British Embassy in Havana Announces Job Opening for Driver

The British Embassy in Havana has announced a job vacancy for a driver position, offering a one-year fixed-term contract with the potential for renewal.

The deadline for submitting applications is set for February 15, 2026, at 11:59 pm (Cuban time). Late submissions will not be considered.

The job description outlines the need for the selected candidate to ensure the safe, reliable, and efficient transportation of personnel, visitors, and goods while adhering to authorized routes and the organization's security protocols.

Main Responsibilities of the Role

The primary driving responsibilities include transporting staff and visitors, ensuring the timely and secure delivery and collection of goods and documents, handling unexpected driving needs, and maintaining updated vehicle logs, mileage, and fuel consumption records.

Additionally, the position requires keeping vehicles and equipment clean and operational, ensuring travel authorizations and necessary supplies and documentation are in place, and promptly reporting any breakdowns or issues.

Administrative and Logistical Support

Beyond driving duties, the hired individual will undertake administrative and logistical tasks such as preparing and submitting transport documentation and invoices, delivering and collecting official correspondence, diplomatic pouches, packages, and documents from ministries, embassies, and local institutions. They will also assist with customs clearance and airport-related processes.

Confidentiality and discretion are required when transporting passengers or handling information, and vehicles must be parked in secure and appropriate locations during official duties and overnight.

Requirements and Selection Criteria

Essential requirements include demonstrable experience driving various makes and models, a valid professional license for category B (standard) and D-1 (minibuses up to 16 seats) vehicles, and at least three years of professional driving experience with a proven safe driving record.

Applicants should attach recommendation letters, certificates, or other supporting documents with their application. Desirable criteria include previous experience with a foreign diplomatic mission or international organization, training or experience in defensive driving, and additional license categories like C (truck) and C-1 (van), which are considered an advantage.

Knowledge and Skills

The role demands flexible availability for afternoons, nights, and weekends, knowledge of traffic laws and local road conditions, the ability to pass a practical driving test set by the Embassy, and the capacity to read and interpret security and procedural manuals.

Basic emergency response knowledge (first aid and fire extinguisher use), interpersonal skills (responsibility, courtesy, discretion, and tact), teamwork, performance under pressure, reliability, punctuality, and good physical presence are also required.

Linguistic requirements specify proficiency in Spanish as "essential" and a basic level of spoken English. Non-Cuban applicants must demonstrate valid residency and work permits in Cuba by the interview stage.

Employment Conditions

The position involves a 38-hour work week, with flexibility according to operational needs. Employees must pay any local income taxes required by law.

The chosen candidate will undergo a professional character check, present their criminal record, and complete a three-month probationary period. Embassy employees are subject to the Terms and Conditions of Service and local labor laws of Cuba.

The selected individual must complete the approval process with the PALCO Employment Agency, which "may take between 1 and 3 months." The Embassy will not be responsible for any decisions made by PALCO.

Applicants must complete the Driver Application Form via the published link before the deadline. Late applications "will not be considered."

If selected for an interview, candidates will need to provide scanned documents: a resume in Spanish, copies of diplomas/certificates/recommendation letters, and a copy of their driver's license displaying categories and validity date.

Shortlisted candidates will be notified five days in advance. Due to a "high number" of applications, only those shortlisted will be contacted for an interview.

The successful candidate will be notified a week after the interview, with an expected start date of April 1, 2026, subject to the completion of internal checks and the PALCO process.