View Vacancy - TON - Policy, Public Diplomacy and Communications Officer to the UK High Commission, B3 (L)

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)
Public Diplomacy

Main purpose of job:

Policy Officer: to monitor, advise and report on policy developments which may affect the UK (including risks and opportunities).

Communications Officer: to lead on communications tasks for the High Commission, including press, social media and other external and internal communications to promote UK objectives.

Public Diplomacy: to lead on Public Diplomacy work for the High Commission, including Chevening, small development projects and to organise and run high level visits programmes.

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

Policy Officer (40%):

  • Keep abreast of the host government’s policy developments, providing political advice on current affairs.
  • Develop and maintain a local network of key stakeholders and policy influencers including in government, parliament and relevant civil society organisations.
  • Write reports to UK colleagues (e.g. London/Oceania Network) on political developments.
  • Identify opportunities for the UK to engage with host country on UK foreign policy priorities, including regional projects.
  • Summarise media reports for the High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner. 

Communications (25%):

  • Devise and implement internal and external communication plans for the UK High Commission.
  • Develop and maintain a social media platform for the UK High Commission to promote UK objectives.
  • Draft print media articles to promote UK objectives.

Public Diplomacy (35%)

  • Identify and manage small projects in support of UK priorities in Tonga. 
  • Promote UK’s support to the Education sector through co-ordinating Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarships Schemes.
  • Devise and implement plans for high level visits and events, such as visits by UK Ministers.

Other duties as necessary and as determined by the High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner.

  • Similar policy/communications experience working in a government/NGO/international company or diplomatic mission.
  • IT literate (MS Word, Excel)
  • Strong knowledge of host country government systems and media
  • Spoken and written English. Fluent spoken and written Tongan. 
25 November 2020
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Permanent
38 hours gross
Asia Pacific
Tonga
Nuku’alofa
British High Commission
1
TOP
36,359
25 January 2021

There will be continual on-the-job learning and access to the UK’s online Diplomatic Academy training courses.

We will consider flexible working arrangements in line with the High Commission terms and conditions of service.

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. Applicants must have work authorisation in Tonga in order to apply.

All applications must be received before 23:55 local time on the day of the specified deadline. 

Applications must address experience against the role responsibilities and include a current CV.

Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. We regret to advise that we will only be contacting short-listed candidates. Applicants called for an interview will be assessed on the core competencies listed above.

The indicated start date is provisional and final start date would depend on the successful clearance of pre-employment and security checks.

This is a new role in a brand-new High Commission. As new procedures and functions are tested, we would expect some changes to each role in the Mission in the first year until things are established. Thus, the ideal candidate would be flexible and positive in accommodating these changes.


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.