Senior Regional Communications Officer C4 (03/20 MPT) – AU (m/f)

Description

• To raise the profile of the UK’s activity in Mozambique and the wider Southern Africa region through delivery of targeted social media and communications activities. Working with colleagues across government, you will develop and deliver a strategy for campaigns and media engagement, and deliver tailored advice to the Head of Mission on his or her media output, taking charge of the HOM’s outward-facing ‘story’ with particular attention paid to social media (especially Twitter) but also traditional media and soft power events. An immediate priority will be to lead on strategic communications related to the COVID-19 crisis and UK response
• This role is primarily (80%) Mozambique focused, but 20% of your time will be dedicated to developing campaigns and materials for use around the region, with a particular focus on Lusophone Africa

Duties

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?

• This is a fast-paced role working at the centre of the busy and fast-growing British High Commission in Mozambique. You will be responsible for delivering a cross-mission communications strategy to raise awareness and give a positive profile to the UK’s work in Mozambique, including through increasing our reach and impact on social media. In addition you will support comms activities in the wider Southern Africa region. In particular you will:

Mozambique

• Work closely with High Commission, DfID and the Campaigns Hub based in Pretoria, to understand the top objectives and audiences across HMG. Use these to develop a comms strategy and narrative about the UK’s partnership with Mozambique, and ensure our social media engagement is reaching the right people, targeting the key 18-35 demographic
• Use forward looks to strategically identify and plan for future comms opportunities and ensure that we maximize the comms potential of Ministerial visits, High Commissioner engagement and other events, programme launches etc.
• Increase the UK’s presence and reach on social media, and widen our network of contacts of journalists, government spokespeople, opinion formers and other key figures working in communications
• Draft press releases, speeches etc.; act as High Commission spokesperson
• Oversee media monitoring and internal communications to ensure that internal messaging is consistent and information is being shared effectively; lead on internal comms for the new strategic approach to Africa
• Raise the profile of UKAid through effective use of branding, social media, and working with partners to amplify messages

Regionally

• Generate creative ideas for campaigns and other high-profile media engagement. Act as a regional Lusophone comms expert responsible for sourcing Portuguese content from other regions and developing social media content
• Build capacity and comms expertise across the region; provide mentoring, coaching and advice on comms activity
• Lead on regional comms campaigns and activities based on the pillars of the new strategic approach to Africa
• Provide regional support/resilience during crises or other high profile events
• Use data-driven analysis and evaluation to demonstrate the impact of digital campaign and communications work and apply that learning to future activities

Requisites

• Experience of working in media or communications
• University degree in Communication or 5 years experience in a similar field
• Experience of running campaigns
• Social media expertise (particularly Twitter)
• Fluent English and Portuguese
• Experience of working in government and/or development

Benefits

• Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):
• The British High Commission places a lot of value on supporting the development of its staff, and you will be encouraged to participate in L&D training and get involved in corporate activities. As well as successful completion of relevant online learning for the role, the successful candidate will be required to complete an introductory training course in the first three months of the job. There are also opportunities to job shadow at other British missions in the region
• Working patterns: Some working from home or flexible hours would be possible. The successful candidate will be required to travel in accordance with the demands of the job

Notes

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
• The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow
• Kindly select on the Declaration section of the application which website portal you saw this vacancy on
• Please complete the application form in full. Failure to do so may result in a determination that you do not meet the requirements for the position
• Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Maputo are subject to the Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Mozambique
• All applicants must be legally able to work in Mozambique with the correct visa/status or work permit
• Employees who are not eligible to pay local income tax: e.g. certain third-country nationals and spouses/partners of UK diplomats will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount
• Reference and security clearances checks will be conducted
• Any questions you may have about this position will be answered during the interview, should you be invited
• Information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Competency Framework can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework
• Successful candidates not resident in Mozambique will be personally liable for costs and arrangements to relocate
• Check your application before you submit, as you will not be able to make any changes once submitted
• The British High Commission will never ask you to pay a fee or money to apply for a position