View Vacancy - AUS - PR and Communications Officer A2(L)

Applications are invited for the position of PR and Communications Officer at the Department for International Trade (DIT) based in the British Consulate-General in Sydney.

Reporting to the Head of Marketing and Communication at the British Consulate-General in Sydney, the PR and Communications Officer will create and deliver communications, media, marketing, and public relations projects and activities that advance the British Government’s trade, investment, and prosperity efforts in Australia and New Zealand.

Initial appointment is for a contract of two (2) years.

Position responsibilities

The role covers the spectrum of marketing communications with a strong focus on PR, Media, and Social Media.

The role may also require some travel within Australia and occasional work outside of office hours.

— PR and Media: Proactively develop and manage PR and media opportunities to support trade and investment campaigns and deliver outcomes, including:

• Generation of creative ideas for PR and media opportunities
• Delivery of PR and media support for trade and investment campaigns and events
• Help to identify story opportunities; organise media interviews; write briefings
• Write and distribute media releases and media advisories
• Draft articles, blogs, and case studies for various channels
• Maintain forward look editorial calendar filled with suitable story ideas to support tactical opportunities and sector campaigns
• Create and keep up to date segmented media contact lists on central database
• Build strong relationships with trade and business media contacts and a strong understanding of business and trade media landscape relevant to sectors we work in
• Write/ compile monthly DIT newsletter using EDM software for external distribution
• Monitor media, distribute media monitoring updates, monthly communications reporting and campaign evaluation
• Support wider DIT Marcomms and Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) Communications teams across ANZ as needed

— Digital and Social Media:

• Develop a strategy for DIT’s digital and social channels that drives stronger engagement with our audiences (on web, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook)
• Generate, edit, publish, and share daily content (original text, images, video, audio, HTML)  that builds meaningful connections
• Develop and maintain content plan to support tactical opportunities and sector campaigns
• Keep up to date with digital and social media trends and recommend new ways of engaging our audience through digital and social initiatives
• Manage/ keep updated DIT Australia web content using web-based editing tool
• Evaluate campaigns and activity using evaluation tools and use insights to inform future activity and build social media engagement

 — Events and Collateral:

• Deliver live social media coverage of DIT and FCO events including live-tweeting with pictures/ video, Periscope, and other tools
• Write/ edit copy for various promotional material, collateral, and event invitations as required, and project manage delivery including liaising with regional marketing hub and design agency as required
• Provide assistance/ cover as required for wider event, brand, and direct marketing activity

— Internal Communications:

• Identify and write internal news stories for DIT intranet and news bulletin
• Maintain up to date files in shared area

— Visits: Assist with preparation, briefings, and media/ communications for visiting officials, dignitaries, and business specialists.

— Brand: Utilise appropriate brand assets to maximise exposure of GREAT Campaign and ensure all marketing and communications material/ activity are in keeping with GREAT and DIT brand guidelines.

Candidates will be able to provide evidence of their skills and expertise in the following areas:

• Background in public relations, social and digital media, and marketing
• Excellent writing, proofing, and editing skills for both traditional and new media
• Understanding of Australian business and trade media landscape
• Ability to source and maintain network of media contacts
• Ability to create rich media content for social media, including using smart phone for photography, video, and editing
• Experience with Adobe suite
• Experience using SEO tools to improve marketing and communications effectiveness
• Project management skills
• Previous experience using a website content management system

The successful candidate must also be able to demonstrate strengths in the following competences, and provide evidence of this in previous jobs at interview:

• Leading and Communicating:  Strong communicating and influencing skills. Ability to provide sound advice to teams on PR and communications strategies to support their campaigns.  Ability to produce clear and accurate written material, tailored to make an impact with the target audience. Strong verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate in a clear and constructive manner in meetings and at official functions.
• Making Effective Decisions: Demonstrate good judgement and reliability in making decisions, taking into consideration wider impacts and any reputational issues, especially when dealing with media. Ability to work pro-actively and autonomously to plan and execute PR and communications campaigns. Ability to resolve issues/develop solutions to problems as they arise.
• Managing a Quality Service: Ability to prioritise effectively and see projects through to delivery. Accuracy, attention to detail, and production of communication and materials to the highest standards and in compliance with brand guidelines.
• Delivering at Pace: Ability to deliver quality output in short timeframes and to deadlines, as well as managing multiple projects with competing deadlines.
• Collaborating and Partnering: Good team working skills and ‘can-do’ attitude. Ability to develop productive and positive relationships with DIT and FCO teams across Australia and New Zealand, DIT marketing teams in Hong Kong and UK, and wider British High Commission communications team in Australia. Ability to help build and sustain DIT media contact network.
• Changing and Improving: Ability to assess/ evaluate activity and through learning, improve effectiveness and efficiency of marketing communications activity and team processes.