View Vacancy - China Network - DBT Deputy Head of Marketing and Communications, SEO

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. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.
Department for Business and Trade roles (DBT)
Department for Business and Trade (DBT)

Main purpose of job:

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) embraces and values diversity in all forms. We welcome and pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has on the work we do, and we promote equality of opportunity throughout the organisation. DBT China would value applications from people from the widest possible diversity of background, culture, experience and gender. 

This is an exciting time to join the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) as Deputy Head of Marketing and Communications for DBT China and Hong Kong. Our aim is to promote UK trade and investment across the world which is vital for the prosperity of the UK. DBT brings together policy, promotion and financial expertise to break down barriers to trade and investment in markets across the world to help businesses succeed. This is a great opportunity to be part of an international team that contributes to the success of the UK's trade goals.

DBT operates in 108 countries. Establishing new relationships around the globe, DBT promotes UK trade to ensure the UK takes advantage of the huge opportunities open to us, securing and improving economic well-being, stability, and helping to create tens of thousands of jobs. DBT has one of the largest representations of the 18 government departments working in China, which are coordinated and led by His Majesty’s Ambassador who is responsible for the UK’s relationship with China. His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) is responsible for Trade and Investment work in China, one of nine global regions. With c.170 staff across six posts - Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Wuhan – DBT, as part of the UK government network in China offers a fast-paced place to work at the heart of UK-China Government relations.

Detail:

We are seeking an exceptional communicator and team leader who is expert, engaging, enterprising and inclusive.  The ideal candidate is strategically-minded, competent at multi-tasking, skilled at relationship building and can flex their communication style to manage and motivate a diverse team.  Solid strategic communications and campaign experience is important, in addition to having an ambitious and confident outlook and excellent organisation/planning skills. In depth knowledge of the Chinese business-media scene, B2B social media channels and experience in digital marketing is highly desirable.  As is the ability to manage multiple, integrated comms projects and to deliver at pace.  This role is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys being both strategic and getting ‘stuck in’ to create high quality output.

Considerable line management and stakeholder management experience is required as this role comprises of a balance of outward and inward facing responsibilities. The job holder will be directly line managing the campaigns team consisting of three campaign specialists and a press officer. You will need to build relationships across the UK Government China Network, as well as with DBT HQ in the UK to ensure alignment and engagement with global GREAT marketing campaigns. A confident speaker and presenter, the successful candidate will be a key representative of the team internally as well as to externally. Robust programme management with a keen eye on detail, ROI and evaluation of spend is essential.

Roles and responsibilities:

Marketing and Communications Planning and Delivery 45%: Lead the creation and oversee the implementation of a strategic marketing and communications strategy.

  • Responsible for leading the team to create a coherent, visible programme of integrated marketing and communication activity for DBT China and Hong Kong, ensuring the plan is fully developed, mapped out, with clearly defined milestones, deliverables, robust evaluation criteria, ROI, cost envelop and risk management plan.
  • Create and work with the team to deliver a digital strategy and action plan aimed at increasing DBT’s digital footprint in China and developing DBT’s impact on digital and social channels.
  • Inspire the team to think creatively to produce quality and engaging content and ensure content is amplified through key stakeholders, media and KOLs.
  • Support the media officer to develop a PR strategy, build relationships with key media and facilitate interviews in Mandarin for senior stakeholders.
  • Lead on the delivery of key HMTC activities to successfully deliver innovative, integrated and industry leading marketing and communications execution.
  • Work closely with the Marketing and Communications Directorate in DBT HQ to ensure that global strategic Trade and Investment paid media and organic campaigns, such as Ready to Trade, are adapted to market.
  • Provide cohesion and visibility with the China and Hong Kong One HMG network by ensuring that strategic network wide campaigns are shared and included in overarching communications plans.
  • Support on UK facing communication including management of HMTC’s LinkedIn
  • Develop strong evaluation methodologies and ensure that evidenced based evaluation is conducted on all activity as standard.
  • Deliver a performance dashboard that provides monthly management information to the DBT China and Hong Kong Senior Leadership team.
  • Use insight, evaluation and research as the basis for campaign planning and proactively seek opportunities to pitch for research funding, contribute to international perception research projects and to run local strat comms research in collaboration with partners or other government departments. 

Team Management 20%: Provide guidance and support to the Marcoms team as a whole, but more specific leadership and effective team management of the campaigns team. 

  • Support on leadership of the team to deliver on team goals and ensure excellent line management of the Campaigns team in line with the organisation’s goal of building a well-managed network.
  • Upskill the campaigns team and support them on L&D to develop their capabilities, fill gaps and to support their performance development plan. 
  • Work closely with the DBT press officer, providing guidance on strategic campaigns, core scripts and briefings. 

Relationship Management 15%: Develop excellent and fruitful relationships internally and externally by:

  • Effective and dynamic liaison with key marketing and communications stakeholders, including FCDO Communications Network, GREAT Teams, other Government department colleagues, Regional Marketing Hub and DBT HQ Marketing to ensure interdependencies are identified and opportunities to collaborate are maximised.
  • Participate in key cross-government communications and campaigns working groups to ensure network-wide visibility, engagement and collaboration.
  • Develop and maintain strong relationships with DBT Directors, Sector teams, Strategy Team and Trade Policy Unit and cross China network senior stakeholders, delivering against the needs of DBT China and Hong Kong.
  • Drive an external stakeholder strategy, working with the team to build and maintain strategic external relationships with relevant media, KOLs and other partner organisations to benefit DBT marketing and communications activity.

Resource and Financial Accountability 10%:  Define and implement improved and robust mechanisms for resource and financial accountability by:

  • Work closely with FCDO colleagues to manage the marketing and communications bidding approach on behalf of the wider network to ensure access to the various funding streams for the network as a whole, including the support and approval process for network wide GREAT Challenge Fund bids as well as into DBT HQ.
  • Create robust bids for campaign funding that demonstrate excellent ROI and return on influence and once funding is secured, ensure the evaluation is done and submitted on time and according to DBT insight and evaluation standards. 
  • Create a centre of excellence for bid creation and submission, providing expertise and insight to ensure first rate quality of marketing campaign bids generated across the China and Hong Kong network.
  • Build robust, challenging and wide-reaching suite of metrics and measures into all bids to ensure ROI.
  • Ensure that all financial responsibilities are executed to government standard timelines and that financial data is maintained with 100% accuracy.

Corporate Contribution 10%

  • Play an active role in embedding the ‘DBT Spirit’ by identifying and progressing opportunities to promote the department’s values of being Expert, Engaged, Enterprising and Inclusive.  Proactively representing the DBT Marcoms project on strategic projects.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

  • Line Management of 4 team members
  • Lead on campaign spend, budget tracking and evaluation
  • Strategic communications-written and verbal skills
  • Proven campaign planning and evaluation experience
  • Line and project management experience
  • Media relations experience
  • Language requirement: Excellent/highly proficient in English and Independent/good in Mandarin
  • PR, media or marketing agency experience or qualifications would be beneficial
  • Digital marketing skills and background
Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Leadership, Making Effective Decisions, Seeing the Big Picture
24 September 2024
Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Full-time, Fixed Term, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
35
12 months
Asia Pacific
China
Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Wuhan
British Embassy
1
CNY
Please refer to the Benefits section
monthly
18 November 2024

Note:

For this position we are only able to consider British Nationals, spouses/partners of diplomats who are ‘W’ (diplomatic) visa holders and internal Chinese staff to be located at the Embassy in Beijing. Other candidates can only be considered to work at the other China mission posts in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Wuhan, or Chongqing.

Benefits:

We offer a competitive package which includes –

  • For Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou: A gross monthly salary of CNY 32,437 for Chinese Nationals and an abated salary of CNY 42,268 for British Nationals and spouses/partners of diplomats who are ‘W’ (diplomatic) visa holders and meet passport criteria.
  • For Chongqing and Wuhan: A gross monthly salary of CNY 29,217 for Chinese Nationals and an abated salary of CNY 38,067 for British Nationals and spouses/partners of diplomats who are ‘W’ (diplomatic) visa holders and meet passport criteria.
  • Commercial insurance package including accidental, life, medical and business travel insurance
  • 22 days annual leave entitlement in pro-rata which increases by 0.5 per full calendar year worked up to maximum of 25 days. We offer different types of compulsory leave in accordance to Chinese law, e.g. Maternity Leave, Paternity Leave, Marriage Leave, Parental leave, etc.
  • In addition to the above compulsory leave, we also offer other types of leaves with pay e.g. Study Leave, Volunteering Leave to support staff who undertakes volunteering activities, Special Paid Leave to deal with emergencies involving a close family member, and more.
  • Employee Assistance Programme which is a confidential service providing help, support and information to staff to resolve and manage situations causing concern whether at work or personal nature is available to staff 24/7.
  • There is also plenty of opportunity to develop on and off the job and establish expertise and build capability. We are strongly supportive of the job holder continuing to develop their professional skills. The Mission encourages a blended learning culture based on the 70/20/10 model which includes e-learning, mentoring, coaching, other development activities and role-specific required trainings. This offer also includes supporting staff members to take part in a 5 days of learning activities each year.

Learning and Development Opportunities:

No matter what stage of your career you’re at, you’ll have a positive impact and play a key role. We strongly believe in investing in our people - from day one, you’ll be assigned a dedicated buddy, have guidance from your line manager and support within the wider organisation. You’ll have the opportunity to develop on and off the job, and to establish expertise and build capability. We are strongly supportive of the job holder continuing to develop themselves. 

In addition, opportunities and activities include:

  • Attending external events and conferences hosted by academic institutions, business chambers, etc.
  • Learning and Development programmes, which have recently included leadership, line management, interpretation, presentation skills, effective remote working and trade policy. 
  • Opportunities for job shadowing across the network.
  • An individual bid fund providing funding to support more tailored learning and development needs.  

Working Patterns:

    35 hours of work per week from Monday to Friday, 08:30-17:30. There may be occasions that may require you to work outside normal hours.

    Other Information:

    Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment and security checks. Staff who are locally recruited by the British Embassy/Consulate General are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Chinese employment law.

    No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit. Any costs related to obtaining or renewing permits and visas are the responsibility of the successful applicant.

    The FCDO also operates an agile workforce. To facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require.

    Please note that your application must be submitted before 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field "Application deadline."

    Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

    We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.  Applicants called for an interview will be assessed on the core behaviours listed above.

    All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.
     
    Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’.  If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

    For inclusivity and diversity, please remove the following personal information when uploading your CV: name, address, email address, age, date of birth, gender, and nationality.

    The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances.

    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.