He joined Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service in 1962. Figgis' first overseas posting was as 3rd Secretary in Belgrade in 1963. In 1965 he was assigned to the Commonwealth Office in London. He was 2nd Secretary (Political Residency) in Bahrain from 1968 to 1970, when he rejoined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. Figgis' next posting was as 1st Secretary (Commercial) in Madrid, where he was stationed 1971 to 1974. He was in the CSCE delegation at Geneva 1974 to 1975 and again at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London 1975 to 1979.