Working for FCDO

This page explains how to find out about current FCDO civil service vacancies, recruitment policies, work experience, apprenticeships and internship schemes.


The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development (DfID) merged on 1 September 2020 to form the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

The FCDO pursues our national interests and projects the UK as a force for good 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.

Reasons to work for us

More and more people are looking for job satisfaction: the feeling that what they do is worthwhile and makes a positive difference to people’s lives. FCDO offers a diverse range of job opportunities in areas ranging from foreign policy to development. We lead the UK’s work on Global Britain and on ending extreme poverty. Our work aims to build a safer, healthier, more prosperous world for people globally, as well as in the UK.

About the FCDO

The FCDO is the UK government department responsible for protecting and promoting British interests around the world. We work in the UK and in 178 countries and territories.

We employ a diverse range of talented people capable of delivering to a high standard, often under pressure and sometimes in difficult places. We want the modern FCDO to reflect the very best of 21st century Britain. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified applicants irrespective of background or circumstances.

We welcome applications from all parts of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or background. We are committed to diversity and inclusion in all that we do. We encourage and support all staff to realise their potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.

In return, we guarantee a fascinating, personally rewarding career at the centre of world events. We regularly score highly in surveys of ‘employers graduates would most like to work for’. The Civil Service has been in the top 10 of the Times Top 100 Graduate Employers over the last decade.

Our staff

The FDCO employs around 17,300 staff in its diplomatic and development offices worldwide, who represent the UK and help protect UK nationals abroad. Roughly a third are UK-based civil servants, whose careers typically include roles both in the UK and overseas. Around two thirds are employed locally in other countries.

To learn more about our work, and what you could do, follow us on social media. To find jobs at the FDCO, visit the Civil Service Jobs website.

Recruitment

All new recruitment to the FCDO follows Civil Service Recruitment Principles.

We also participate in several Fast Stream schemes including:

Recruitment into the FCDO is usually either as a Generalist civil servant or as a Specialist eg; Research Analyst, lawyer etc. We advertise our vacancies on Civil Service Jobs, which explains the criteria and requirements for each role. In some cases, new staff will rotate between a variety of roles in the UK and overseas.

Apprenticeships

The FCDO has committed to developing its Apprenticeship Programme, contributing to the Government’s goal of 3 million apprenticeships by 31 March 2021. We have recruited apprentices in Business Administration, Customer Service, Public Relations and Communications, Human Resources, Finance (Accountancy) and Commercial Procurement. We normally recruit apprentices via Civil Service Jobs, and via the Government Communication Service Scheme.

Eligibility criteria for each apprenticeship programme can vary. We publish details in each recruitment advert, together with the FCDO’s entry requirements.

Level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship

We are seeking Business Administrator Apprentices who are motivated with good literacy, numeracy and IT skills. You will deliver critical, high-quality administrative services that will help our global network complete its vital work. Your work will cover a variety of areas across Human Resources, helping you build a range of skills and experience while working towards a Certificate in Business Administration.

Read more about the Level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship role and apply by Monday 28 February 2022.

Current vacancies

Communication Officer, London

This is an exciting opportunity to use and build your experience in communications at the heart of government, influencing public perceptions of the UK at a domestic and global level. The successful candidate will have exposure across the full spectrum of communications activity, working in close partnership with other government departments and our network of diplomatic missions around the world.

Find out more about the Communication Officer roles and apply by Monday 21 March 2022.

Senior Communication Officer

These are challenging opportunities at the heart of government. You will play a key role in influencing public perceptions of the UK at a domestic and global level. We are looking for outstanding and experienced communications professionals who demonstrate leadership and management skills and are capable of building strong working partnerships and providing advice and briefings to senior colleagues.

Find out more about the Senior Communication Officer roles and apply by Monday 21 March 2022.

Executive Assistant to Deputy Director

You will provide support to a Deputy Director who is blind. You will need a flexible approach and good interpersonal, communication and organisational skills. No experience of working with someone who is blind or partially sighted is needed as training and guidance will be provided. The role is based in London but there may be opportunities for travel.

Read more about the Executive Assistant to Deputy Director role and apply by 11:55pm on Monday 7 March 2022.

Head of Centre for Data and Analysis

The successful candidate will be responsible for building and leading the central analytical services in the FCDO supporting our vision to put data, evidence and analysis at the heart of our work. You will drive transformational changes to the FCDO’s skill base and its culture around the use of data, evidence and analysis.

Read more about the Head of Centre for Data and Analysis role and how to apply. Apply before 11:55pm on Monday 7 March 2022.

Information Communications Technology Senior Commercial Adviser

You will play a business-critical role in shaping the ICT commercial and procurement strategy for the FCDO. You will maintain a high level of category expertise and procurement capability within the team. This is a hands-on advisory role, covering all aspects of the commercial lifecycle from early engagement with stakeholders and pre-procurement, to procurement and delivery.

Administrative Officer (AO) roles (up to 50): London, East Kilbride and Hanslope Park

We are recruiting for roles across our organisation. Successful candidates will provide core administrative support and corporate services for our Directorates. Generalist positions will be allocated to meet business need. Applicants may find themselves in administrative roles, project or budget support roles or in some instances public facing roles. All roles contribute to delivery of UK government objectives.

Read more about our Administrative Officer roles and how to apply. Apply before 11:30am on 28 February 2022.

Executive Officer (EO) generalist roles (up to 50): London, East Kilbride and Hanslope Park

The successful candidates will be appointed to generalist roles based on business need. Our Executive Officer roles are varied and may be in policy, programme, service delivery or operational areas. Some roles will have line management responsibilities and some may be public facing. All roles contribute to delivery of UK government objectives.

Read more about our Executive Officer roles and how to apply. Apply before 11:30am on 28 February 2022.

Higher Executive Officer (HEO) generalist roles (up to 100): London, East Kilbride and Hanslope Park

The successful candidates will be matched to roles based on business need. HEO roles are the largest group by grade in the FCDO and no 2 roles are the same. We are looking for people who can motivate themselves and others to deliver and develop to high standards. Successful applicants should be prepared to provide team leadership, staff management, and policy or programme development and delivery. Most roles will operate with a degree of autonomy but supported by teams and management. The ability to see the bigger picture and anticipate issues and solutions is core to most roles at this grade.

Read more about our Higher Executive Officer roles and how to apply. Apply before 11:30am on 28 February 2022.

Head of ROSA Service Organisation

The successful candidate will lead and develop the Rosa team. You will build capacity and enable progressive change to meet the growing need within the UK government bodies for secure secret level communications. Working with others, you will ensure the Rosa offering remains one step ahead of a growing range of sophisticated threats to national security.

Read more about the Head of ROSA Service Organisation role and apply by 9am on Monday 28 February 2022.

Correspondence and Parliamentary Question Unit Case Worker

As a Case Worker in the Correspondence and Parliamentary Questions Unit, you will enjoy challenging and interesting work. The team deals with Written Parliamentary Questions to which Ministers need to respond on the public record, as well as correspondence casework. You will work closely with departments across FCDO, Private Offices, Ministers and Parliamentary Officials.

SEO Programme Benefits Manager, London

The successful candidate will proactively identify, quantify and track the realisation of benefits used to justify investment in the 5-year Resilient Consular Services Programme. You will help us define and implement a ‘fit for purpose’ approach to benefits measurement and realisation, and provide assurance that the benefits we have identified can be achieved by the programme.

Read more about the Programme Benefits Manager role and apply by Monday 28 February 2022.

You can find all our vacancies if you search by ‘Organisation’ on Civil Service Jobs site. We encourage you to visit this site regularly and set up vacancy alerts, so that you do not miss any opportunities.

Work experience

The FCDO aims to recruit a talented and diverse workforce, which reflects the society we serve. We aim to provide opportunities to gain beneficial work experience. To support this, we participate in the Leonard Cheshire Intern Programme, and the Department for Education Care Leavers Internship scheme, Cabinet office led Autism Exchange Programme and Summer Diversity Internship programme. Use these links to find out more about any of these programmes and how to apply. Find out more about ways to join the Civil Service.

To encourage interest in FCDO careers from a range of backgrounds, we offer work experience opportunities. We hope that, by creating the opportunity to sample working at the FCDO, participants will consider us as a future employer.

Undertaking work experience or an Internship with us does not guarantee future employment with the FCDO, or offer any preferential treatment in the selection processes. Recruitment for permanent employment is merit-based, in strict accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles.

Recruitment process

Before you apply for a job with us, you should read the following guidance:

Government Internal Fraud Initiative

FCDO participates in the Government Internal Fraud Initiative, in conjunction with the Cabinet Office. This protects the Civil Service and public funds against loss caused by internal fraud and dishonest conduct.

Under the initiative, a 5-year ban prohibits anyone dismissed for fraudulent or dishonest conduct from gaining employment in any participating department. People who resign or otherwise leave, but who would have been dismissed had they continued in employment, are also be subject to the ban.

Successful interview candidates to FCDO will be screened against the Cabinet Office database. The Cabinet Office use information on the outcome of any checks for monitoring and analysis purposes, and to ensure that checks are carried out. The data will also be used for research on preventing and detecting fraud. No data will be shared outside of the FCDO, Cabinet Office, Civil Service Resourcing, and other participating departments, except on an anonymised basis.