View Vacancy - HON - Press & Public Affairs Officer, 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)
Communications, Press and Media, Political

Main purpose of job:

To enhance and manage the British High Commission social media profile, significantly increasing our profile in preparation for the introduction of fibre broadband services in late 2019. Manage the BHC media relationship and be the first point of contact for all media requests.  

To lead the monitoring of the local political situation in Solomon Islands and Nauru, including in digital, print and broadcast media and report BHC colleagues and key Solomon islands/Nauru/Pacific stakeholders.  

Manage the Chevening Scholar scheme on behalf of Post, including managing the advertising campaign, application and interview processes and liaison with Chevening Secretariat. Manage the Chevening Alumni organisation in Solomon Islands.

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

Politics

  • To lead the monitoring of the local political situation in Solomon Islands/Nauru. To produce summaries, briefing documents and reports on the local political situation for key stakeholders in the BHC, Pacific and UK.

Media/Comms

  • Lead on strategic communications planning for the British High Commission
  • Managing and growing BHC social media presence. Increasing interaction on relevant social media platforms and ensuring BHC is in a strong position to take advantage of the increased bandwith available when fibre broadband becomes available
  • Lead on ensuring that Solomon Island/Pacific stakeholders are kept informed of developments in Solomon islands/Nauru.  
  • Develop and maintain a network of media contacts and be the first point of contact for all media requests.
  • Lead on drafting Press releases and Press lines for the High Commission
  • Lead on managing media for VIP visits and high profile events to Solomon Islands and Nauru.
  • To communicate messages that inspire, inform and engage audiences on the BHC digital channels.
  • Photograph, record and publicise BHC activities as required
  • Organise and manage events to promote UK in Solomon Islands and Nauru

Chevening Responsibilities

  • Managing the Chevening application process, including marketing and branding, in Solomon Islands and Nauru. Shortlisting candidates and arranging interviews.
  • Liaising with the relevant International Programme Officer/Senior International Programme Officer at the Secretariat to coordinate the application and selection process. 
  • Generate written and visual content for Chevening marketing campaign including on social media, press and radio.
  • Identifying other ways to promote Chevening, such as attending university fairs and other outreach events.
  • Manage and monitor the Chevening marketing budget. 
  • Ensuring best use of marketing materials from the Secretariat.
  • Sharing information about the scholarships to all colleagues in the embassy in order to foster embassy-wide promotion of the scholarships
  • Management of all requests set by Scholarships Unit (TSU) and the Chevening Secretariat relating to the Chevening Programme in Solomon Islands/Nauru.
  • Leading and managing the Chevening alumni network in Solomon Islands/Nauru including updating and maintaining the database of Chevening alumni. Actively engaging with the Alumni network.              
  • Organising and leading Chevening alumni network events from concept to delivery including bon voyage and annual welcome home events.
  • Leading on all alumni engagement funding opportunities and managing assigned budgets.

Finance

  • Ensure all financial issues are dealt with affectively and in line with policy.
  • Experience in relevant social media/digital platforms e.g. in managing social media accounts e.g. Twitter, Facebook etc.
  • Fluent in English
  • Strong IT skills especially Microsoft Outlook, Excel and Word.
  • Budget management skills/experience
  • Experience in public relations and/or marketing
3 December 2019
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Permanent
34
Asia Pacific
Solomon Islands
Honiara
British High Commission
1
SBD$ 86,440
6 January 2020

The British High Commission offers a competitive compensation package, 34-hour work week, 22 days paid annual leave (calculated on Pro-rata basis if joined after 1 January), medical scheme, and access to extensive learning and development opportunities. From 01 January 2020, an accommodation allowance will be paid to staff not allocated housing.

The applicant must have the appropriate work authorisation in order to apply.

Staff recruited locally by the High Commission Honiara is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Solomon Islands employment laws.

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

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.

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.