View Vacancy - Head of Politics, Press & Public Affairs (Los Angeles)

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 identity, 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.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Political

Main Purpose of Job:

The British Government’s Consulate in Los Angeles has an exciting opportunity for a dynamic person to join the Press, Politics and Public Affairs Team (PPPA) as Head of Press, Politics, and Public Affairs. This opportunity is a rewarding role which supports and further develops the special relationship between the UK and the US on the South West Coast of the USA. supporting work at the forefront of international diplomacy in order to make a real difference globally.

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 an excellent 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 to support UK diplomats, 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.

This is a chance to work alongside the Consul General and Deputy Consul General at the Los Angeles Consulate to lead on building relationships with political stakeholders. The jobholder will oversee the Consulate’s political engagement strategy and deliverables, providing advice so the Consul General and Senior Leadership to have impactful relationships with relevant political stakeholders in the patch.

The jobholder will cover government relations duties such as building relationships with decision-makers and opinion-formers in the region on behalf of the UK and oversee the organisation of visits to the region by UK Ministers and other VVIPs.  

The jobholder, with support from an officer, will oversee communication channels, media relationships, supporting communications on cross-Consulate announcements/events, as well as public diplomacy outreach / speaking engagements for the Consul General.   

The Los Angeles PPPA team is part of a US network that aligns with the British Embassy in DC and other Consulates in the US, who work to a shared strategy led by the Embassy, as well as fulfilling the local requirements of the Consulate-General.  

The successful applicant will report directly to the Deputy Consul-General.  The Head of PPPA will take responsibility for establishing and delivering day to day priorities, creating and managing projects and budgets, building appropriate contacts across the region, and team performance management (one PPPA officer).  A flexible, creative and pro-active approach to the brief is essential.

The British Consulate-General in Los Angeles represents UK interests in Southern California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada and Hawaii in areas as trade and investment, science and innovation, press and public affairs and supporting British people in difficulty. 

Roles and Responsibilities:

  • Work closely with the Consul General and Deputy Consul General to develop and implement the Consulate’s Politics, Press and Public Affairs strategy. To plan, coordinate and deliver in line with US network priorities;
  • Develop close links with political contacts, to help facilitate relationships with the Consul General, for example: state and local administrations, political and economic commentators senior management and faculty of academic institutions, captains of industry, think tanks and non-profit institutions;
  • Monitor regional political and societal developments and provide political and economic reporting where appropriate, drawing on personal contacts to add value to publicly available material; 
  • Overseeing communication and media handling on specific policy areas, which could include economic issues, military issues, climate change, etc., working closely with cross-consulate experts and advisors;
  • Build relationships with key journalists and communication influencers, arranging briefings and interviews.
  • Support delivery of some ministerial and VVIP visits to the region
  • Oversee administration of the regional Marshalls Scholarship Programme selection process (UK funded scholarship programme); which includes direct management of a Marshall Scholarship Assistant and Politics, Press, and Public Affairs Officer, who will deliver the programme. 
  • Coordinate, mentor and supervise a Politics, Press, and Public Affairs Officer, and work with the wider Consulate team to deliver high impact communication work, digital diplomacy (i.e. social media) and other key PPPA services, and contribute to the wider US PPA network as a senior member of the network’s leadership;
  • Draft speeches for the Consul General, as needed.

Resources Managed:

Line Manage Press, Politics and Public Affairs Officer

 

 

  • Three to five years related experience;  sound and in depth knowledge of the political and economic make-up of the region; 
  • Track record of successful delivery of projects and co-ordinating work of diverse teams, including virtual networks and with external organisations, making creative use of opportunities, resources and technology;
  • Experience working in communication; ability to build and use strong media relationships; experience in designing and delivering proactive publicity activities to advance policy or other objectives;
  • Knowledge of the UK Government’s work and objectives in the United States, and the priorities of the UK Government in London, is desirable but not essential;
  • Reliable, capable under pressure, an excellent communicator orally and in writing, and with a good understanding of the challenges and sensitivities of working in the world of government and diplomacy.
  • A demonstrated ability to handle multiple projects and to deliver results.
  • Self-motivated and able to work independently, as well as collaboratively.
  • An enthusiastic and creative mind-set.
  • Must be proactive and flexible, and a team player able to work in a fluid environment with changing priorities.

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. 

Seeing the Big Picture, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
29 January 2023
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Permanent
40
Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories
United States
Los Angeles
British Consulate
1
USD
$76,500
20 March 2023

Learning and Development Opportunities:

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 (communciating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).

 

Working Patterns:

Able to accommodate a varied working pattern.

The British Embassy and its US Network embraces hybrid working, allowing its staff to typically work from home 2 or 3 times a week.  We are an organization that also recognises the critical value of team work and we embrace and endorse collaboration by ensuring that all staff attend the office flexibly yet regularly. 

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. Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount. 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, gender identity, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other criterion protected by law.
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.

This opportunity is closed to applications.