Australian Embassy
Greece
Bulgaria, Romania

EOI - Honorary Consul Sofia

Call for expressions of interest

Honorary Consul, Sofia

 

Title

Honorary Consul, Sofia

Reports to

Consul, Australian Embassy Athens

Contract

Appointment is for three (3) years, extendable, with nominal commencement date of November 2024.

One (1) year initial probation period.

Nationality  

Australian citizen, or non-Australian with a personal connection to Australia

Annual Honorarium

AUD 7,500

 

About the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)

The role of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is to advance the interests of Australia and Australians internationally.  This involves strengthening Australia’s security, enhancing Australia’s prosperity, delivering an effective and high quality overseas aid program and helping Australian travellers and Australians overseas.

The department provides foreign, trade and development policy advice to the Australian Government.  DFAT also works with other Australian government agencies to drive coordination of Australia’s pursuit of global, regional and bilateral interests.

 

About the position

We are seeking expressions of interest for the position of Honorary Consul for Australia in Sofia, Bulgaria. The ideal candidate is an Australian, or a non-Australian with a personal connection to Australia, with good standing in and access to the political, bureaucratic, commercial and media community of Bulgaria. The successful candidate will need to be of independent means, so they are not financially dependent on the honorarium provided by the Australian Government. They should also have strong organisational and communication skills, including the ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of people. Specific training on passports and consular duties will be provided to the successful applicant.

The functions of the role and the selection criteria that the Australian Embassy in Athens will use to assess applicants’ suitability for the position are outlined below. 

 

Position summary

The Honorary Consul provides assistance to Australians in accordance with the Consular Services Charter and in consultation with the Australian Embassy, Athens.

 

Key functions of the role include, but are not limited to:

  • providing consular assistance to Australian citizens
  • providing passport assistance to Australian citizens, including conducting passport interviews when accredited by the Australian Passport Office to do so
  • maintaining good relations with the Bulgarian Government and local authorities in areas relevant to Australia's consular and other interests and, when explicitly requested by the Australian Embassy, Athens, acting as a communication channel between it and the Bulgarian Government
  • providing enquirers about visiting and migrating to Australia with contact details for the Department of Home Affairs
  • maintaining contact with the resident Australian community
  • assisting in increasing Australian commercial interests in Bulgaria
  • assisting in furthering Australian cultural, educational, scientific and technological interests in Bulgaria
  • assisting in building general public awareness of Australia in Bulgaria through, for example, the dissemination of information on Australia
  • engaging in ceremonial and public affairs activities as a representative of Australia, as requested/authorised by the Australian Embassy, Athens
  • assisting in administrative arrangements for visiting Australian officials.

 

 Selection Criteria

The successful applicant should:

  • be an Australian citizen or non-Australian with a personal connection to Australia
  • be a long-term resident of Bulgaria intending to remain in Sofia for at least three (3) years
  • possess strong knowledge of the political, business and media landscape in Bulgaria
  • possess office accommodation in Sofia of an appropriate professional standard, suitable for use as a consulate for the representation of Australia's interests
  • be fluent in English and Bulgarian  
  • be financially independent and have sufficient time to perform the various functions, including meeting the reasonable expectations of Australians who might seek assistance
  • be of good character, with no criminal record and no criminal charges or investigations pending.

 

Please email the following documents to [email protected] by 13 May 2024:

  • Curriculum vitae
  • One page expression of interest addressing the selection criteria
  • Contact details for two referees.