View Vacancy - Communications Policy Officer (BEL21.431)

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)
Communications, Press and Media

The United Kingdom’s Joint Delegation to NATO(UKDel NATO) is part of a world-wide network of 270 Diplomatic Posts, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is the vital link between the UK Government and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Its principal roles are to promote British interests in NATO and to keep UK Ministers and Government Departments informed about NATO discussions. We are looking for a Communications Officer for the UK Delegation to NATO in Brussels (UKDEL).

The main aims of the role are to help communicate the UK Government’s commitment to, and priorities for, NATO across a broad range of issues, and to assist NATO in developing and delivering a more effective and integrated approach to communications planning and delivery. This is a particularly interesting time to join UKDEL as we deliver the ambitious NATO2030 agenda, including a revised Strategic Concept, for the 2022 Summit. 

The UK’s Integrated Review puts NATO at the heart of UK defence policy. Its work is valued highly by FCDO and MOD Ministers alike. The job holder will work in a delegation dealing with the largest range of challenges NATO has faced since the end of the Cold War, with challenges presented by Russia, China, terrorism, new and emerging technology, climate change and across all domains including cyber and space.

The job holder will work in a team responsible for communications activities that help deliver UK policy objectives within NATO. Main activities include: delivering UKDEL’s comms strategy; supporting policy teams to develop and deliver communications campaigns; working with NATO Staff and other Allies to improve NATO’s approach to communications planning and delivery, including tackling disinformation; supporting public communications for ministerial meetings; liaising with the press; and alongside the Deputy Spokesperson, representing the UK in the Committee for Public Diplomacy. As with all jobs in the Delegation, we promote an adaptable and responsive approach, which means the job is likely to evolve over time to deal with changing circumstances and priorities.

The job holder will occasionally be required to work extended hours during peak periods, including in the run-up to Ministerial meetings and Summits.

Main duties and responsibilities:

  • Developing and delivering the UK Delegation Communication Strategy, through traditional and social media.

  • Supporting delivery of NATO Strategic Communication campaigns, working with NATO International Staff and colleagues in the FCDO, Ministry of Defence and Cabinet Office.

  • Supporting UK Government ministerial visits to NATO to attend NATO foreign, defence and Head of Government meetings, ensuring good communication plans are in place.

  • Liaising with media.

  • Negotiation and policy development–  NATO Public Diplomacy Committee, which has oversight of NATO’s Communications Strategy, and liaising with Allies to achieve UK objectives.

  • Line Management of a Digital Communications Assistant, subject to change.

  • Contributing on a variety of activity to improve UKDEL NATO’s effectiveness – embedding communications work in policy and supporting corporate activity.

 

  • Full professional proficiency in English, including excellent writing skills (written and spoken, minimum of C1 level for CEFR framework*);

  • Professional experience in public relations and/or communications;

  • Experience of delivering communications campaigns, including monitoring & evaluation;

  • Ability to deliver clear messages using a variety of communications channels including social media;

  • Ability to work in a team;

  • IT and digital skills, including Outlook and Word.

  • Experience working with or within government or an international organisation;

  • Experience and/or interest in International Relations;

  • Experience of building networks and using third parties to amplify key messages;

  • Strong interpersonal and customer focus skills.

3 October 2021
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Permanent
36.25
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Belgium
UK Joint Delegation to NATO, Brussels
UK Delegation
1
EUR
€ 4,328.16 monthly gross
1 December 2021

This is a permanent full-time contract for 5 working days (36.25 hours net) per week. The monthly gross salary for this position is € 4,328.16, B3(L) level. In addition, we offer an extensive salary package, which includes a 13th month, luncheon vouchers, pension scheme, optional hospitalisation insurance (subject to monthly employee contribution), reimbursement of public transport and a lot more. We offer more days of annual leave than the Belgian requirements.

Please note that Belgian nationals will be paid their salary gross and are expected to comply with their tax obligations through completion of a tax return to the Belgian authorities. Non-Belgian nationals will receive their salary net, minus the deduction of an equivalent level of Belgian tax retained at source. Further information on this will be given to candidates during the recruitment process.

Staff recruited locally by the British Diplomatic Missions in Belgium are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Belgian employment law.

The successful candidates will be subject to professional background checks and security clearance.

Passport: officers are expected to be in possession of a passport due to the possibility that they may be asked to undertake business travel.

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

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.

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

Please be advised that the British Embassy will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a position.

For more information on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment  levels  please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your language skill is going to be assessed.

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.