View Vacancy - Senior Communications Officer and Bengali Spokesperson, C4, Dhaka

Note : All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment and educational details, motivational segment and the competency based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the application forms only for all the required details. Forms that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.

Please note that due to Covid-19 outbreak, the start date of employment mentioned in the advert is tentative, subject to normal business of British High Commission. All recruitment campaigns will remain open for applications, we will progress the recruitment process as swiftly as possible and continue to review all applications, monitor progress and developments. We will be in touch with you for the interviews/ should there be further updates on the application, however given the circumstances, kindly expect some delay in response and please reach out to saad.recruit@fco.gov.uk if you have any further questions.

Main purpose of job: 

The successful applicant will manage the UK Government’s relations with the Bangladeshi media and will be the British High Commission’s official Bengali spokesperson and principal interpreter.  You will analyse media trends and provide timely insights and reporting. You will work with colleagues across the High Commission to ensure they have a good understanding of how to use communications in their work; and you will design strategic, multi-channel communications campaigns to help deliver the High Commission’s objectives in Bangladesh. You will provide leadership to the Press and Communications Unit and cover the role of Director of Communications in her absence.

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

The Press and Communications Unit (PCU) of the British High Commission in Dhaka manages all external communications for the UK Government in Bangladesh. PCU is a diverse, friendly team that values individual differences. Everyone is encouraged to share their ideas and we all work flexibly to support each other’s work; this means we deliver our priorities efficiently and everyone gains experience across the breadth of the team’s responsibilities. 

PCU is responsible for the UK Government’s relations with Bangladeshi media, and for managing the British High Commission’s social media accounts and online presence. PCU provides communications expertise and advice to support the delivery of work by colleagues across the High Commission, and is responsible for providing analysis on the media landscape in Bangladesh, including as it relates to policy areas led by other teams. PCU is also responsible for producing regular media monitoring reports and for tracking breaking news. 

Who are we looking for?

You will have a minimum of five years’ experience in a similar or related role. You will have designed and delivered communications strategies across both traditional and new forms of media, and evaluated their effectiveness. You will have an excellent understanding of the media landscape in Bangladesh, and of the country’s political, socio-economic and development issues. You will bring established relationships with journalists across Bangladesh, and will have experience in securing interviews, placing op-eds, and negotiating media partnerships. 

You will be an excellent communicator – skilled at tailoring your message to different audiences. You will be able to distil complicated concepts into simple language and convey your key messages succintly. You will be able to communicate fluently in both English and Bengali, and will be confident at providing near-simultaneous interpretation in both languages. You will produce high-quality written work in both English and Bengali, to short deadlines. 

You will have excellent interpersonal skills. You will be able to build and maintain productive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders; you  will have experience of managing and developing staff; and you will be willing to participate fully in the corporate life of the High Commission. 

You will be agile and able to respond quickly to breaking news or changing priorities in a crisis, whilst maintaining focus on the team’s longer-term goals. You will be calm and able to maintain your composure under pressure – both when dealing with the high volumes of work, and when faced by media questioning. You will be dynamic and creative – encouraging the team to come up with new ideas and motivating your staff to deliver consistently high-quality work.

What will you do?

This is a key leadership role in one of the High Commission’s core teams – you will be representing the High Commission to external stakeholders, to the media and to the public, whilst enabling other teams in the High Commission to deliver their objectives. With the Director of Commuications, you will be responsible for establishing the culture of the team, and for setting PCU’s strategic direction. As a line manager, you will be expected to take a keen interest in the wellbeing of your staff and to invest in their learning and development so they can achieve their full potential. (20%) 

You will lead on media handling, nurturing the High Commission’s relationships with key stakeholders in the British-Bangla media networks both inside and outside Dhaka; and you will be responsible for identifying and establishing new media partnerships across a variety of outlets and locations, ensuring that the High Commission can reach the widest possible range of audiences.  You will also need to build and maintain relationships across other diplomatic missions, businesses, NGOs and INGOs. You will need quickly to develop a detailed understanding of the UK’s priorities in Bangladesh – including in prosperity, security, development, immigration and consular issues – and be able to explain these faithfully and accurately in your interactions with the media. (30%) 

With the staff you manage, you will be responsible for producing daily media monitoring for colleagues in the High Commission and in the UK. You will monitor and analyse media trends, including spotting developing stories and interpreting them against an understanding of the UK’s work in Bangladesh. You will be responsible for producing press lines, press releases and social media content. You will proactively lead on planning tactical communications activities, including for high-profile visits or events, as well as developing and delivering an overarching communication strategy for the High Commission. (30%) 

You will contribute to policy discussions with teams across the High Commission, feeding in the perspective of media stakeholders but also providing your analysis of the communications impact of different programmes of work. You will provide written and verbal advice to senior members of the High Commission and to visiting UK Government Ministers, and you will prepare them for their media engagements, including through written briefing and through practical exercises. (20%) 

Within the British High Commission, team structures and specific roles and responsibilities are subject to change depending on the UK Government’s priorities in Bangladesh. The successful applicant will therefore need to be flexible in adapting to any changes that are needed in the precise objectives and responsibilities of the role over time.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

· Line Manager for 1 x Press and Communications Officer and 1 x Press and Communications Assistant.

· Counter-Signing Officer for 1 x Digital and Campaigns Manager.

· Budget Manager for Press and Communications Unit.

Language requirements: 

Language: English and Bengali 

Level of language required: Fluent in reading, writing and speaking of both languages.

Essential on arrival:

· A degree in political sciences, communications, media, journalism, international relations, development studies or English; or equivalent professional experience.

· Minimum of five years’ experience developing and delivering integrated communication strategies, including working with senior media stakeholders.

· Good understanding of Bangladesh’s socio-economic and political issues.

· Good knowledge of Bangladesh’s media landscape, stakeholders and trends.

· Existing professional relationships with key Bangladeshi journalists and media outlets.

· Ability to communicate fluently in written and spoken English and Bengali.

· Professional experience of providing English-Bengali and Bengali-English interpretation.

· Experience of budget management.

· Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office programs.