Job Summary

A fascinating, fast paced, and rewarding career at the centre of world events.

Job Description

This is an exciting time to be joining the Diplomatic and Development Fast Stream, at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

The FCDO’s purpose is to lead the government’s diplomatic, development and consular work in the UK and across 165+ countries and territories.

We seek individuals with a genuine commitment to embrace the new Diplomatic and Development Fast Stream. The scheme is no longer a London only scheme. It is now a five-year scheme, and you will be expected to be fully mobile within the UK (including undertaking placements in both London and Glasgow) and overseas whilst on the scheme.

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 aim to recruit a talented and diverse workforce, which reflects the communities we serve.

The Civil Service is a diverse organisation with so much to offer individuals seeking an impactful career at the centre of world events. The Fast Stream will support you as you develop the skills and experience needed to flourish in this fast-paced, challenging and rewarding environment. The world is constantly changing, your time on the Fast Stream will be shaped to equip you with the skills and experience needed for a successful, internationally focussed career in leadership and management roles.

You will need to be flexible with a willingness to be fully mobile within the UK and overseas whilst on the scheme. No two fast streamers will share the same career path: while each role undertaken will require different skills to succeed, all roles will provide exposure to a wide range of opportunities.

You’ll have the opportunity to formulate and implement policy, engage with key stakeholders and build a portfolio of skills in both international development and diplomacy. The Fast Stream will equip you for a challenging and rewarding career in the Civil Service.

All Diplomatic and Development fast streamers must be granted ‘Developed Vetting’ (DV) security clearance before starting. For DV clearance, you need to have lived in the UK for 5 of the last 10 years, including a consecutive 12-month period. Security clearance relies on assurance checks that can only be carried out in the UK – which is why a sufficient UK footprint is a mandatory requirement.

You can also apply for the Diplomatic and Development Economics scheme, providing you meet the eligibility criteria.

Person specification

British citizen (those with dual nationality may apply)
Resided in the UK for at least 5 of the previous 10 years, including a consecutive 12-month period
You need to hold (or expect to achieve) a 2:2 degree, degree apprenticeship or higher in any subject
Existing civil servants can apply without a degree

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

Making Effective Decisions
Seeing the Big Picture
Changing and Improving
Communicating and Influencing
Working Together
Developing Self and Others

Alongside your salary of £31,186, contributes £9,034 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

You’ll have a unique opportunity to work on issues that really matter across the UK and globally. The scheme provides the ideal foundation for promotion and long term career progression.

Joining the FCDO as a permanent employee, you’ll have access to a range of benefits including the Civil Service Pension Scheme, recognised language qualifications, season ticket loans, sports and social activities, childcare assistance, diversity support/networks/forums and more.

Selection process details

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

There are several phases in the Fast Stream application process. Some of these assessments are multimedia in that they present information in video, audio, graphical or visual formats, as well as text. We hope you find it an engaging process and one that gives you a real insight into the role of a fast streamer.

At the initial application stage you will be asked to complete some background information which will include some diversity questions - which are for monitoring purposes only and will have no bearing on selection outcomes - along with the opportunity to identify your preferences in terms of the different Fast Stream schemes. You can choose up to four.

When you apply please register with a personal email address, and not a work or university email address.

Assessment Phases

There Are 3 Online Tests

Using Data - In this test you will be asked to weigh up options and to make decisions on different scenarios, perform calculations, solve problems and evaluate and interpret numerical information.

Work-based scenarios - This test measures interpersonal skills, utilising video based scenarios and you are required to assess the effectiveness of various responses.

Case Study assessment - In this test you are required to take Work based scenarios on an imaginary role, learning and responding to a series of challenges and situations and adapting to the changes you are presented with.

Additional information - depending on the schemes you have chosen, there may be additional information to be completed, or an intermediate sift process.

The FSAC reflects some of the key elements of a Fast Stream role and will consist of a Written Advice Exercise, Stakeholder Communication Exercise and Personal Development Conversation. Information will be presented via an app that you will be able to access remotely on a laptop.

Final Selection Board - most schemes will then require a Final Selection Board. We'll ask you to attend this final assessment if you reach the required standard at FSAC.

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

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window) . See our vetting charter (opens in a new window) .

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality Requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

UK nationals
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window) .

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) .

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact

Name : faststream.applicationsupport@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Email : faststream.applicationsupport@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email : faststream.applicationsupport@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service at: cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: info@csc.gov.uk.

For further information on the Recruitment Principles, and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.

https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/fast-stream/

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