Strategic Communications and Public Diplomacy Officer

Strategic Communications and Public Diplomacy Officer

Foreign & Commonwealth Office

Washington, DC

Temporarily remote

$62,721 a year

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Main purpose of job:

The post holder will work on the Embassy’s public diplomacy outreach, including supporting the Marshall Scholarship programme.

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

Play a leading role in managing the Embassy's public outreach efforts and provide project and budget management and oversight of Embassy events and special projects, ensuring they are delivering on wider objectives. This includes leading the Embassy's efforts to develop activities that highlight our role as global leaders on clean growth and hosts of the upcoming COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow in 2021.

Develop and strengthen relationships with key external stakeholders, and support the Embassy's work in establishing strong relationships with the think tank and academic communities in DC and across the US that can help aid and deliver our communications and public diplomacy messaging and objectives.

Coordinate the outreach on behalf of the Embassy, including managing a grid of upcoming activity - both public diplomacy and media - where relevant to the UK.

Support the Head of Strategic Communications and Campaigns and Deputy Head of Public Diplomacy on wider strategy planning, including identifying and creatively developing new outreach initiatives, events and digital campaigns to engage a US audience and amplify British Soft Power.

Oversee the Washington, DC region's outreach and administration efforts for the Marshall Scholarship programme, including working with scholarship alumni, local universities and non-profit organisations to successfully promote the scholarship to university students and further UK-US relations.

Working with the Head of Digital, develop creative and engaging ways to promote the strength of the UK-US relationship, including through social media and other communication mediums.

Develop and maintain a strong set of core material (facts, figures, etc) and audience insight about the UK/US relationship and American views and preferences that can serve as a resource and inform the UK's activity across the US

Provide out of hours press and event support across other issues when necessary, including occasional weekends.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

This will not be a supervisory position. Post holder would manage project expenditure delegated to him by line manager and comms team budget, and/or FCO project funds.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

Bachelors’ degree or equivalent number of years work experience. Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Political Science or International Relations strongly preferred;

Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to effectively communicate with senior government leaders, journalists and members of the public.

Demonstrated success in project and budget management, including shepherding projects and events from conception to completion.

Ability to think creatively, developing new ideas and leverage key moments and opportunities to engage an audience.

Proven ability to complete multiple tasks and high volume of work on deadline in a fast-paced work environment;

Attention to detail and ability to edit and proofread;

Demonstrated ability to take control and follow through on assigned tasks with limited supervision;

Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office software. Knowledge of image editing and social networking software.

Level of language required: Fluent in English; Strong written and verbal English communication skills required.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Political Science or International Affairs preferred;

Required competencies

Seeing the Big Picture, Leading and Communicating, Collaborating and Partnering, Delivering at Pace

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

11 September 2020

Grade

C4 (L)

Type of Position

Full-time, Permanent

Working hours per week

40

Region

North America, Caribbean and British Overseas Territories

Country/Territory

United States

Location (City)

Washington

Type of Post

British Embassy

Number of vacancies

1

Starting yearly salary (USD)

$62,721

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

2 November 2020

Other benefits and conditions of employment

Full-time work schedule required (9:00am-5:30pm)

Flexibility to occasionally work from home pending approval from line manager.

Employee will be expected to staff or otherwise participate in embassy-supported events and activities as well as external events/activities with embassy partners in evenings as necessary.

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.

Additional information

The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance.

Staff recruited locally are subject to terms and conditions of service in accordance with US, state, and/or local employment law.

Individuals who are not a US taxpaying citizen will be paid a net salary based on a simulated US tax status.

Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.

Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.

The British Embassy is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and to creating a diverse working environment, free from discrimination, where everyone is included and treated fairly, based on merit alone. We are an equal opportunity employer, making all employment decisions without regard to race, gender, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other criterion protected by law.

Due to COVID-19 we are unable to confirm any start date of employment but will continue to monitor progress and developments, and will advise applicants of any significant changes throughout the recruitment campaign.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Local 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.