View Vacancy - Senior Press Officer and Bengali Spokesperson - C4

Main purpose of job:

The successful applicant will be responsible for managing the UK Government’s relations with the Bangladeshi media and will be the British High Commission’s official Bengali spokesperson and principal interpreter. You will need to be able to analyse media trends, proactively plan communications (including for a high profile visit or event) and react to new stories that may appear in the press. You will need to maintain good working relationships with all the UK government departments in Dhaka and with the Bangladeshi press, including the diaspora media. You must be able to manage competing priorities and produce well-written work to short deadlines.

Roles and responsibilities

The Press & Communications Unit manages the UK Government’s relations with Bangladesh’s media. This covers the work of several UK Government departments, including the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), DFID, Ministry of Defence, Department for International Trade and UK Visa and Immigration.

You will need to develop a detailed understanding of the UK’s priorities in Bangladesh, including political, development, prosperity, security, consular and immigration issues, which you will faithfully and accurately be able to explain in your interactions with the media. You need to be able to monitor and analyse media trends, manage media plans for high-profile visitors and events, and brief staff and visitors on the media picture in Bangladesh.

Your key responsibilities will be:

• Lead on media handling, maintaining contact with key stakeholders in the national and British-Bangla media networks, as well as colleagues in the region and in London.
• Provide analysis of media trends, spot developing stories and interpret these against an understanding of the UK’s work in Bangladesh. Portray a strong understanding of media ownership, press freedoms, attitudes of press contacts and bloggers and social media trends.
• Produce press lines, press releases, contribute to social media content and devise tactical media plans. Lead on media plans for visits and events, including briefing visitors and the media.
• Management of the Press & Communication officer (who is responsible for media summaries, social media, event management and photography) and management during absence of colleagues.

Language requirements:

English and Bengali

Level of language required: Fluent

Working pattern:

Due to the nature of the work, the jobholder must occasionally work outside of standard office hours. They will also have to travel beyond Dhaka for occasional field trips.

Qualifications & Experience

• A degree from a reputed institution in any discipline, though political sciences, communications, journalism, international relations, development studies, or English may be particularly relevant.
• Experience of working with media stakeholders at a high level, and over a sustained period (minimum 5 years), is essential.
• A good understanding of Bangladesh’s development, economic and political situation.

Competencies and Skills

• Highly-developed interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in a team.
• Ability to communicate fluently in written and spoken English and Bengali.
• Ability to grasp corporate and strategic aims.
• Ability to think and communicate creatively, in writing, orally and visually.
• Ability to produce high quality written work to tight deadlines.
• Ability to manage competing priorities.
• Ability to use MS Word, PowerPoint and social media sites.