9 February 2012

The US Embassy wants a chaffeur

| johnboy
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The US Embassy has put out a call for applicants to be a Chauffeur to the Defense Attache Office.

For $49,483pa they want two years of chauffeur experience, a clean licence, and a year 12 certificate. It’s not much money for what sounds like a whole lot of work:

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Driver 51%

Sole driver for the principal (Defense) Attaché. Also performs various driving assignments as directed by the Defense Attaché and Operations Coordinator. With no supervision, takes responsibility for pick-up and delivery of dispatches, letters, and packages up to and including CONFIDENTIAL to/from various Australian Government/Defense agencies. Maintains schedule of events and helps U.S. Defense Attaché Office coordinate driving plans for high ranking dignitaries; responsible for arranging driving plans for spouses of visiting dignitaries, all of which are in addition to driving and escorting. Reliable and trustworthy, occasionally called upon to drive and escort dignitaries with U.S. Defense Attaché Office assistance. Ensures each of the six U.S. Defense Attaché Office vehicles are driven regularly to ensure they are safe and ready for high visibility visits where they are all used.

Auto Maintenance 25%

Solely responsible for ensuring six autos (2 vans, 1 4×4, and 3 sedans) worth over $250,000.00 AUD are kept in good mechanical condition at all times; ensuring routine preventative is performed (i.e. rotation of tires, checking oil and water levels, keeping battery water at proper level, ensuring oil is changed and autos are lubricated as required, maintains records on each vehicle and any other routine maintenance necessary); ensuring major repairs are referred to commercial company with Operations Coordinator when tired need replacing, when tune ups are necessary, and maintain records when factory vehicles and their safety during VIP visits. Ensures all vehicle logs (i.e. trip logs, motor vehicle accident forms, and petrol logs are in each vehicle). Ensure medical kits and CO2 bottles in each vehicle are complete and ready for use. Responsible for work day to ensure vehicle is ready for immediate use. Responsible for making purchases for six U.S. Defense Attaché Office vehicles (including tires, engine parts, maintenance items, etc…). Assists Operations Coordinator in FY budgets regarding automotive maintenance and fuel consumption requirements.

Cleaning and Waxing Automobiles 10%

Full detailing of vehicles – Washes and clean autos (interior and exterior) as required, but at least once a week for all 6 vehicles. Waxing each vehicle once every five weeks is required. Spraying vehicles interior and exterior wheel basis for pests from Embassy parking area.

Petrol 5%

Responsible for ordering and ensuring all six U.S. Defense Attaché official vehicles have adequate supply of petrol in tank at beginning of each day. Responsible for tracking purchases of petrol at locations other than U.S. Embassy petrol pumps and forwarding to Operations Coordinator for payment.

Other 9%

Represents U.S. Defense Attach Office when delivering letters of invitation to senior ranking officials of other Embassies as well as Australian Government. Assists all U.S. Defense Attaché Office members and families upon arrival to obtain drivers license, license plates, and various passes from all supporting agencies. Liaison with Federal Airports Corp., RAAF Fairbairn, Russell offices and U.S. Defense Attaché Office regarding access and pass requirements. Assists Operations Coordinator in the purchase of new vehicles by obtaining quotes on trade-ins, test driving, negotiations with dealerships on the diplomatic purchase prices of new vehicles, and ensuring good trade in value is received from various cleaners. Responsible for transporting required paperwork between Government Services Officer and Vehicle Dealership during purchases.

Anyone want to speculate what this amount of work and responsibility would be worth in the public service?

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LSWCHP said :

Sigh. “diplomatic”.

I shouldn’t have had that last flagon of sherry after dinner. 🙂

Perhaps the word you were looking for was dipsomaniac?

colourful sydney racing identity9:15 am 10 Feb 12

No , wait Todd Carney?

colourful sydney racing identity9:15 am 10 Feb 12

Mully?

dungfungus said :

EvanJames said :

Embassies generally try to pay very low wages, especially if they want to bring someone from overseas. You should see what they try to swing for admin staff… years of experience, qualifications etc for $30 to $40k.

Ah, yes, but they pay “in cash” -no PAYG, no Medicare levy and they do generally contribute super. Some embassies extend duty free benefits to staff as well.

I don’t think wages from an embassy would be exempt from tax if you’re an Australian resident for taxation purposes, if that is what you are implying by getting paid “in cash”. Like any income, you would have to declare it, and that is when you’d get hit with income tax, Medicare levy and god knows what else.

As for extending duty free benefits to non-diplomatic staff? Local staff are not entitled to diplomatic privileges, at least not legally. Having said that, the US embassy probably has it’s own duty free commissary so their diplomatic staff can get their top grade US beef and sugar filled breakfast cereal from home, though no idea if they have one in Canberra or not. They may very well let their local staff shop there, how’s the ATO to know?

Sigh. “diplomatic”.

I shouldn’t have had that last flagon of sherry after dinner. 🙂

One of my old army mates is in the high-profile diplamatic wheelman game. Reading between the lines of some of our conversations, I’ve always assumed that there’s more to it than just motoring from point A to point B and waxing the vehicle. If you know what I mean.

Certainly the coin for this gig seems surprisingly low.

dungfungus said :

buzz819 said :

Comcar is the place to look, it appears under the last agreement they got a starting wage of $51k the allowance depending if you were state or territory $4k or there about or whether you drove nationally $11k or if you are dedicated to one person or area $18k.

Would be a good job for a person who has retired And wants to get some more cash.

A lot of Comcar drivers are “retired” Action bus drivers. It’s a bit of a closed shop. Well, if you can’t get in at Comcar there is always ComCare.

It’s actually not a closed shop. I know of a number of Comcar drivers who have come from different walks of life, including retired military.

buzz819 said :

Comcar is the place to look, it appears under the last agreement they got a starting wage of $51k the allowance depending if you were state or territory $4k or there about or whether you drove nationally $11k or if you are dedicated to one person or area $18k.

Would be a good job for a person who has retired And wants to get some more cash.

A lot of Comcar drivers are “retired” Action bus drivers. It’s a bit of a closed shop. Well, if you can’t get in at Comcar there is always ComCare.

I would assume this would be an upgrade in pay from the taxi industry. You also won’t have any risk of being stabbed by the patrons you are driving around town.

EvanJames said :

Embassies generally try to pay very low wages, especially if they want to bring someone from overseas. You should see what they try to swing for admin staff… years of experience, qualifications etc for $30 to $40k.

Ah, yes, but they pay “in cash” -no PAYG, no Medicare levy and they do generally contribute super. Some embassies extend duty free benefits to staff as well.

Isn’t it the US Government who also inflict the US public holidays – not the Australian ones – on their staff? So you can look forward to having 4th of July off and not much else??

Embassies generally try to pay very low wages, especially if they want to bring someone from overseas. You should see what they try to swing for admin staff… years of experience, qualifications etc for $30 to $40k.

I wonder of the 2 vans are of the white variety or perhaps one is disguised as a pest control contractor and parked down the road near the “other” large embassy in the area. 😉

I’m kind of surprised that they’ve managed to predict the division of time to an apparent accuracy of 1%. There can’t be that many jobs where you will know exactly what you’ll be doing to within 36 seconds per hour.

Comcar is the place to look, it appears under the last agreement they got a starting wage of $51k the allowance depending if you were state or territory $4k or there about or whether you drove nationally $11k or if you are dedicated to one person or area $18k.

Would be a good job for a person who has retired And wants to get some more cash.

Or what the private sector would pay?

Kind of a trick question – that would probably be three different people in the public service.

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