Communications Officer - Defence - Digital & Campaigns

Main purpose of job:

The British Government’s Embassy in Washington D.C. has an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated and creative person to join the Communications Team as Communications Officer – Defence – Digital & Campaigns. This opportunity is a rewarding role which supports and further develops the special relationship between the UK and the US, working at the forefront of defence diplomacy in order to make a real difference globally.

The job will give you hands-on exposure to the military, defence relations, diplomacy and allow you to grow your digital, media and communications experience.

In response to a changing America, the Communication Team is looking to modernise perceptions of the UK, reach new audiences and increase the volume of the UK’s communications activity in Washington and across the US. Our communications team is focussed on reinforcing positive perceptions of the UK, challenging negative or outdated views and promoting opportunities around shared values and ambitions, reinforcing the UK’s relevance to the US as a modern and dynamic partner of choice.

The successful candidate will work on a wide range of defence comms – with a focus on digital and campaigns activity - working within a busy, motivated and experienced communications team. Typical tasks will include creating imaginative and relevant digital content on the defence relationship, managing our defence social channels and planning forward-looking campaigns and social media activity for the Ambassador, Defence Attaché and visiting VIPs.

The ideal candidate will be highly motivated, a clear and effective communicator, have an active interest/experience in defence and security with a working understanding of the US digital and media landscape.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Build and maintain relationships with defence influencers and Pentagon digital teams.
• Manage stakeholder plans and liaise with regional communicators in other military bases and consulates around the US.
• Lead on running UKinUSA’s defence digital accounts (@UKdefUS and @UKdefence_US). Working with defence and comms colleagues to produce imaginative and relevant content for our social channels; telling the stories behind the UK-US defence relationship.
• Generate and implement strategies to expand and diversify our US digital communications efforts. Presenting data and digital campaigns to senior colleagues.
• Staying aware of digital trends and new platforms to reach key audiences in the US.
• Proactively provide ideas and deliver media, digital and design elements of a new defence communications campaign.
• Monitoring and evaluation of the digital defence landscape and campaigns.
• Use creative and engaging ways to promote the shared UK/US defence priorities, working with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders. Generate proactive stories relating to the UK/US defence relationship.
• Take forward on social media arrangements for Ministerial visits from the UK, identifying opportunities and delivering on media engagement.
• Support the wider comms team on press and media work – especially around high profile visits and events. Support to the wider digital team on embassy-wide initiatives.
• Occasional weekend press officer duty and out of hours press office support.
• Flexing and supporting communications colleagues on other portfolios - any other duties as assigned.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Relevant experience in communications, politics, public relations or media
• Experience of running digital accounts and/or campaigns
• Understanding of and interest in defence and security policy
• A strong working understanding of US media and social media landscape
• Strong interpersonal skills and confidence in communicating with senior level officials, politicians or executives
• Ability to deliver high quality outcomes, under pressure and/or to tight deadlines
• A proactive, self-starter with strong time management skills
• Experience in working with a wide range of stakeholders and broad network of contacts

Language requirements:

Language: English

Level of language required: Fluent

Under US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Permanent Residents or A visa holders with EAD cards*. If you hold a visa other than an A visa you are not currently eligible to work at our office. Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/government/world/usa. All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work.

• A visas are acceptable at the Embassy and Consulates. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas, and British Defense Staff (BDS) outposts accept A or NATO visas.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Communications experience in a Defence/political/government/embassy comms experience
• Working knowledge of UK social media landscape

Required behaviours

Seeing the Big Picture, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing

Application deadline Application deadline - day Application deadline - month Application deadline - year

12 March 2023

Grade

Executive Officer (EO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Permanent

Working hours per week

40

Region

Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories

Country/Territory

United States

Location (City)

Washington

Type of Post

British Embassy

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

USD

Salary

$58,500 yearly

Start Date Start Date - day Start Date - month Start Date - year

1 May 2023

Other benefits and conditions of employment

The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communicating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).

The US Network offers a unique career enhancing opportunity and is committed to supporting its staff through a variety of benefits including generous leave, insurance packages and a highly competitive 401k programme. It also promotes a culture of flexibility which enables people to better maintain wellness through a work/life balance approach that encompasses hybrid working, including working from home and flexible hours, where possible. In this role you would be working in a diverse international environment side by side UK diplomats, armed forces personnel and other country based staff operating across the British Government’s network of Consulates and Government Offices in the United States. This network provides a platform for approximately 30 Government departments and agencies to conduct their work in the United States and is made up of over 900 staff with a rich and diverse background, skill sets, and experiences.

Additional information

This role is 40 hours a week, there is some flexibility over working hours each day.

This is a DC office-based role. There is scope for occasional flexible working by agreement with your line manager.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.