to use platforms at The Ministry where possible as agreed in the PDC (Product Services Catalogue);
- Providing Consular Assistance to Dutch nationals in line with the rules and regulations set by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Netherlands;
- Provide social consular assistance in consultation with HDCV if necessary;

**2. Information and knowledge transfer**
- Informing authorities and interested third parties on legislation (and its interpretation) in the assigned field of work;

**3. **Implementation of specific regulations**
- Providing substantive support by preparing advice and decisions (on nationality issues, recognition, visas, etc.) and, in that connection, gathering information and assessing it in the light of existing legislation, regulations, instructions, guidelines and applicable case law;
- Keeping the daily financial records, and records of fees

**4. Exams**
- Scheduling exam appointments and invigilating the Basic Integration Exams (for MVV and Naturalization) with arrangements through DUO;
**5. General support**
- Handling legal documents received through diplomatic pouches from DJZ/NR. Forwarding them with diplomatic notes to the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) for its assistance to lend its good offices to serve the requested writs. Updating DJZ/NR on MFA responses to the requests. Returning acknowledged documents to DJZ/NR through diplomatic pouches. Vice versa if there are requests from local MFA;
- Handling the regular incoming diplomatic pouches by distributing to the relevant staff and acknowledging receipt in SSP. Preparing the regular outgoing diplomatic pouches and informing through SSP. Communicating with the local agency on the delivery of these pouches.
- If necessary provide assistance at the General Affairs department.
- Provide assistance in case of a consular emergency after office hours.

**B.2 FRAMEWORK**

**B.3 CONTACTS**
- With third parties, to obtain and provide information of the progress of clerical processing of cases.
- With local authorities and interest groups, to help them interpret relevant legislation;
- With ministerial and inter-ministerial bodies/institutions, including the Senior Consular Affairs Department in The Hague HDCVand the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), to obtain their cooperation concerning the way in which the legislation is to be implemented when carrying out the work;
- With Honorary Consul in Brunei, in particular in emergencies.

**B.4 KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS**
- Knowledge of the relevant legislation and regulations (consular matters, visas, etc.) and implementation provisions or (proven) ability to quickly acquire the relevant knowledge;
- Knowledge of relevant policy on migration and consular affairs, aspects of implementation in relation to International Agreements and national legislation and case law, and the legislation and regulations in force;
- Knowledge of the relevant computerised and other systems, including DAM-RD, VIB, GBA, Hermes, CRM, Comma, NVIS, Kairos, SharePoint, online appointment system and Sophia and skill in using them;
**COMPETENCES**
- Customer friendly attitude, perfect social skills
- Accurate
- Flexible
- Integrity
- Ability to prioritise
- Ability to plan and organise

**B.6 LEVEL OF EDUCAT