View Vacancy - Head of Communications Team (DEU18.510)

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 British Embassy in Berlin is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Head of Communications Team to join the Comms & Bilateral Section.

Main Purpose of Job:

This role is at the heart of the UK’s Embassy network in Germany and is an opportunity to work on high-profile political, economic and cultural issues. Reporting to the Embassy Spokesperson, the jobholder will manage a team of seven providing a full range of communications services and advice to UK government ministers and officials. By designing and delivering innovative campaigns and engaging content, the main aim is to enhance the UK’s reputation in Germany and encourage closer cooperation between our two countries.

 

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

  • In collaboration with internal and external partners, to design and deliver engaging content and events which highlight and promote: the future UK-EU partnership; trade and investment opportunities; UK-German security and economic cooperation; the rights of British nationals living in Germany; and the UK’s reputation as an open and responsible partner;
  • To provide strategic advice and media handling support to the Ambassador, Consuls General (in Munich and Düsseldorf) and UK ministers: pitching stories and drafting press releases; refining and rehearsing messages; liaising with both journalists and UK ministries to deliver interviews, op-eds and features;
  • Around major visits (e.g. from the Prime Minister or members of the Royal Family) and events (e.g. Munich Security Conference, international summits), to help deliver positive coverage of the UK, balancing the needs of both visiting delegations and the media. To lead the team’s provision of organisational support including: accreditation, media handling, press conferences and logistical arrangements for travelling press;
  • To oversee the production of a daily press review of German media coverage, translation into English of specific articles / interviews and to lead on evaluation of our communications activity;
  • To shape the Embassy network’s digital and social media presence, providing strategic advice to individual users (especially the Ambassador on Twitter) and ensuring our corporate channels deliver persuasive, lively and varied content. To drive improvements in graphic and audio-visual skills in the team and wider Embassy network;
  • To support the Spokesperson in leading the Embassy’s Communications & Bilateral Section, deputising during absences and balancing the needs of both team members and senior management. To contribute to the wider Embassy network’s corporate objectives, e.g. on staff wellbeing, internal communications or diversity.

  • Proficiency in English and German (written and spoken, minimum of C2 level for CEFR framework*);
  • Significant experience in journalism, communications or a related field;
  • Experience in management of a diverse range of teams and individuals;
  • Extensive knowledge of and contacts in German broadcast and print media;
  • Experience in developing and delivering communications campaigns;
  • Knowledge of digital media landscape, tools and strategies;
  • Availability to travel across Germany and occasionally to work in the evenings and at weekends, including in case of a crisis (e.g. terrorist incident) affecting UK nationals in Germany. (An official smartphone will be provided).

  • Experience in international trade and business communications;
  • Knowledge of UK politics and culture;

23 September 2018
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
37.5
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Germany
Berlin
British Embassy
1
EUR
€75,108 gross per annum rising to approx €84,368 gross per annum after a qualifying period in addition to performance related pay. (Salary is not negotiable)
7 January 2019

This is a full-time position of five working days 37.5 hours per week, for a contract period of two years with the possibility of renewal.

The British Embassy in Berlin has a strong ethos of Learning and Development, including our Learning and Development Week. In addition, there will be many opportunities to attend external seminars and events on relevant issues. This is in addition to the induction programme offered to all Embassy staff.

The successful applicant will be encouraged to be actively involved in the corporate life of the Embassy, contributing to the wider objectives of the British Government’s Germany network and supporting the Embassy’s positive working environment.

The successful candidate will be subject to professional background check and security clearance.

All applicants should have the right to live and work in Germany. The successful candidate must have pre-existing work authorization for Germany in order to apply. The British Embassy does not sponsor for work permits.

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in Germany are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local German employment law.

* Please note Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment indicates Level C2 as Mastery or proficiency Level which comprehends that a person can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read; can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation; can express themselves spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations. For more information please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your languages skills are going to be assessed.

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 job.

 

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.