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.

Current vacancies

AdministrationParliamentary and Central Services Officers

HR services

ThereAn are interesting rolesrole withincoordinating theand Humanadvising Resourceson ServicesParliamentary Departmentactivity ofacross the FCDO. WeDepending areon lookingthe torole recruitand talentedteam, andyou enthusiasticcould individualsbe wholeading haveon goodParliamentary organisationalengagement skills,including takeParliamentary responsibilityquestions and MPs’ correspondence, producing complex briefing packs for theirthe ownForeign workSecretary, creating and aremaintaining committedelectronic management systems, or assisting with budget forecasting and contributing to highcommercial standardsand ofprocurement customerpolicies.

Find service.out Theymore willabout bethe providingParliamentary administrativeand supportCentral Services Officers roles and corporateapply servicesby 11:55pm on Monday 17 April 2023.

Administrative Officers (East Kilbride)

An opportunity to assist the FCDO in themeeting UKessential business needs. This is a generalist role, so you could be placed in any team. You could be asked to create and overseasmaintain electronic filing systems, provide HR guidance to teams, support project or budget management objectives, process payments in compliance with established procedures, or provide customer service.

Find out more about the AdministrationAdministrative OfficersOfficer roles in(East HR departmentsKilbride) and apply by 11:55pm on Monday,Monday 1 May 2023.

Finance

Administration operationOfficers and(Human public-facingResources services

services)

There are interesting roles within the financeHuman operationResources and public-facing Services departmentsDepartment withinof the FCDO. We We are looking forto recruit talented and enthusiastic individuals who possesshave good organisational skills, take responsibility for your own work and are committed to providing high standards of customer serviceservice. andYou whowill takebe responsibilityproviding for their own work.  These roles provide administrative support and corporate services to the FCDO in the UK and overseas.

ReadFind out more about the Administration OfficersOfficer roles in theHuman financeResources operation and public-facing services departments and apply by 11:55pm on Monday,Monday 1 May 2023.

ParliamentaryAdministration andOfficers Central(finance Servicesoperation Officersand public-facing services)

AnThere interestingare roleroles coordinatingwithin andthe advisingfinance onoperation Parliamentaryand activitypublic-facing acrossServices departments within the FCDO.. We Dependingare onlooking thefor roletalented and team,enthusiastic youindividuals couldwho bepossess leadinggood onorganisational Parliamentaryskills, engagementare includingcommitted Parliamentaryto questionsproviding andhigh MPs’standards correspondence,of producingcustomer complexservice briefingand packswho fortake theresponsibility Foreignfor Secretary,your creatingown andwork. These maintainingroles electronicprovide managementadministrative systems,support orand assistingcorporate withservices budgetto forecastingthe andFCDO contributingin tothe commercialUK and procurement policies.overseas.

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.