View Vacancy - Strategic Communications and Marketing Lead (POL18.651)

The British Embassy in Poland is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. The Department for International Trade (DIT) is seeking to appoint a Strategic Communications and Marketing Lead, based in Warsaw to support the broader European Region.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is responsible for promoting British trade across the world. DIT Europe works to help UK-based businesses export to the EU and to encourage the best European businesses to invest in the UK. This is an exciting time to join DIT, as you will have the opportunity to shape the UK’s international trade agenda and foster UK growth.

DIT Europe has an exciting opportunity for a confident, motivated and experienced Strategic Communications and Marketing lead. You will have a strong professional background and be responsible for coordinating activity across Europe, supported by a virtual team of 7 embedded across European countries. Reporting to the DIT Europe Board, the job-holder will be responsible for strategic communications and marketing across Europe, promoting the UK Government’s global “GREAT Britain and NI” campaigns, the GREAT Friends campaign and the Government’s Industrial Strategy to underpin delivery of the Regional Trade Plan for Europe. Your objectives would be to promote the UK as a first-class destination for inward investment, as an export superpower as well as increasing the reputation of DIT as a source of expertise, influence, impact and reach.

This is one Regional position advertised in 3 main countries: Poland/Warsaw; Germany/Berlin; and Italy/Milan, the successful candidate will be based in the location that he/she applied.

Roles and responsibilities:

The role will require work with UK Communication and Marketing colleagues (and through their Business Partners) and the wider DIT Europe team to identify opportunities to drive the supply of relevant UK businesses with an active interest in Europe and European businesses wanting to invest in the UK. The role will also be key in projecting Great Britain’s strong values such as clean growth, human rights, security and open markets as well as championing a business-friendly environment. The Communications and Marketing strategy should include digital, social, experiential, media and PR in a concerted plan to project British excellence. The team will also be key in using internal comms to drive cohesion across the region and in looking for innovative ways for DIT Europe to communicate success stories of this vibrant trading relationship. The work will require a high level of key account and project management skills as well as the ability to work well with multipliers.

The main objectives for this role are to:

• Regionalise DIT Europe’s Strategic Communication and Marketing programme to support the delivery of the Europe Regional Trade Plan applying an agnostic channel strategy underpinned by insight and analysis working to an agreed evaluation framework;
• Set strategic direction for, co-ordinate, lead and empower a virtual marketing team of 7 embedded across Europe;
• Demonstrate leadership through effective Internal Comms establish a collaborative culture across Europe, focussing on prioritisation of activities whilst supporting the wider marketing community;
• Plan, agree and execute delivery of strategic communications leveraging “GREAT Britain and NI” campaigns, the GREAT Friends campaign and the Government’s Industrial Strategy reflecting the evidence-base and audience insight held. Ensuring value for money, quality control and guardianship of the GREAT brand as well as appropriate activity reporting;
• Strengthen and develop the DIT relationships with key multipliers, organisations, agencies and European companies to help achieve DIT business objectives, simultaneously contributing to raising our profile;
• As primary communication and marketing lead, champion the relationship between Europe, HQ in London, and the other eight DIT global regional leads ensuring consistency, alignment and collaborative thinking;
• Work with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Press and Public Affairs networks to produce compelling strategic communications and impactful events that demonstrate value for money;
• Demonstrate a commitment to self-development and developing others, building long-term staff capability and competency in and beyond own team.

Required key FCO Competences:

• Seeing the big picture: effectiveness in this area is about having an in-depth understanding and knowledge of how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives and the wider public needs.
• Changing and improving: people who are effective in this area are responsive, innovative and seek out opportunities to create effective change.
• Managing a quality service: effectiveness in this area is about valuing and modelling professional excellence and expertise to deliver service objectives and striving to improve the quality of service, taking account of diverse customer needs and requirements.
• Leading and Communicating: at all levels, effectiveness in this area is about showing our pride and passion for public service, leading from the front and communicating with clarity, conviction, integrity and enthusiasm.

• Proficiency in English and Polish
• At least University degree, preferably in marketing and communications;
• At least 5 years of work experience in strategic and marketing/communications;
• Proven record of delivering strategic marketing and communications campaigns across multiple markets and working with regional teams;
• Marketing/event management skills and experience;
• Excellent communications skills and an ability to influence senior leaders and stakeholders;
• Understanding of the business and investment climate in the UK and Europe;
• Project management skills and experience;
• Budget management skills and experience;
• Proven track of leading/managing teams;