View Vacancy - SH - Communications Officer (East China), A2(L)

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FCDO Services
Communications, Press and Media

Main purpose of job:

This is an exciting opportunity to join a creative, ambitious and impact-driven communications team at the heart of the British Consulate-General Shanghai. We are looking for a confident and energetic Communications Officer who will work as part of the Communications Team. The successful candidate will be responsible for a range of the Consulate’s communications activities across Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui. 

This role offers the opportunity to be part of a high-performing and ambitious team whose past achievements include: hosting a world-record-breaking Queen’s Birthday Party afternoon tea; leading on the UK’s communications efforts for the G20 Summit in Hangzhou and the UK-China High Level People to People Dialogue; leading UK communications for the China International Import Expo; and integrated digital partnerships with the Premier League, BAFTA, Formula 1 and TMall.

The officer will plan and implement UK communications across sectors. This will involve working to a regular drumbeat of programme management, working closely with colleagues across the Department of International Trade, the British Council, UK Visas and Immigration, Visit Britain as well as various policy teams. They will design and implement impact-driven, timely and targeted communications plans across a range of the Consulate’s activity. They will use a range of communications channels at their disposal to achieve their objectives, including by: arranging media and press engagements; drafting articles and social media content including Weibo posts and WeChat articles; organising events and partnering with a range of organisations. The officer will be responsible for planning impactful communications around key moments in the calendar, including ministerial visits from the UK as well as on long-term campaigns.

The officer will be responsible for undertaking communications activities for a whole range of UK priorities in China - working across a range of government, business and public audiences. The officer will have the confidence and interest in engaging across the Consulate with the relevant sector and policy teams.

An understanding of the priority that the UK places on its relationship with China will be key to succeeding in the role. Creativity, initiative, agility and resilience are required to maximise the impact of UK communications across all channels, both traditional and digital. The officer will be naturally interested in current affairs and keeping themselves up to date on news that is relevant to the work of the British Embassy and Consulates in China. The officer will build strong relationships with teams within the Consulate to truly understand their priorities, so they can advise them appropriately and develop effective messages.

Leveraging strong and developed relationships with representatives of the Chinese traditional and digital media, the officer will be adept at pitching stories successfully and understanding what journalists, influencers and relevant content platforms in China are interested in covering. The officer will initiate partnerships with a range of media outlets, KOLs and digital platforms – as well work closely with relevant British and Chinese businesses to tell the UK-China story.

The officer will have content planning and content creation responsibilities – including creating Weibo posts, WeChat articles and videos. They will work closely with the Digital Communications Officer, planning and producing content both independently and collaboratively. They will have many opportunities to use and develop photography, video creation and editing, and creative content skills to help achieve Consulate communication objectives in China. The job will involve opportunities for occasional travel.

The successful applicant will be given exposure to senior visitors from the UK. In the past, visitors have included the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer, as well as senior UK business leaders.

This opportunity comes at a particularly interesting time. As the world recovers from COVID-19, the UK and China are working together on economic recovery, promoting global health security and pandemic preparedness, tackling global challenges such as climate change, and connecting people through cultural exchange. 

The Communications team is a busy and high profile one. We work in an environment where all team members support each other during particularly busy periods. Work-life balance and well-being are emphasised across all communication roles, and across the whole British embassy network.

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

    Communications Planning (30%)

    • Delivering impact-driven, innovative communications/marketing activity and implementing integrated cross-channel plans (including digital) in the region. This includes visits, campaigns and managing events. Communications must be timely, targeted, cohesive and relevant.
    • Author weekly short-term and monthly long-term planning grids that capture all East-China network communications activity.
    • Liaise with partners across government and FCDO departments to understand key priorities and major activities on the horizon. Proactively engage with the appropriate Consulate teams on their communications priorities. Coordinate bi-monthly East China cross-partners comms meeting.
    • Communicate with journalists and key opinion leaders to implement opportunities for landing UK government messaging. Proactively generating content angles and pitching stories.
    • Developing materials for press, such as press notices and briefing packs as well as arranging opportunities for press to engage with UK officials – such as media interviews and press conferences.
    • Developing and maintaining core scripts, lines and briefing for UK representatives to use publicly in a Chinese context on topics of relevance. Write briefings and scripts in preparation for media engagements.
    • Reactive media handling – monitoring coverage on relevant topics, managing media enquiries. Also part of the crisis communications team.
    • Internal communications – support in planning and implementing internal communications activity including coordinating on internal newsletters.

    Digital content planning and creation (30%)

    • Embedding digital channels in all media handling and using digital and social media channels for both proactive announcements and reactive media handling.
    • Creating digital content – including short-form posts, articles and video content.
    • Working with Digital Officer to tailor messaging and approach for social media, adapting content to different audiences.
    • Identifying and working with key influencers on social media to amplify messaging.

    Relationship management (20%)

    • Creating and maintaining media contacts, from traditional print media to new media, including key opinion leaders and podcasters. Developing long-term strategic partnerships in addition to tactical collaborations.
    • Meeting with policy teams to understand their objectives - and feeding these into communication objectives

    Brand Management (10%)

    • Implement brand guidelines across the Consulate, FCDO and GREAT brands in East China
    • Working with regional and HQ brand teams to ensure brand compliance across activity in East China

    Insight and evaluation (10%)

    • Desk research and occasional first-hand research to identify and understand different audiences.
    • Inputting data into to Quarterly Communications Insight report and monthly Communications evaluation dashboard

    Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

    • Responsible for some procurement admin including processing payments

    Essential on arrival:      

    • Degree level qualification or equivalent
    • Previous experience of working in a communications, public affairs or journalistic capacity in mainland China.
    • Experience of working with Chinese media outlets and journalists. Contacts are highly desirable.

    Language requirements:                                                         

    English

    Spoken: Excellent/Highly Proficient

    Written:  Excellent/Highly Proficient

    Other Languages: Chinese

    Spoken: Native

    Written:  Native

    • Experience of high-level communications role.
    • Qualifications in PR/Communications/Journalism
    • An understanding of current affairs and the UK-China bilateral relationship.
    • Experience of creating writing or generating creative digital content (videos and articles)
    • Proficiency with using social media to communicate on organisational or individual priorities.
    • Experience of working with Chinese key opinion leaders
    • Experience of evaluating impact generated from communications activity
    28 November 2021
    Administrative Officer (AO)
    Fixed Term, Full-time
    35
    12 months
    Asia Pacific
    China
    Shanghai
    British Consulate General
    1
    CNY
    Chinese: CNY 11,272 ; British: CNY 15,789
    3 January 2022

    This position is being advertised as a 12 months fixed term position in Shanghai, and will be extended subject to performance and availability of funding.

    External Non-Chinese National Candidates

    Due to local Government measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, including strict entry restrictions, applicants who are non-Chinese nationals are likely to face significant obstacles when seeking residence permits, or travel into China. Please familiarise yourself with the latest restrictions and processes before applying. The British Embassy and Consulates General cannot cover the cost of transport, quarantine or accommodation for applicants who require work permits. 

    We offer a competitive package, which includes basic salary, good leave entitlement, and insurance plan, etc. The gross starting salary (before all deductions) for this position is RMB 11,272/ month for Mainland China Nationals and an abated monthly salary of RMB 15,789/ month for British Nationals and spouses/ partners (all nationalities) of diplomats who are ‘W’ (diplomatic) visa holders and meet passport criteria.

    We also offer excellent development opportunities and a 22-day annual leave entitlement in pro rata. Conditioned working hours is 35 hours/ week from Monday to Friday and flexible working can be arranged upon personal needs. For more details on our Total Rewards Package, please visit our website http://www.gov.uk/government/world/china.

    Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

    The role-holder will complete FCDO required financial system related online trainings, participate in the Science and Innovation Network induction training (now virtually), online training (via Diplomatic Academy) and have the option of completing further training based on their requirements and interests.

    The British Embassy or Consulates have a wide range of learning and development opportunities for employees at all levels. All employees all strongly encouraged to invest in their own learning and development.

    The jobholder will have access to a range of e-learning and face-to-face learning opportunities made available via the FCDO’s ‘International Academy’ and through Learning & Development programmes organised by FCDO China network. There will also be other formal and informal opportunities for professional development, eg. job shadowing, mentoring.

    • The officer will have digital content creation and editorial responsibilities, and will have many opportunities to use and develop photography, video editing, and creative content skills to help achieve communication objectives. There are often opportunities to try new projects or work on different areas to expand knowledge of different sectors, including trade, climate change, health, prosperity and political.
    • The job will involve opportunities for occasional travel within China.
    • The FCDO provides formal training opportunities and funding, that the job holder will be encouraged to take advantage of.

    Any other information (or specific local Post requirements):

    Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment and security checks. Staff who are locally recruited by the British Consulate General are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to Chinese local 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 British Consulate General is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on grounds of ethnic origin, race, religious beliefs, age, disability, gender or sexual orientation.

    Please note that the deadline for applications is 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. 

    Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. 

    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.

    REMINDER: 

    Applicants are required to fill out the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, motivational segment and the competency based questions. Forms that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage so please ensure you provide information requested. Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core competencies listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time.

    Indicated start date is provisional and subject to successful completion of reference and security checks.

    To those applicants not short-listed, we extend our appreciation for considering the British Government as a potential employer.

    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.