Call for expressions of interest
Honorary Consul Guayaquil - Open
Reports to: Australian Embassy to Chile and Ecuador
Contract Term: one year trial period, with the possibility of the Embassy to extend the position for up to three (3) years.
Annual honorarium: AUD 9,000 p/a
About the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) advances the interests of Australia and Australians internationally. DFAT works to strengthen Australia's security, enhance Australia's prosperity, deliver Australia's development program and provide consular assistance to Australians overseas.
About the position
The Australian Government is seeking expressions of interest for the position of Honorary Consul in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
The Honorary Consul plays an important role in supporting Australia's presence in Ecuador by providing consular and passport services to Australian citizens and fostering strong relationships with Ecuadorian authorities, business leaders and local communities.
The Honorary Consul may be an Australian citizen or a non-Australian with a personal connection to Australia. The successful applicant must be a long-term resident of Guayaquil and intend to remain there for at least five years.
The appointment is for three years and is subject to a one-year probation period. Following the probation period, the appointment will be reviewed before being confirmed for the remainder of the term. The role is expected to require approximately 4-6 hours per week, although additional time may be required depending on operational and consular demands. The role may be undertaken alongside other professional commitments.
The successful applicant should have a strong reputation within Ecuador and demonstrated access to and influence within political, bureaucratic, commercial and media networks. They should possess strong organisational and communication skills and a sound understanding of the local operating environment.
Principal functions of the position include, but are not limited to:
- providing consular assistance on behalf of the supervising post
- maintaining contact with the resident Australian community
- providing travellers emergency loans (TELs) to Australian citizens needing temporary financial assistance, on instruction from the supervising post
- conducting passport interviews with the public on behalf of the supervising post
- issuing a provisional travel document if approved by the supervising post
- maintaining good relations with the host government or local authorities where relevant to Australia’s consular interests
- representing Australia with local authorities and the host government. This includes acting as a communication channel for the supervising post when requested
- promoting Australian trade, economic, commercial, cultural, educational, scientific, and technological interests
- helping with post or high-level visits
- helping to build public awareness of Australia in their jurisdiction
- engaging in ceremonial and public affairs activities as a representative of Australia, as requested or authorised by the supervising post
- directing enquiries about travelling to Australia or importing or taking goods to Australia to the relevant Australian Government website, as provided by the supervising post.
Selection criteria:
The applicant must:
- be a long-term resident of Guayaquil
- possess office accommodation in Guayaquil of an appropriate professional standard in terms of quality, security, facilities, and location which are suitable to use as a consulate to represent Australia's interests
- have good standing in, access to and influence with the political, bureaucratic, commercial and media community of the host country, city or territory.
- be fluent in English and Spanish
- They are of independent means and will not be financially dependent on the honorarium provided by the Australian Government.
- They have enough time to perform their functions. This includes meeting the reasonable expectations of Australians who might seek assistance. DFAT expects the honorary consul to maintain regular office hours open to the public.
- be able to obtain a police clearance.
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How to Apply
Your application must include the following two documents (in English):
- A current two-page Curriculum Vitae in English, including at least two referees (Note: The Selection Advisory Commitee may contact referees at any stage of the recruitment process, including on application).
- A one-page Expression of Interest
Email your submission to [email protected] with the subject in the following format:
Applicant Name - Honorary Consul
e.g. "John A. Citizen – Honorary Consul"
Applications should be submitted by 11PM Sunday 30 August, Guayaquil time. Late applications are generally not considered.
In line with Embassy policy, individual feedback on applications is available only to interviewed applicants.