overseas civil service

Civil services of Britain's remaining colonial and dependent territories which are, for the most part, recruited locally. Overseas staff are recruited only for posts for which suitable local candidates cannot be found. They are mostly appointed on fixed-term contracts, but a number, including most of the senior officials still serving, are members of HM Overseas Civil Service.

The overseas civil service replaced the Colonial Service in 1954 and offers its members permanent and pensionable careers and the right, if suitable vacancies occur, of transfer or promotion between one territory and another. Recruitment in the UK is the responsibility of the Ministry of Overseas Development, the Crown Agents, and the Overseas Nursing Association. Administrative responsibility is shared between the Ministry of Overseas Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Vacancies occur mainly in the fields of education, engineering, agriculture and animal health, posts and telegraphs, law and justice, medicine and health, and accountancy, but members of many other professions are required from time to time.