Protocol & Operations Specialist

About the Mission

The High Commission of Barbados located in Nairobi serves as the official diplomatic presence of Barbados in Kenya, also extending its accreditation to Rwanda, Tanzania, Botswana, and South Africa. It acts as the Permanent Mission to the United Nations Environment Programme and UN-HABITAT, and functions as the regional headquarters for Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. across the Middle East and Africa. Its core responsibilities include managing diplomatic protocol, promotion of trade and investment, public diplomacy initiatives, high-level ministerial visits, and effective information governance across its jurisdictions.

Role Overview

This role is a 12-month contract (with renewal options) requiring an accomplished, proactive professional with a strong sense of initiative and ability to work under pressure without ongoing supervision. The workload varies significantly, necessitating calm, analytical responses to emergent diplomatic and logistical challenges. The Specialist must think systemically, anticipate potential operational delays, and take ownership to manage competing priorities and deliver complex assignments to completion. Since the role necessitates direct interaction for protocol liaison and event coordination, it requires on-site presence at the Chancery.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage technical processing for diplomatic privileges, tax exemptions, and clearances using the Integrated Protocol Management Information System (IPMIS).
• Engage with Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, NTSA, and relevant government bodies to handle privileges applications and resolve administrative bottlenecks.
• Submit formal documents and retrieve finalized clearances on behalf of the High Commission while maintaining up-to-date tracking of pending protocol affairs.
• Identify and support public diplomacy opportunities, trade events, cultural exhibitions, tourism activations, and outreach to strategic audiences like students, investors, and remote workers.
• Create and implement narrative-driven digital storytelling campaigns to promote Barbados’ culture and economy across East and Southern Africa.
• Provide communications management by monitoring the Mission's general correspondence, escalating sensitive issues appropriately, and maintaining a stakeholder map including institutional, business, and media contacts.
• Oversee VIP transit, handle high-pressure logistical arrangements during official visits and summits, including comprehensive conference management and travel coordination for delegations.
• Support policy research by gathering local insights, tracking action items, and assisting with diplomatic staff liaison.
• Maintain and modernize document management, indexing, and filing systems and prepare briefing materials for bilateral engagements.
• Coordinate property and facilities maintenance non-financially, conduct regular inspections, and report issues.
• Disseminate operational policies internally and provide responsive support to diplomatic staff.

Candidate Profile

• Experience within diplomatic missions, international organizations, or UN agencies with strong familiarity of diplomatic protocols and workflows.
• Demonstrated ability to think systemically and independently manage complex administrative systems.
• Proven capability to perform effectively under pressure, prioritize critical tasks, and resolve complex issues calmly without supervision.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with professionalism, emotional intelligence, and the ability to liaise assertively but respectfully across cultural and bureaucratic systems.

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in International Relations, Public Administration, Business, Communications, or a related field with at least two years relevant experience.
• Highly self-motivated with excellent numeracy, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Fluency in English and Kiswahili.
• Ability to undergo and maintain compliance with intensive institutional security clearance.
• Kenyan citizenship or valid work authorization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with the Integrated Protocol Management Information System (IPMIS).
• Experience managing large-scale conference logistics including registrations, travel bookings, and itinerary planning.
• Background in coordinating building maintenance and managing physical asset inventories.
• Portfolio showing digital public diplomacy content creation or campaign management.

Remuneration and Terms

The contract offers a monthly gross fee of KES 320,000 fixed for the duration with no additional employment benefits, leave, or medical cover. This is a contractor engagement managed through Fuzu, requiring demonstrated legal right to work within Kenya. Competency-based assessments and interviews will be conducted as part of the selection process. Solicitation results in disqualification; no walk-ins accepted.