View Vacancy - COMMUNICATIONS AND PROGRAMMES OFFICER for the Port Louis post (04/23 PL)

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

This is an exciting opportunity at the heart of the British High Commission’s Political & Programmes Section. The job holder will lead on communications activity at the British High Commission, including organising external events, establishing and managing stakeholder relations, and developing and managing innovative social media activities.  The successful candidate will be an effective communicator and able strategist who can calibrate the right messages, identify the correct audiences, and shape communications through a range of communication channels.

The job holder will also work closely with the Head of Political & Programmes on planning and delivery of the High Commission’s development projects.  This involves collaboration with project implementing partners and stakeholders to help manage and monitor projects, and ensure UK funds are spent in a cost effective and timely manner. The successful candidate will have programme management experience.

Roles and responsibilities:

Communications - 60%

  • Design and deliver an innovative and engaging communications strategy. Collect audience insight, and evaluate our impact.
  • Lead management of social media activity for the British High Commission and the High Commissioner, developing engaging and original content.
  • Produce speeches for public events, managing media relations as required.
  •  Organise external events, including official functions at the British High Commission Residence, roundtable events, and cultural visits across Mauritius.
  • Provide daily monitoring and reporting on news developments for the High Commission and (where necessary) FCDO network.
  • Manage content on online platforms relating to the High Commission.
  • Develop and manage relationships with key partner organisations and the media to facilitate our public diplomacy efforts.
  • Draft formal diplomatic communications and advise on Protocol.

Projects - 30%

  • Work with the Head of Political & Programmes Section to deliver UK bilateral aid programmes and projects in Mauritius.
  • Manage day-to-day project management tasks, including in relation to monitoring and reporting, finance, and risk.
  • Establish and manage relations with implementing partners, holding them to account on the effective use of UK taxpayer funds.
  • Ensure project deadlines are met and activities represent good value for money.

 Wider duties – 10%

  • Support the Political & Programmes Section on wider priorities, and contribute to reporting within the FCDO network as required.
  • Act as corporate and systems support on IT issues for the British High Commission, in the absence of the IT manager. 

Essential on arrival:

  • Bachelor’s Degree or above from an internationally accredited university;
  • Experience working on communications, public relations, and/or stakeholder management;
  • Strong oral and written communication skills;
  • Proven programme/project management experience;
  • Strong team player, at ease working in a fast-paced environment, and managing evolving and competing priorities;
  • Good analytical skills;
  • Ability to work independently with initiative and sound judgement within deadlines.
  • Formal qualifications in programme/project management
  • Experience of financial management
Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions, Seeing the Big Picture
19 December 2023
Executive Officer (EO)
Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
36
Africa
Mauritius
Port Louis
British High Commission
1
MUR
MUR 54,692.31 per month
monthly
1 February 2024
31 January 2025

Mandatory courses:

  • Communication in foreign policy
  • Project management (ProF)
  • All mandatory FCDO training, for example Responsibility for Information, Diversity at Work.

Other opportunities (likely to involve travel):

  • Attendance at annual Sub-Saharan Africa Communications conference.
  • Potential programme/project management training opportunities.
  • Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening. 
  • Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted. 
  • The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position. 
  • Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law. 
  • 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.  
  • The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to: 
    • Obtain the relevant permit 
    • Pay fees for the permit 
    • Make arrangements to relocate 
    • Meet the costs to relocate  
  • The British High Commission does not sponsor visas/work permits except where it may be local practice to do so.  
  • Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount. 
  • Information about the Civil Service Success Profiles can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles 
  • Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates. 
  • Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’.  If during the reserve period of 12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate”. 
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.